Garmin has launched its new top-of-the-line Edge 1050 GPS cycling computer, which is said to have an improved display, built-in speaker, improved group riding features and contactless payments. However, compared to the Edge 1040, it has a shorter battery life and does not offer a solar edition.
Rumors of a new Garmin cycling computer have been swirling lately, and today it was launched as the Edge 1050, which claims 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 over a year ago.
Dan Bartel, Garmin’s vice president of global consumer sales, said: “We’re excited to introduce our most capable and powerful cycling computer to date with the Edge 1050.
“Providing an exceptional riding experience, excellent navigation and community-focused features, our latest bike computer is built 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 liquid crystal touchscreen display and a sloping bezel that leaves little room for buttons on the sides, unlike the Garmin Edge 840.
Battery life
In 2022, Garmin introduced solar charging to the Edge series with the 1040 Solar, expanding to more affordable versions such as the 540 and 840 when they were launched in the spring of 2023. However, the new Edge 1050 does not – or does not yet – incorporate this technology. Garmin provided some clarification on this: “The Edge 1040 Solar will exist alongside the 1050, which has a brighter screen – so customers can choose whether they prefer a brighter screen or solar/really long battery life”. We can only speculate as to why not right now: maybe solar charging wasn’t popular or considered Garmin fans extra cash.
Back to “traditional” charging methods: Garmin says the Edge 1050 offers “a vivid color display, enhanced group riding features, a built-in speaker and more — all without sacrificing battery life.” Despite these improvements, the Edge 1050 offers up to 20 hours of battery life “under heavy use” and up to 60 hours in battery saver mode. By comparison, the non-solar Garmin Edge 1040 offers up to 35 hours of battery life under heavy use and up to 70 hours in battery saver mode.
Notification of incident detection
The Edge 1050 introduces a number of new features aimed at “fostering a more cohesive cycling community”.
Users can now receive alerts about road hazards, such as pothole or fallen tree warnings, reported by other cyclists. In addition, in-ride reports and leaderboards have been added, introducing a competitive element to the 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 Garmin Pay contactless payment functionality to the Edge 1050, matching its latest smartwatch. This feature could make it easier to pay at a cafe stop without having to dig through your pockets, although paying for things with the 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 exercise and navigation instructions, but also doubles as a bike bell to alert other road users of your presence. As fronts are increasingly integrated and non-standard in their shape, the integrated bell feature seems to be a win; though we haven’t tried it yet, we will in our upcoming full Edge 1050 review.
Create a course on the device
You can also create routes directly on the Edge 1050, as well as access routes suitable for a particular ride or most used by other Garmin users. Cyclists can also use pin navigation to send a POI from Apple Maps and automatically receive navigation to that location.
Performance tools and statistics
The Edge 1050 is packed with training tools like personalized Garmin training plans, real-time endurance reports, performance metrics like VO2 max and training status, and features like ClimbPro for tackling climbs.
It’s worth noting that several of these features require the use of compatible smartphones and sensors such as a power meter and/or heart rate monitor, which must be purchased separately.
The Garmin Edge 1050 is available to buy now and costs £649.99, which means it won’t be our budget bike computer guide any time soon. Compared to other high-end cycling computers that have been released recently, the latest versions such as the Coros Dura solar GPS cycling computer, which offers up to 120 hours of battery life, are available for £249. Another option is the Hammerhead Karoo 3 with a 3.2in display priced at £450 for a similarly sized unit.
garmin.com