GPS cycling computers allow you to view real time riding metrics without the need for additional sensors but are often expensive. The Shanren Max 30 offers the convenience and accuracy of a GPS cycling computer at an affordable price point not available from other brands. With a retail price of $89.99, the Max 30 is budget priced but retains a large 3.0” screen. Shanren has incorporated modern features such as USB-C charging and a Garmin mount for easy charging and mounting. The computer also has an impressive 58 hour runtime with Shanren’s power estimation algorithm to display power without a power meter.
The Shanren Max 30 is a budget friendly GPS computer with a large 3.0″ screen and modern features.
| Rating | 8.9/10 |
| Retail Price | $89.99 |
| Measured Weight (in g) | 88 (computer), 8 (mount) |
| Likes | + Large 3.0” display screen + Multi-field display shows everything on one page + Data field customization using Shanren app |
| Dislikes | – Lacks automatic recording stop and has confusing save recording interface – Raz Pro integration lacks battery status display |
| Where to Buy (US) | Shanren |
UNBOXING
The Shanren Max 30 comes in an attractive black cardboard box with glossy graphics of the computer printed onto it. Inside the box you’ll find:
- Max 30 GPS computer
- USB-C charging cable
- Handlebar mount + 2x different length rubber o-rings
- Instruction manual
A black plastic tray holes the computer securely in place while all the accessories are hidden underneath it.
MOUNTING
The Shanren Max 30 uses a standard Garmin quarter turn style puck that is molded into the base of the computer. This is a very common mount design that uses two protruding tabs that rotate into a corresponding mount. You can use the Shanren Max 30 with nearly any mount on the market as the Garmin compatible mounts are found nearly anywhere. Shanren includes a basic two o-ring handlebar mount which can be installed on handlebars or stems. There are two different length o-rings to accommodate different diameter handlebars. It’s a lightweight mount that works and holds the computer securely in place. However, we’d recommend using Shanren’s Click 2 out front mount or metal out front mounts like the Topeak UTF for a cleaner installation.
FIT & FINISH
The Shanren Max 30 combines a number of Shanren’s features into a large GPS cycling computer at an affordable price. With its 3” screen it’s quite large with a traditional rectangular shape and minimal bezels around the screen. The Max 30 is a non-touch screen design which means you have three labeled buttons on the bottom to interact with the computer. Branding on the computer is limited to Max 30 printed above the screen and Shanren printed on the left side. Although it’s a bit odd to not have the brand name on the front edge of the computer where most people would see it, the Max 30 feels well made with no exposed hardware. The computer has a beveled design with the battery and mount protruding slightly outward.
There is also a USB-C mount on the underside of the computer which makes it easy to quickly charge the computer and is protected with a large rubber cover. The Max 30 can be paired with heart rate, cadence, speed and power meters using ANT+ or Bluetooth. Not surprisingly, you can not connect a rear radar as that would be difficult with this style display. One of the main signs that the Max 30 is a budget computer is the predefined grid display. This uses predefined regions for icons are text display which severely restricts the user interface of the computer. Shanren has used a standard black on white display with a four row display that shows 9 fields as well as a row of icons on the top of the screen. It’s a big screen so all the font sizes are large and easy to read which means you can see everything on a single page. There is also a strong backlight that can be automatically turned on or manually enabled.
The Max 30 also has Shanren’s power estimation display, something we saw with the Shanren Miles GPS, which combines cadence and other sensor data to estimate your power output. While it’s not as accurate as a real power meter it’s a good way to gauge steady effort. Operating the Sharen Max 30 is straightforward with the three physical buttons. The far left button can be pressed to turn the computer on, or hold to turn it off. With the computer on, the button is used to start or pause a recording. The center button is the lap button and can be pressed to increment the lap or held to discard an active recording. The far right button is used to toggle between the three display pages or can be held to turn a paired taillight on or off. While there are no configuration options on the device itself, you can hold the far left and right buttons together to pair to any nearby sensors.
RIDING IMPRESSIONS
With its large 3.0” screen, the Shanren Max 30 looks far more expensive than it actually is. We appreciated the large display as it lets you view nine different metrics at the same time. Using just a cadence sensor, this allowed us to view all our real time metrics including slope and elevation gain all at the same time. The large font size is easy to read while the backlight is strong which makes it easy to view data at night. We also appreciated the customization options which go beyond the typical options of similar fixed grid display designs. The computer’s Garmin mount and USB-C charging interface are also both nice modern touches that let you use the computer with nearly any existing third-party mount.
While the data display layout is intuitive, we found the starting and stopping of a recording to be confusing. Unlike some computers like the CatEye AirGPS that automatically start recording when you move or display reminders to start recording like the Bryton Rider S500, you have to remember to manually start a recording. Additionally, saving a recording requires holding the center bottom button which is not very obvious. That meant we’d often forget to start a recording and would accidentally turn off the computer without saving the recording. Otherwise, the Max 30 is a great budget GPS cycling computer that lets you pair essential sensors and track your progress. We’d also additionally note that Shanren’s power estimation is a helpful feature that provides an easy way to gauge your effort but is not a substitute for a true power meter.
RAZ PRO INTEGRATION
The other interesting feature of the Shanren Max 30 is the fact that you can pair it with the Shanren Raz Pro taillight. You can turn the taillight on or off by holding the far right button. When the taillight is paired the LED indicator on the far left will match the color and flashing pattern of the taillight. It’s a feature we’ve seen with the Shanren Miles GPS and is a cool concept but not particularly useful. Unlike Garmin’s light control, you can’t see the battery status of the paired light or change the output mode. We would have preferred if Shanren had used the LED indicator to relay the battery status instead of duplicating the taillight pattern and color.
SHANREN ACTIVE APP
For any customization, including the display units, you’ll need to use the Shanren App. It’s a free app on both iOS and Android devices and requires you to setup a Shanren account. Once you’ve signed in you’ll find a simple four tab design with the navigation buttons on the bottom of the page. You can navigate between: home, record, device and profile. The home page shows a list of your devices and your recent recordings. The record page is a confusing one that has a few icons that let you download activities from the Max 30 and sync them with the cloud. On the device page you can access all the device settings and customization options. Finally, there is the profile page which tracks your total activity, lets you set up Strava syncing and general account settings.
As far as customization, the app provides a surprising amount of options. You can enable auto page looping to cycle through the pages as well as customize the contents of each page. Despite the predefined grid layout, each of the nine fields can be swapped between at least two options. The main speed field can display current, average or maximum speed while other fields like the bottom left can show different power values or the slope. With so many fields on each page it’s hard to avoid duplicates on separate pages which is why we found the ability to shut off pages convenient. While higher-end computers like the Bryton 750 SE offer high fidelity displays with more flexibility including radial displays, the Shanren app is easy to use and lets you see all your data on a single screen.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the Sharen Max 30 to be an affordable and well designed cycling computer. The combination of the large 3.0” display and grid display let you view all your metrics on a single page. We also appreciated the modern features such as the USB-C charging interface and the Garmin mount that make it easy to mount and charge the computer. It’s an easy to use computer that pairs with sensors and displays our favorite metrics such as slope and altitude gain. While the predefined grid display limits the user interface, Shanren has done a good job with icons and even offers basic data field customization options. The main downsides of the Shanren Max 30 is that it can be easy to forget to start and save a recording. Also, we would have liked to see a battery status indicator for the Raz Pro taillight syncing instead of just displaying the light’s color and flash pattern. That said, if you’re in the market for a large GPS computer at a budget price point then the Shanren Max 30 is a great option.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by Shanren. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.