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TECH NEWS
2024 Garmin Edge 1050Garmin claims new Edge 1050 is "brightest, smartest and most connected cycling computer ever"... but there's less battery life and no solar option
Garmin has launched its new top-of-the-range GPS cycling computer, the Edge 1050, which is said to have an improved display, built-in speaker, enhanced group ride features and the ability to make contactless payments. However, it has a shorter battery life compared to the Edge 1040 and doesn't offer a solar edition.
Rumours have been circulating recently about a new Garmin cycling computer, and today it has been launched as the Edge 1050, claiming to be the "brightest and smartest cycling computer ever". This is Garmin's first new cycling computer since the Edge 540 and Edge 840 were unveiled together more than a year ago.
Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales, is quoted as saying: “We are excited to introduce our most capable, high-performing bike computer yet with the Edge 1050.
"Delivering an exceptional in-ride experience, superior navigation and community-focused features, our latest cycling computer is made to keep cyclists motivated - whether they’re planning a group ride with friends or a long, solo adventure."
The Edge 1050 features an updated design with a 3.5-inch wrap-around liquid crystal touchscreen display and angled casing, leaving little room for buttons around the sides, unlike the Garmin Edge 840.
Battery life
In 2022, Garmin introduced solar charging to the Edge range with the 1040 Solar, extending to more accessible versions like the 540 and 840 when they launched in the spring of 2023. However, the new Edge 1050 doesn't - or doesn't yet - incorporate this technology. Garmin provided some clarity on this: "The Edge 1040 Solar will exist next to the 1050 which has the brighter screen - so customers can choose if they prefer a brighter screen or solar/really long battery life". We can only speculate as to why not right now: perhaps solar charging wasn't popular or considered worth the extra money by Garmin fans.
Back to 'traditional' charging methods: Garmin says that the Edge 1050 features "a vivid colour display, enhanced group ride features, built-in speaker, and more - all without sacrificing battery life." Despite these advancements, the Edge 1050 offers up to 20 hours of battery life "in demanding use" and up to 60 hours in battery saver mode. In comparison, the non-solar Garmin Edge 1040 offers up to 35 hours of battery life in demanding use, and up to 70 hours in battery saver mode.
Incident detection alerts
The Edge 1050 introduces numerous new features aimed at "fostering a more cohesive cycling community".
Users can now receive road hazard alerts, such as warnings for potholes or fallen trees, reported by fellow cyclists. Additionally, in-ride messaging and leaderboards have been added to introduce a competitive element to rides.
These updates will also be available soon on the Edge 540, Edge 840 and Edge 1040 series cycling computers.
Contactless payments
Garmin has also introduced the Garmin Pay contactless payments feature to the Edge 1050, matching its recent smartwatches. This feature could make payments more convenient at the cafe stop without the need to rummage in your pockets, although paying for things with your bike computer might take some getting used to...
Built-in speaker and integrated bike bell
The Edge 1050 also features an integrated speaker that not only provides workout and navigation prompts, but also serves as a bike bell, alerting other road users of your presence. With front ends becoming more and more integrated and non-standard in their shape, the integrated bell feature seems like a win-win; although we haven't tested it out yet, but will be doing so in our upcoming full review of the Edge 1050.
On-device course creation
You can also create routes directly on the Edge 1050, as well as access routes suited to a specific ride or most travelled by other Garmin users. Cyclists can also use pin drop navigation to send a POI from Apple Maps and automatically receive navigation to that location.
Performance tools and insights
The Edge 1050 is equipped with training tools such as personalised Garmin training plans, real-time stamina insights, performance metrics such as VO2 max and training status, and features like ClimbPro for tackling climbs.
It's worth noting that several of these features demand the use of compatible smartphones and sensors, such as a power meter and/or heart rate monitor, which must be bought separately.
The Garmin Edge 1050 is available to buy now and costs £649.99, meaning it won't be making our cheap cycling computers buyer's guide any time soon. In comparison with other high-end bike computers launched recently, recent releases like the Coros Dura solar GPS bike computer, offering up to 120 hours of battery life, are available for £249. Another option is the Hammerhead Karoo 3, featuring a 3.2-inch display, priced at £450 for a similarly-sized unit.
Emily is our track and road racing specialist, having represented Great Britain at the World and European Track Championships. With a National Title up her sleeve, Emily has just completed her Master’s in Sports Psychology at Loughborough University where she raced for Elite Development Team, Loughborough Lightning.
