Garmin launched the new Edge 1050 cycling computer today, which the brand claims is the “brightest and smartest cycling computer ever”.
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar features in our best bike computer buyer’s guide, and we understand that it will still exist as a solar option alongside the Edge 1050, which we hope to receive soon to test alongside the 1040.
The unit will carry a £649.99 / $699.99 / €699.99 SRP. This makes the Edge 1050 £200 more than the recently launched third generation Hammerhead Karoo and puts the new 1050 at the very top of the cycle computer market.
The Edge 1050 has a touchscreen display and will deliver a claimed 20 hours of battery life and 60 hours in battery saver mode. It’s very capable on normal road and gravel, but it falls short of the latest batch of ultra-long battery life PCs, like the Coros Dura, which we estimate can last up to 375 hours of riding.
The Edge 1050 appears to have received some updated design changes, interesting new features such as support for contactless payments, as well as building on Garmin’s strong reputation for its computers offering strong fitness and training features and support.
Dan Bartel, Garmin’s Vice President of Global Consumer Sales said;
“We’re excited to introduce our most capable, high-performance bike computer yet with the Edge 1050. Delivering an exceptional riding experience, superior navigation and community-focused features, our latest bike computer is made to keep the motivation of cyclists – whether you’re planning a group ride with friends or a long, solo adventure.
The latest racing content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, straight to your inbox!
So what’s new?
The new Garmin 1050 is said to feature an updated design and the new device now has an angular body and sturdier all-metal buttons. There’s also a replaceable quarter-turn kickstand, as well as a 3.5-inch liquid crystal display.
The Edge 1050 will also support Garmin Pay contactless payments, a technology supported in Garmin smartwatches aimed at competing with Apple Pay on the Apple Watch. This technology means owners will be able to pay at the cafe using their bike computer, leaving the cards at home and the phone in their back pocket.
There’s also a built-in speaker, which Garmin says will allow riders to hear training and navigation instructions. There’s also a built-in bike bell to alert other road users of your presence.
A new course creator on the device will allow owners to create courses and routes on the device. Paved and unpaved surfaces will also be easy to see on the screen, according to the brand’s press release.
Wi-Fi connectivity will allow users to use the Map Manager feature to add, swap or update additional maps, and the trip-specific route will cater for mountain, gravel or road rides.
The GroupRide feature has also received improvements depending on the brand, and riders can communicate via messaging while riding. Live location and incident detection alerts can notify and even direct other riders to a cyclist in need of assistance. Drivers will also be able to receive warnings of hazards reported by colleagues, such as fallen trees or potholes. These alerts will soon be available for the Edge 540, Edge 840 and Edge 1040 devices.
Image 1 on 2
Training and fitness features
Garmin devices have a reputation for strong fitness features, and the Edge 1050 seems to live up to that.
The device includes free Garmin training plans and real-time endurance information. The power guide feature will now take into account wind data and the rider’s current endurance level to make real-time adjustments to target power.
Training insights are provided by Firstbeat Analytics, including training status, heat and altitude and V02 Max. Trendline Popular Routes will also help cyclists find the most used routes by other Garmin cyclists. Users will also be able to send a pin from Apple Maps and navigate to that location, a feature Hammerhead Karoo also offers for Google Maps.
ClimbPro displays climb metrics such as climb time and incline, while ClimbExplore displays nearby climbs on the device or in the Garmin Connect app. MTB riding metrics are also covered by specific metrics such as number of jumps, jump distance, grit and flow.
The Edge 1050 will also include safety features such as live tracking and incident detection for select contacts. It will also be comparable to Varia products, Garmin’s range of smart radars and lights.
Image 1 on 2
