So, I think I’ve become “a Garmin guy.”
I’ve been in the Garmin ecosystem for a few years now. I rode the flagship Edge 1040 Solar bike computer throughout 2022. I liked it enough that I felt comfortable calling it “The Best Garmin Ever.” After that, I added a Garmin Edge 540 Solar to my collection, which I’ve used since the spring of 2023. For my enduro mountain bike, I got a tiny little Garmin Edge 130. I even bought myself a Garmin Forerunner smartwatch to track my steps, sleep, recovery, and *gasp*, my runs.
Now, it’s 2024, and even though I didn't need it, I went and bought another Garmin — the new Edge 1050 bike computer. Why? Because it’s shiny and new. Sigh, yes, I'm ashamed to admit that I’m just like one of those crazed iPhone lovers who will stand in line for hours just to buy a new model that’s barely any different from the previous one.
Is the new Edge 1050 better than the current Edge 1040? Sure. It’s definitely different. Different enough that I see it as a completely separate product from the Edge 1040 and 1040 Solar. It doesn't replace those models and they will continue to be available in the Garmin line-up.
There were a few nifty new features I saw on the Edge 1050 that helped convince me to pull the trigger. Does that mean you should too? Maybe… but only if you have cash to burn because it's quite expensive!
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Garmin Edge 1050 Highlights:
- Vivid 3.5″ liquid crystal touchscreen display.
- Refreshed Design: New angled casing, all-metal buttons, and a replaceable quarter-turn mount
- Garmin Pay Contactless Payments: Pay for snacks or other essentials with a tap of the Edge
- Built-In Speaker: Provides an on-device bike bell to alert riders and pedestrians ahead, workout and navigation prompts
- On-Device Course Creator: Easily create courses using the responsive touchscreen and toggle different map overlays on or off
- Surface Type: See paved or unpaved roadways while riding and get alerts for upcoming unpaved sections
- Ride-Specific Routing: Get routing suited to a specific ride type — road, gravel, or mountain
- Map Manager with Wi-Fi® Connectivity: Add, swap, or update additional maps via Wi-Fi® right on the cycling computer
- 20-hour battery life - 60 hours in battery saver mode
- Price: $699.99
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Garmin Edge 1050 “Review”
Did you come here expecting a long, in-depth review of the Edge 1050? Well, you came to the wrong place.
Why? Because there’s a man on the internet who goes by DC Rainmaker, and he is hands down the best (and nerdiest) reviewer of bike electronics ever. DC Rainmaker already wrote an extenive Edge 1050 review, and nothing I write can come close to the obscene amount of detail and insight he has in his review.
[button]DC Rainmaker’s Edge 1050 Review[/button]
Here's what happened though. I watched and read DC Rainmaker's review, and I liked what I saw. He wasn't trying to sell me on the Edge 1050, but seeing the features in action convinced me to pick it up and try it out.
Things I Like About the Garmin Edge 1050
Okay, so while I’m not going to go deep reviewing this thing, I do want to talk about a few of the features that appealed to me and convinced me to buy.
The Screen Is BRIGHT
This comparison from DC Rainmaker shows it well. I think the screen is better in person too.
Most screens are hard to read in super sunny conditions. When I saw how bright the Edge 1050's screen was, I knew it was exactly what I wanted. The screen is what attracted me the most. It;s vibrant and dynamic, and looks futuristic compared to my current head units.
When I unboxed it for the first time, my wife had turned the lights off to watch a movie. I turned it on and it blinded the crap out of us. A very good sign! At high noon, with the Colorado sun shining straight down on it, every tiny data field is perfectly legible with the brightness turned up to only 75%. Yes, it drains the battery a bit faster, but I’m still getting several big rides on a single charge.
It Feels Like a Smartphone
I like touchscreens. The touchscreens on the Edge 1040 and 840 are pretty okay, but the touchscreen on the Edge 1050 is great. It’s the closest thing to a smartphone that I’ve experienced in a cycling head unit. I've also been playing with the the newest Hammerhead Karoo 3 and the Garmin is noticeably more responsive. Again, this just makes it feel futuristic. This excites me.
The Electronic Bell Is Legit
The Edge 1050 has a bell that uses the new built-in speaker. This wasn’t originally a selling point for me, but once I tried it, I started using it all the time. It’s loud, it sounds like a real bell, and it works! I've been clearing pedestrians like the Red Sea. I don’t think it’s quite as effective as a Spurcycle against headphone wearers, but it’s darn close and super impressive for a novel add-on.
Beyond the bell, another nice benefit of the built-in speaker is just how pleasant all the tones are. When you start a ride, get turn-by-turn directions, prompts, or notifications, the tones coming from the Edge 1050 sound so refined. The earlier Edge models sound like Tomagotchis in comparison. This is... yeah, futuristic.
So... Futuristic
It even looks good dirty...