Emily is our go-to for all things training and when not riding or racing bikes, you can find her online shopping or booking flights…the rest of the office is now considering painting their nails to see if that’s the secret to going fast…
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37 comments
Careful of this one, GPlama on YouTube points out that the half turn mount has moved, and this unit is most likely not to fit on your existing mounts... FFS, idiots. How many of us have K-Edge or integrated mounts. I bought a1040 today, now just about affordable.
I wonder how long it will be before the light-fingered fraternity cotton on to the fact that cyclists are carrying devices worth many, many hundreds of pounds on their handlebars and start trying to grab them off at traffic lights et cetera? I think if I had one of these around my neighbourhood, or indeed any inner-city neighbourhood, I would be continually worrying about losing it and maybe being harmed myself in the process.
I assume the payment feature has some kind of security to it, fingerprint scan or pin or something, otherwise you could lose a lot more than your smartphone priced GPS unit!
You have to have entered your pin no longer ago than 24h, so anyone that 'acquires' it would have at most that long to make use of it (which is more secure than a bank card, where they can use it for as long as they like until (a) you realise it it's missing and cancel it, (b) the bank notices an unusual transaction pattern and requires a pin, or (c) the bank randomly asks for a pin).
With the watches, it also requires a pin after any time you take it off - don't know how that works with a head unit, though.
[Edit]
Digging a bit further, it appears you have to enter the PIN for every transaction on the 1050. Which does make it marginally less convenient, but pretty secure.
Personally, a camera that takes gelocated images and video would be of more use than playing an approximation of a bell noise (a cough and friendly hello needs no extra mass). The Garmin Oregon 550 & 750 multi-sport GPSr added a stills camera years ago.
The trouble is if a cycling specifc GPSr looks like a full Android phone (curved glass is so 2020), costs the same at a full Android phone, then why not just use the phone you have?
Well, Garmin on balance probably has better battery life, waterproofing and tested software integration with sensors like power meters, electronic group sets, radar, squirrels, and GPX/ FIT uploading. Garmin software does far too much - but includes that one unique feature no one else uses!
The underlying mapping source is almost certainly Open Street Map in common with loads of other devices, Strava, Komoot and a hundred other phone apps.
These trade-offs mean most folk end up with a cheaper head unit and a phone in a ziploc bag. Two devices; neither quite right.
The Android-based Hammerhead Karoo looked promising as an all-in-one, but seems to have actually removed connectivity.
I like them
What are Garmin up to? Didnt the 1030 go on for years before the 1040 was released? Personally I prefer a slightly crapper screen and almost double the battery life.
They must feel threatened by the Karoo?
I'd pay for a 1040.5 at about £399-£450. Might keep a lookout for discounted 1040's...
(Edit the 1040 is currently on sale at £450... if you look around)
Nice screens grab headlines and attention. Long battery life does not. Its the unsung hero that no one cares about until you actually use it. They can't win either way. Get critisised for dated screens like they constantly do, update them and get critisised for worse (but lets face it still great) battery life
Garmin are going to keep the x40 series going in parallel as endurance options. That's what GPLama wrapped up his video with anyway, and the x40 models are getting a few of the new features as an update in the next few months.
I think you're right about where Garmin see the market threats from, the screens look old school compared to latest offerings from Hammerhead and Wahoo, or indeed any smartphone. It's only the better performance and features keeping Garmin ahead.
Anyway, I've got one on the way now, should arrive next week.
If you are eligible the Blue Light Card discount scheme can be very good for Garmin products. Edge 1040 is currently £442 on there.
If you don't mind slightly used, but still with a warranty you can check on e.g. CEX. They list the 1040 for £405 at A grade, although out of stock currently (B grade in stock for £375). I bought an A grade Edge 830 and it was essentially brand new in box - still had the protective film over the screen and all accessories unopened in their little bags.
If you don't mind slightly used, but still with a warranty you can check on e.g. CEX
I have only twice bought 'used' from Amazon. The first was 8 years ago when I got a cheap laptop (which still works) which gave me a moderate amount of grief because the first user had 'locked' the BIOS. I tried again recently with some returned Sony noise cancelling bluetooth earphones. I expected the charging cable would be missing, and it was, and I was only a little surprised that 2 of the earbuds were also missing. However, I returned them the following day because, despite me updating the firmware and being good at reading the manual, they didn't work. Amazon were good at arranging for the parcel to be collected and paying a full refund, but I won't make this mistake of buying 'used' from a big online seller again! They don't check returned items, they just send them out again.
