Garmin has unveiled a new Edge 1060 GPS cycling computer that adds voice commands along with improved navigation and a larger screen than on the existing Edge 1050, plus an Edge Explore 3 that “offers essential ride data on a vivid and responsive touchscreen display”, and an Edge Explore 3 Plus that comes with optional voice capabilities.
Garmin Edge 1060: TL;DR
- New built-in microphone and speaker, giving you voice control capabilities.
- You can report road hazards, select a route and request in-ride performance stats using the microphone
- Built-in speaker allows you to hear navigation and workout prompts, voice messages, and the digital bike bell
- New intelligent navigation features allow you to see previews of routes and choose the best one, find points of interest, get alerted to road closures and hazards
- Up to 20 hours of battery life “in the most demanding use cases” and up to 60 hours in battery saver mode
- RRP of £699.99
Garmin Edge Explore 3 & Edge Explore 3 Plus: TL;DR
- “Easy-to-use GPS cycling computers that provide essential ride data, maps, alerts and more on a vivid and responsive touchscreen display”
- With eBike compatibility, you can see battery status, assist level and more when connected to a compatible system
- Built-in speaker and microphone on Edge Explore 3 Plus give you hands-free control
- Edge Explore 3 is £349.99, Edge Explore 3 Plus is £429.99
Garmin Edge 1060
The Edge 1060 is Garmin’s new top-of-the-range GPS bike computer.
Garmin says, “Using the built-in microphone and speaker, cyclists can keep their hands on the bars while accessing in-ride performance stats, selecting a route, finding points of interest and exchanging voice messages with other Garmin Messenger app users . Whether cyclists are riding on road, gravel or trail, new navigation tools help them choose the best route and ride with greater confidence. Cyclists can also train smarter with robust performance features, stay connected with other riders with GroupRide enhancements, see essential information at a glance on a brilliant touchscreen display and use the added buttons for versatility in challenging weather conditions or while riding with gloves.”
How do you prompt it? Back to Garmin…
“With a simple ‘Okay, Garmin,’ cyclists can activate voice commands to control their Edge 1060 using prompts like ‘Report a pothole,’ ‘Route me to the closest coffee shop,’ or ‘What is my heart rate?’ From there, Edge will follow commands by changing what is on the screen, reading out requested ride stats, providing suggested routes and more.
“With the on-device Garmin Messenger app and a connected smartphone, cyclists can also send voice messages right from their device, then hear incoming messages played out loud through the integrated speaker, along with navigation and workout prompts. Other cyclists can also hear the cyclist approaching as the digital bike bell plays from the speaker.”
The Edge 1060 also comes with more routing features, such as Route Options, which allows you to see different route suggestions to get to a destination and choose the best route based on ride time, elevation, bike type and more, and Route Previews, which tells you what to expect before starting a ride with details about the route like distance, estimated ride time, traffic and reported road hazards along the way.
The Edge 1060 has a suggested retail price of £699.99, and Garmin says that you get up to 20 hours of battery life “in the most demanding use cases” and up to 60 hours in battery saver mode.
Garmin Edge Explore 3 cycling computers
Garmin has also announced the introduction of the Edge Explore 3 and Edge Explore 3 Plus, which it calls: “Easy-to-use GPS cycling computers that provide essential ride data, maps, alerts and more on a vivid, responsive touchscreen display.”
Garmin says: “Both models offer user-friendly navigation features, helping cyclists choose the best route and find points of interest, while safety features like incident detection and LiveTrack location sharing help them ride with more peace of mind. For cyclists looking to improve their fitness, Garmin Cycling coach plans deliver personalised and adaptive workouts. And with a built-in speaker and microphone on Edge Explore 3 Plus, cyclists can exchange voice messages, hear navigation prompts and more while keeping their hands on the bars.”
Garmin says that the voice control feature of the Edge Explore 3 allows you to request a new route, ask for in-ride fitness stats, report a road hazard, change screens and so on.
You can also use the microphone to send voice messages through the on-device Garmin Messenger app. The integrated speaker can play voice messages from other Garmin Messenger app users, read out in-ride stats and provide workout and navigation prompts. The speaker also acts as a digital bike bell.
Garmin says that the Edge Explore 3 offers up to 16 hours of battery life “in the most intense use cases”, while Edge Explore 3 Plus offers up to 14 hours. Each is said to provide up to 48 hours in battery saver mode.
The Edge Explore 3 has a suggested RRP of £349.99, while the Edge Explore 3 Plus is £429.99.