What is it about the sharp angles of the new Edge 1050 that make it look so good? The Edge 1040 is only two years old and it already looks outdated next to the sleek stealth fighter silhouette of the Edge 1050. The metal buttons, the bright and responsive screen, and the dulcet tones from the speaker make it feel like I've stepped out of my 20-year-old Acura and into my brother-in-law’s brand-new Audi. THIS is what a modern car interior looks like!? Holy crap, mine is SO OLD. That’s kind of how it feels to compare all my other Garmin computers to the Edge 1050.
This only matters if you’re shallow (like me).
Road Hazard Warnings
This feature was released with the Edge 1050, but it will be available on all current Edge head units, so it’s not actually a selling point for this particular model. However, I thought it was really cool so I do want to mention it.
If you watch DC Rainmaker’s review video or read his post, you’ll see that a lot of the rides where he tested the new Edge 1050 were done in Colorado. We actually loaned him a bike so he could do this, and he ended up riding a lot of the roads and trails in my own backyard!
He talked about one of the cool new features to come out with the Edge 1050 — the new “Road Hazards” feature — and explained how he flagged animals (prairie dogs) on the trail. I rode this same trail a couple of weeks later with my Edge 1050 and got notified when I approached his flags. Lo and behold, a family of adolescent prairie dogs scattered into the trail as I approached, trying to take me out. Fortunately, I was ready to slam on the brakes. Nice try, prairie dogs! I confirmed the road hazard on my Edge 1050 so the next Garmin user can get the same warning. This is kind of neat.
Garmin Edge 1040 vs. Edge 1050
|
Feature |
Edge 1040 |
Edge 1050 |
|
Display |
3.5" color touchscreen, 282 ppi |
3.5" ultra-bright touchscreen, 1000 nits |
|
Resolution |
282 x 470 pixels |
480 x 800 pixels |
|
Processor |
Not specified |
Upgraded processor |
|
Battery Life |
35 hours (45 hrs with solar) |
20 hours |
|
Weight |
126 grams |
161 grams |
|
Onboard Memory |
32GB |
64GB |
|
Connectivity |
ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
ANT+, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
|
Navigation |
On-device route calculation |
On-device route creation with searchable POIs |
|
Gradient Readings |
Less responsive algorithm |
Faster responding gradient measurements |
|
Group Ride Features |
LiveTrack, rider-to-rider messaging |
Adds auto group crash detection |
|
Bike Alarm |
Yes |
Yes, plus audible bike bell |
|
Strava Live Segments |
Yes |
Yes, with enhancements |
|
Incident Detection |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Touchscreen keyboard |
Yes |
Improved with handwriting recognition |
|
Garmin Pay |
No |
Yes |
|
Battery-powered external LED support |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Multi-band GNSS chipset |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Pricing (MSRP) |
$599 ($749 for solar model) |
$699 |
Ultimately, the big difference is in the screen. The Edge 1050 sports a vibrant 3.5" display that pumps out an eye-searing 1000 nits of brightness, making it easily readable even in direct sunlight. This "retina-class" display is the most obvious advantage the Edge 1050 has over the Edge 1040.
Complementing the brilliant screen is the overhauled user interface that feels snappy and phone-like thanks to an upgraded processor. Compared to all other current Garmin models, going through the 1050's menus and panning/zooming the map feels buttery smooth.
Should You Buy the Edge 1050?
Maybe. So I’m NOT going to recommend that anyone go out and buy a $700 bike computer. Realistically, a Garmin Edge Explore 2 does everything I actually need for less than half of the price of the Edge 1050.
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If you just need a high-quality GPS head unit to track rides, record data, and navigate, the Edge Explore 2 is hard to beat. This is the head unit I got for my dad, who doesn’t need (or want) anything too fancy to handle his regular weekend long ride and the occasional Gran Fondo.
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Then there’s battery life. The compromise for such a bright and responsive screen is reduced battery life. If you need/want a head unit that will last well over 20 hours (which is still better than many competitors), then the Edge Solar models are what you’re after. The Edge 1040 Solar is still the ultimate “adventure computer” with its insane 45-hour battery life (100 hours in battery saver mode).
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If you just want the best full-feature bike computer for the money, then I think it’s the Edge 840. It’s what I bought my wife to help with her training and racing. If I could go back to when I purchased my Edge 540, I would have made myself get the 840 instead. It’s essentially the same as the 540, but it adds a touchscreen, which I think makes a huge difference in the ease of use.
So who’s the Edge 1050 for then? It’s for those who want the latest and greatest and can afford it. Remember my brother-in-law with the Audi? Yeah, this is his head unit. It will allow his his S-Works Tarmac SL8 to match his luxury car with its massive infotainment screen. And me, I guess. The guy who likes it because it's neat and it feels fancy. I like having a big bright touchscreen on the front of my bike. It turns my bike into a spaceship. It how I dreamed future head units would look 10-15 years ago.
Is it a must-have? No. But I like using it. It's a product that I think is perfect for this classic quote from Ferris Bueller — “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend you picking one up.”
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