The Garmin Edge 1050 was introduced today and is the fifth generation of the brand’s top-of-the-range bike computer range.
The flagship product finally gets the Garmin Pay feature. It’s been a long time coming, the best smartwatches have supported this feature for several years now.
The brand touts the Garmin Edge 1050 as the most powerful and capable GPS computer, but the launch was extremely quiet and without much fanfare.
This is a big change from how you typically present a newly designed product, but when you’re designing with digital bells, you might assume that the model is doing the ringing themselves.
Yes, because the other big thing is that the Garmin Edge 1050 has a digital bell.
The brand would probably claim that the brighter and clearer screen is the biggest headline, but as someone who has written for the love of bike bells and has tried to buy a coffee at a cafe stop with a Garmin in the past, these updates are more important than the move to a liquid crystal display and a much improved screen resolution.
Garmin Edge 1050 vs. Edge 1040
Coincidentally, today also marks almost two years to the day since the brand launched its last high-end cycling computer, the Garmin Edge 1040, which featured significant hardware updates such as solar battery charging and the addition of multi-band Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology.
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This time around, there are significantly fewer changes between this model and the previous one. Most of the new features are in the software and are similar to many features on your mobile phone, keeping the focus on the user experience.
Although Garmin has built on the good foundations of the Edge 1040, it’s interesting to see that some key features have been left out. It’s a strange move to launch a model with less technical power than the previous version. Solar charging is removed, resulting in a significant deterioration in battery life.
The new Garmin Edge 1050 promises up to 20 hours of battery life with heavy use, compared to up to 45 hours for the Edge 1040. Battery saver mode also drops by about forty percent to just 60 hours. And no, there’s no news yet from Garmin about a 1050 Solar model in the pipeline.
Garmin Edge 1040 (left) next to the new Garmin Edge 1050 (right) (Image credit: Garmin)
This drop in battery life is partly due to the new, larger, brighter and more detailed screen, which now contains 480 x 800 pixels compared to 282 x 470 pixels on the previous model.
When visually comparing this new model to the Edge 1040, there is little difference between the two. Garmin calls it a “refreshed design” rather than a redesign, meaning the body is now slightly more angled and slimmer. The buttons are now all metal, and the quarter-turn mount is now replaceable to extend its lifespan.
However, the focus of the new Garmin Edge 1050 is primarily on the rider experience. According to the brand, the GroupRide feature, which previously allowed Edge-equipped riders to send messages to each other and share locations and accident detection, has been updated.
In addition to staying connected with other cyclists through in-ride messaging, live location information, and crash detection, you can now set up alerts to notify other cyclists and route them to a cyclist who needs help.
Leaderboards and awards
(Image credit: Garmin)
The brand has also given the Garmin Edge 1050 a fun side, with leaderboards for climbs during the ride as well as post-ride awards. Garmin says these include titles such as “Speed Racer” for the highest top speed, “Chatterbox” for the rider who uses the GroupRide messaging feature the most, and “Worker Bee” for the rider who pedaled the most, again assuming riders have the compatible sensors.
The safety features of the Edge 1050 GroupRide feature have also been improved, so that hazards on roads or trails reported by other users of the technology are displayed on the screen. Of course, there is also the option to flag hazards yourself.
If you’re worried about the hazard warnings, don’t worry. The built-in speaker now audibly alerts users to red flags. The speaker even provides training and navigation instructions.
A helpful feature in theory to help keep your eyes on the road (or trail), although the drill sergeant approach to cycling might get a bit boring for your fellow riders and your passengers, with honking horns and passive-aggressive GPS signals commenting on your ride.
Improved navigation
Speaking of ride navigation, the new Garmin Edge 1050 also features a built-in course creator. The manufacturer says that this allows users to create courses directly on the device using the responsive touchscreen.
This route creation function is supported by practical features such as the ability to choose between paved and unpaved roads while driving and to benefit from audible warnings for upcoming unpaved sections.
Garmin says you can even share the new ride details with other devices, provided they support this feature.
Metrics
All the usual features are still there, of course, including dozens of ride metrics, many of which are available for free from Garmin. Firstbeat Analytics provides training insights on VO2 Max, training status, heat and altitude acclimation to help you evaluate your training.
Garmin also says the integrated Power Guide now takes into account wind data and the rider’s current endurance to adjust power goals in real time.
More data display and recording features should help you analyze your driving on a detailed level, but this isn’t exactly new territory for the brand, which is building on its data-using capabilities.
The question then is, at £649.99/$699.99, is it worth upgrading to the latest Garmin Edge 1050 just for the software updates and better screen?
There is no doubt that the new features on this latest model will be of great use to Garmin fans, but the lack of a solar panel and shorter battery life may be a concern for some.
The brighter, higher resolution screen is very welcome, and the built-in course creation almost eliminates the need for a Strava and Komoot membership. And with Garmin Pay now included, you could almost leave your mobile phone at home… if only you didn’t need a phone for all the bells and whistles to actually work.