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.
2026 update: The biggest question around this head unit is still Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1050. The quick answer is that the Edge 1050 is better if you want the brightest screen, slickest touchscreen experience, speaker, Garmin Pay, and newer group ride features. The Edge 1040 and 1040 Solar are still better if you care most about battery life, lower weight, and adventure riding. If you already own an Edge 1040 Solar and love the battery life, the 1050 is more of a luxury upgrade than a must-have.
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!
Contents:
- Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1050: Quick Answer
- Garmin Edge 1050 Highlights
- Garmin Edge 1050 Review
- Things I Like About the Garmin Edge 1050
- Garmin Edge 1040 vs Edge 1050
- Garmin Edge 1040 Solar vs 1050
- Garmin Edge 840 vs 1050
- Garmin Edge 1050 Solar and Edge 1060 Release Date
- Should You Buy the Edge 1050?
- Garmin Edge 1050 FAQ
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Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1050: Quick Answer
If you are comparing the Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1050, here is the simplest way to think about it:
- Buy the Garmin Edge 1050 if you want the best screen, fastest-feeling interface, built-in speaker, electronic bell, Garmin Pay, and a more modern smartphone-like experience.
- Buy the Garmin Edge 1040 if you want long battery life, full-featured navigation and training, a lighter device, and do not need the flashiest display.
- Buy the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar if battery life is your number-one priority for big rides, bikepacking, ultra events, or all-day adventures.
- Buy the Garmin Edge 840 if you want most of the serious training and navigation features in a smaller, cheaper package.
The Edge 1050 feels like the future because of its bright 3.5-inch display, higher resolution, speaker, and smoother touchscreen experience. But that comes with compromises: it is heavier than the 1040 and 1040 Solar, and its battery life is much shorter than the 1040 Solar. For me, the screen made it worth it. For a lot of riders, the 1040, 1040 Solar, or 840 will be the smarter buy.
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 — up to 60 hours in battery saver mode
- Weight: 161 grams
- 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 extensive 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
The Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1050 decision comes down to screen quality versus battery life. The Edge 1050 has the better display, higher resolution, built-in speaker, Garmin Pay, smoother interface, and newer ride features. The Edge 1040 is lighter and has much longer battery life.
|
Feature |
Edge 1040 |
Edge 1050 |
|
Display |
3.5" color touchscreen, transflective TFT |
3.5" vivid liquid crystal touchscreen |
|
Resolution |
282 x 470 pixels |
480 x 800 pixels |
|
Battery Life |
Up to 35 hours |
Up to 20 hours |
|
Battery Saver Mode |
Up to 70 hours |
Up to 60 hours |
|
Weight |
126 grams |
161 grams |
|
Onboard Memory |
32GB |
64GB |
|
Navigation |
On-device route calculation |
On-device route creation with searchable POIs |
|
Built-In Speaker / Bell |
No |
Yes |
|
Garmin Pay |
No |
Yes |
|
Multi-band GNSS |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Best For |
Long rides, training, navigation, battery life |
Best screen, premium feel, speaker, Garmin Pay, newest interface |
Ultimately, the big difference is in the screen. The Edge 1050 sports a vibrant 3.5" display with much higher resolution, making it easily readable even in direct sunlight. This 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. Compared to all other current Garmin models I’ve used, going through the 1050's menus and panning/zooming the map feels buttery smooth.
Bottom line: The Garmin Edge 1050 is the better premium bike computer. The Garmin Edge 1040 is the better endurance and value pick if you care more about battery life than display quality.
Garmin Edge 1040 Solar vs 1050
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar vs 1050 comparison is even more battery-focused. The Edge 1040 Solar is still the better pick for riders who want maximum battery life. Garmin lists the Edge 1040 Solar at up to 45 hours with solar, while the Edge 1050 is rated up to 20 hours. That is a huge difference if you ride long, travel, bikepack, race ultra-distance events, or hate charging devices.
The Edge 1050 wins on display quality, interface feel, speaker, Garmin Pay, and modern features. The 1040 Solar wins on battery life, lower weight, and adventure practicality.
| Choose This | If You Want... |
|---|---|
| Edge 1040 Solar | The longest battery life, solar charging support, lower weight, and big-ride dependability. |
| Edge 1050 | The best screen, best touchscreen experience, speaker, electronic bell, Garmin Pay, and premium feel. |
If I were bikepacking or doing an ultra-distance event, I’d still want the Edge 1040 Solar. For my normal road, gravel, and mountain bike rides, I prefer the Edge 1050 because the screen is just that good.