CeX are a bit different though as they don't (as far as I'm aware) deal in returns but secondhand electronics sold to them by the public, so obviously they check everything for being in working order before they buy, let alone resell. That's why they offer a full 24 month warranty on everything; in addition they have nearly 400 stores in the UK so you can go and see what you're buying before parting with your cash if you want.
No association with CeX except as a happy customer, I've bought a number of pieces of tech from them over the years and it's always been excellent, often at lower prices than one can find offered from private sellers on eBay.
Ready to ship in 5-8 weeks. I like the look of the screen and I could easily get by with the reduced battery life compared to the 1040 Solar. However I'm slightly concerned about stability given that it took over a year for the x40 series software issues to be ironed out
I'm also interested to know if profiles, sensors & screens can be transferred over from other models, I dare say DCR and/or GPL will have had their hands on one and will be posting a video soon.
Edit: GPL here already https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY_-ZVqU0oo
Edit: although Garmin are showing 5-8 weeks, Sigma & Tredz are shipping this week 🤔
Garmin pay is almost completely unsupported by banks in the UK, so I wouldn't worry too much about getting used to paying with your computer.
I'll further - its a shit function thats almost entirely of zero use.
On the other hand, as Garmin Pay supports Starling, I haven't paid with anything other than my Forerunner for the last year or so and it has worked flawlessly. The only place I was unable to use it was a small car park in Cornwall that also refused to accept a contactless payment from my Co-op visa debit card.
I'll give you that support across UK banks is poor, but it is not a "shit function thats almost entirely of zero use".
+1. Works perfectly on a Starling account. The comment about it being shit and entirely of zero use is so wrong it's funny.
Just coz 2 ppl fanboi over their Challenger Bank accounts doesnt make Garmin Pay any less crappy.
Here is the current state of the consumer banking market and the list of supported banks from Garmin.
With the possible exception of Santander I stand by my shit statement.
Oooh, touched a nerve have we? Your point was the Garmin pay service was shit and of no use, two people disagree through actual experience of using it and so you have to run off and do some research to try and prove your entirely incorrect point. If your point was Garmin Pay isn't supported by many banks, true it's not (thanks for your research). But that's not what you said is it? You said a service you have literally never used was shit. If anything was entirely of zero use it's making uninformed comments about something you've never used.
To be fair, they said almost entirely of zero use, so I'm not sure 2 happy customers roundly contradicts that. Personally I don't find it a hassle taking a credit card with me too, but then I'm still rocking a Garmin 800 so I'm not the target market.
I'll give you the benefit of assuming you must have had a shitty day because I have seen hundreds of your posts on this site over the years and you don't generally display that level of childish rudeness to two people simply responding to something they thought was an over the top generalisation.
£600 pounds for a bike computer, I would not have any cash left to buy much coffee and cake if i spent that amount on a bike head unit. I have spent less than that on a whole bike, and it works and does the job that any bike should do just fine. My curent computer is Bryton 420 (£80 - £100) That does every thing I want for over 6 times less. Yes if you got the cash then "fill your boots!!" but realy are we just being marketed ever more funnctions, tinkering at the edges, and then paying top money for only a little more?
Yes.
The question is, why are you even here making this comment. You are not going to buy one, you never are.
becuse that is the poblem with the bike industry, chasing the big ticket item (lower volume, but biger profit margins) and not looking at making solid products that are well made for long haul and that just does the job you ask of them, that is in part, but not the only reason why everytihing bike is so expensive. I will not be part of this game, so yes you are right, I probably, this side of a lottery win never be able to justify buying something so expensive that I really do not see the need for.
What are you on about? What's "this game?" You make out like the bike industry is a global marketing conspiracy to part you with money in exchange for shit. It's really not. For every halo bike or top of the range accessory, there are many alternative options below it. Nobody is forcing you to buy anything, or indeed post a comment telling the class that you don't need it. Yes you can spend north of £12k on a bike, but equally there are many models below £1k.
One could also argue that the top end products contribute to the functionality of mainstream stuff with trickle-down technology. Do you think that mechanical 105 would be as good as it is now without the Dura-Ace of 10 years ago? Do you think Garmin Edge 130 (currently £140) would be as good as it is without the likes of 1030, 1040, 1050 sales funding the development?
Isn't that basically most of modern society?
Check out curve as a back door for adding it
Exactly this. I applied for a free Curve account with a few clicks. A few taps on the phone and watch, and now Curve takes the payment on the Garmin watch, then debits my long standing HSBC bank account immediately after. No switching up bank accounts and basically zero friction. Paying by watch also makes ticket barriers so much easier to navigate while rolling a bike through.
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