Garmin brings new screen tech to its flagship bike computer
Garmin has announced the Edge 1050, its new flagship GPS bike computer.
Claimed to be the “brightest and smartest” bike computer it has ever made, the Edge 1050 gets a new touchscreen display, Garmin Pay contactless payment capabilities and a replaceable quarter-turn mount.
There are also updates to mapping and navigation, and new features that enable greater connectivity with other Garmin Edge users, with in-ride hazard alerts, leaderboards and “witty post-ride awards”.
The Garmin Edge 1050 is an evolution of the brand’s Edge 1040 bike computer – one of the best bike computers currently available.
Notably, though, the Edge 1050 doesn’t get the optional solar charging capabilities and the claimed battery life has been reduced from 35 to 20 hours.
The Garmin Edge 1050 is available now and costs £649.99 / $699.99 / €699.99.
Updated design
Outwardly, the most obvious change compared to the Edge 1040 is the updated display and form factor.
The overall size appears similar to the Edge 1040, but the Edge 1050 gets an updated, more angular design with a new “vivid colour display”.
According to Garmin, this new screen is its brightest ever. According to Garmin, the Edge 1050 has a transmissive liquid crystal display (LCD) instead of a transflective LCD display as used on previous models.
The screen itself is the same size as on the Edge 1040 (3.5in / 88.9mm diagonal), but it has a higher pixel density, at 480×800 pixels compared to 282×470 pixels on the Edge 1040.
In theory, this should mean the Edge 1050 screen offers better brightness and clarity compared to the Edge 1040.
This perhaps explains why the claimed battery life has been reduced from 35 hours on the Edge 1040 (non-solar) to 20 hours on the Edge 1050.
However, Garmin notes that switching to its battery saver mode (which automatically adjusts screen brightness and settings to improve battery life) increases the claimed battery life to 65 hours. That’s closer to the 70 hours the Edge 1040 promises in the same mode.
Garmin says the quarter-turn mount on the base of the Edge 1050 is now replaceable.
New features
As well as changes to the design, the Edge 1050 gets a speaker, instead of a simple beeper – which can offer audio prompts for workout and navigation cues, and the ability to play a bell sound.
Like a ‘real’ bike bell, Garmin says this can be used to alert other riders, road users or pedestrians to your presence.
Garmin has also added Garmin Pay to the Edge 1050, which enables contactless payments to be made by the device itself.
Until now, this feature has only been available on Garmin’s range of smartwatches.
Navigation updates
Garmin says the Edge 1050 also has more powerful mapping and navigation tools.
The on-device course creator has been updated, with Garmin saying courses can now easily be created on the device, with the ability to toggle between different map overlays.
Perhaps with an eye on the ever-expanding interest in gravel and all-road cycling, Garmin says the Edge 1050 can differentiate between paved and unpaved roads, and can even alert you to upcoming unpaved sections.
As a result of this, Garmin says the Edge 1050 will be able to offer ride-specific routing for mountain, gravel and road cycling.
As on other Garmin Edge bike computers, riders will also be able to use Apple Maps on a connected iOS device to share a point of interest and automatically navigate to that location.
Garmin says riders will now be able to manage, download or update maps from the Edge 1050 itself, when connected to a Wi-Fi network.
GroupRide
Garmin has updated its GroupRide functionality, integrating it more prominently into the Edge 1050.
In addition to existing features, such as course information, shared messaging and live location data for group members, GroupRide will now feature ‘road hazard alerts’ from other group members.
In the spirit of friendly competition, Garmin says it is also implementing in-ride leaderboards for timed segments and “witty post-ride awards”, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Speed Racer – the rider who records the highest maximum speed
- Chatterbox – most heavily using the GroupRide messaging feature
- Worker Bee – most time spent pedalling
Garmin Edge 1050 pricing, specifications and availability
The Garmin Edge 1050 is available now and costs £649.99 / $699.99 / €699.99.
As noted, the Edge 1050 is only available without solar charging capabilities. When asked if a solar version would be available in the future, Garmin simply said it couldn’t comment on its upcoming product roadmap.
Claimed weight for the Garmin Edge 1050 is 161g, up 28g compared to the Edge 1040.
The Edge 1050’s dimensions are similar to the outgoing model at 60.2×118.5mm (the Edge 1040 measured 59.3×117.6mm), although the Edge 1050 is a little thinner at 16.3mm, compared to 20mm for the 1040.
Garmin says the Edge 1050 has 64GB of internal storage. This is the same as on the Edge 1040 Solar, but double the 32GB available on the standard Edge 1040.