Garmin Edge 840 vs 1050
The Garmin Edge 840 vs 1050 decision is about size, price, and how much you care about having a big premium screen. The Edge 840 is smaller, lighter, cheaper, and still packed with serious training and navigation features. The Edge 1050 is bigger, brighter, heavier, more expensive, and more luxurious.
If you want a compact head unit for training, racing, and everyday riding, the Edge 840 is probably the smarter buy. If you want the biggest, brightest, fanciest Garmin display and like a more phone-like touchscreen experience, the Edge 1050 is the fun pick.
| Feature | Edge 840 | Edge 1050 |
|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 2.6" | 3.5" |
| Display Resolution | 246 x 322 pixels | 480 x 800 pixels |
| Battery Life | Up to 26 hours | Up to 20 hours |
| Best For | Training, racing, compact setup, better value | Big screen, premium feel, best display, speaker, Garmin Pay |
Garmin Edge 1050 Solar and Edge 1060 Release Date
Two common questions are whether there is a Garmin Edge 1050 Solar and when the Garmin Edge 1060 release date will be. As of this update, Garmin’s official cycling computer lineup does not list an Edge 1050 Solar or Edge 1060. The Edge 1050 is the premium bright-screen model, while the Edge 1040 Solar remains the choice for riders who want solar-assisted battery life.
Could Garmin eventually release an Edge 1060? Sure, Garmin will probably keep updating the Edge line over time. But I would not delay buying a head unit based on Edge 1060 rumors. If you need a computer now, choose based on your priorities: Edge 1050 for the best display, Edge 1040 Solar for battery life, or Edge 840 for value and size.
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, then the Edge Solar models are what you’re after. The Edge 1040 Solar is still the ultimate “adventure computer” with its 45-hour battery life, or up to 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 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 is 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.”
Garmin Edge 1050 FAQ
Is the Garmin Edge 1050 better than the Edge 1040?
Yes, the Garmin Edge 1050 is better than the Edge 1040 if you care about screen quality, touchscreen feel, speaker, electronic bell, Garmin Pay, and a more modern interface. The Edge 1040 is better if battery life, lower weight, and value matter more.
What is the biggest difference between Garmin Edge 1040 and 1050?
The biggest difference is the display. The Edge 1050 has a brighter, higher-resolution 3.5-inch liquid crystal touchscreen, while the Edge 1040 uses a lower-resolution transflective TFT display. The 1050 feels more like a smartphone, while the 1040 is more battery-efficient.
Is the Garmin Edge 1050 worth it?
The Garmin Edge 1050 is worth it if you want Garmin’s most premium bike computer experience and are willing to pay for the screen, speaker, Garmin Pay, and interface upgrades. It is not necessary if you mainly need ride recording, navigation, and training data.
Should I buy the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar or 1050?
Buy the Edge 1040 Solar if battery life is your top priority. Buy the Edge 1050 if screen quality and premium features matter more. For bikepacking, ultra-distance riding, and big adventure days, the 1040 Solar still makes more sense.
Is there a Garmin Edge 1050 Solar?
As of this update, Garmin does not list an Edge 1050 Solar in its official cycling computer lineup. Riders who want solar-assisted battery life should look at the Edge 1040 Solar or other Solar Edge models.
When is the Garmin Edge 1060 release date?
Garmin has not announced an Edge 1060 release date. If you need a bike computer now, it makes more sense to compare the current Edge 1050, Edge 1040 Solar, Edge 1040, and Edge 840 instead of waiting on rumors.
How much does the Garmin Edge 1050 weigh?
The Garmin Edge 1050 weighs 161 grams. That makes it heavier than the Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar, but the tradeoff is the larger, brighter, higher-resolution display and added speaker.
How long does the Garmin Edge 1050 battery last?
Garmin lists the Edge 1050 battery life at up to 20 hours, or up to 60 hours in battery saver mode. Real-world battery life depends on screen brightness, navigation use, sensors, phone connection, and settings.
Is the Garmin Edge 1050 better than the Edge 840?
The Edge 1050 is better if you want a bigger, brighter screen and premium features. The Edge 840 is better if you want a smaller, lighter, less expensive head unit that still has serious training and navigation features.
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