First impressions of the new Garmin Edge 1050 bike computer/GPS

Garmin launches a new high-end bike computer/GPS with an even brighter screen, advanced social features, and an integrated speaker, all while preserving battery life. We’ve already had a quick hands-on with this new device.

By Guillaume Judas (with press release) – Photos: ©Garmin

Garmin today announces the launch of the Edge 1050, its most powerful and connected bike computer/GPS to date. This model does not replace the Edge 1040 Solar, which boasts unparalleled battery life, but rather complements it in the range with even more immersive and social features, a premium finish, and an increased weight of 161 g (compared to 126 g for the 1040).

Featuring a touchscreen, the Edge 1050 combines advanced navigation, performance tracking, cyclist assistance, and smart connectivity. It has a battery providing up to 20 hours of autonomy for intensive use and up to 60 hours in power-saving mode.

With its many mutual aid functions, you can receive alerts about road hazards reported by other users, consult the integrated messaging, and view rankings during group sessions. It also offers new features such as on-device course creation, Garmin Pay, and an integrated speaker to enrich the user experience.

According to Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales, “we are thrilled to introduce our most powerful and advanced bike computer to date: the Edge 1050. Offering an exceptional on-ride experience, advanced navigation, and community-focused features, our latest bike computer is designed to keep cyclists motivated, whether they’re planning a group ride with friends or a long solo adventure.”

For group rides

The Edge 1050 features functionalities designed to bring the cycling community together. The GroupRide function allows you to stay connected with your riding companions through integrated messaging, real-time location tracking, and incident detection alerts. These alerts can notify other cyclists and guide them to the person needing help. Groups can also add a competitive dimension to their rides with real-time rankings for climbs, for example.

All riders can also receive alerts indicating road hazards reported by other cyclists, such as potholes or fallen trees, and in turn, warn other users, much like the Waze community for motorists.

New features of the Garmin Edge 1050 bike computer/GPS

The device features a beveled casing, discreet all-metal buttons, and a replaceable quarter-turn mount around a 3.5″ LCD screen. The 1050 now offers Garmin Pay contactless payment, as well as an integrated speaker for listening to voice training and navigation instructions, and alerting cyclists and pedestrians on the road with a built-in bell.

With the 1050, you’ll also find an on-device course creator, to easily draw routes directly on the device using the responsive touchscreen, and enable or disable different map layers. It also allows you to view paved and unpaved roads on the Edge during rides, and receive alerts when approaching unpaved sections. It also offers routes for all types of bikes, to adapt the course to the type of activity (MTB, road, or Gravel). Finally, the map manager is improved with Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to add, exchange, or update additional maps via Wi-Fi, directly on the bike computer.

Free training programs

Free Garmin training programs, such as adaptive event training plans, offer personalized sessions that adjust based on performance and recovery. Daily workout suggestions, meanwhile, recommend rides based on your current training load and VO2 max.

Firstbeat Analytics data, such as VO2 max, training status, heat and altitude acclimatization, help you evaluate your performance and understand your physiological responses. Cycling ability and course demands features also allow you to compare your capabilities to the demands of a specific course, so you can focus on your training goals.

Real-time Stamina data allows you to monitor and adjust efforts, making it easier to adapt your training program or manage your pace. The power guide, taking into account wind and the cyclist’s current Stamina, adjusts power targets in real time.

ClimbPro displays the remaining ascent and gradient for each climb, whether it’s a recorded course or not, while the Climb Explorer widget allows you to view nearby climbs on the device or on Garmin Connect. Advanced cycling dynamics provide detailed performance information including MTB metrics, such as jump count, jump distance, Grit, and Flow, to track every ride.

As for the popular Trendline route generator, it allows you to find the best routes taken by other Garmin cyclists, or use preloaded Garmin Cycle Maps including global Trailforks (MTB trails) data. Cyclists can also use Pin Drop navigation to send a point of interest from Apple® Maps and automatically receive navigation to that location.

Stay alert, stay connected

To ride with confidence, the Edge 1050 includes safety features such as LiveTrack and incident detection. The device is compatible with the Varia range of bike radars and smart lights, as well as inReach satellite communication devices. To ride all year round, the Edge 1050 easily pairs with Tacx smart indoor trainers and can also be customized with data fields, apps, and widgets from the Connect IQ mobile app. The Edge 1050 is now available at a suggested retail price of €749.99.

Our first test of the Garmin Edge 1050 bike computer/GPS

We had a quick hands-on with this new bike computer/GPS for a few kilometers, alternating with other journalists during a ride organized by Garmin on the roads of the Chevreuse Valley, before a more in-depth test later this summer.

The device’s weight gain is striking compared to other bike computers of the same type, but the qualitative appearance is also there, with the first impression being that of handling a beautiful smartphone. The touchscreen is clear and responsive, with fairly intuitive ergonomics. After a few kilometers, it’s quite easy to navigate the menus and features, although obviously, one cannot claim to try everything in such a short time on such a complete device. The Edge 1050 remains compatible with the Bluetooth buttons on Shimano Dura-Ace and Ultegra Di2 brake/shift levers, as well as Sram Red AXS, although we did not have time to test this function.

The mapping seems perfectly legible, as does the ClimbPro function which announces upcoming difficulties. The most surprising feature is the integrated speaker which offers identical guidance (but can be deactivated if needed) to that of a car GPS or a smartphone. This same speaker can emit a fairly loud bell sound when you press a specific icon on the touchscreen, on the main menu page. We hope that Garmin will quickly connect this function to the satellite buttons on the brake levers, which would be a real advantage in terms of safety when cycling in the city or on a bike path.

We were also able to appreciate the real-time location of our riding companions, as we had gotten a little lost in traffic while approaching the Capital.

At the end of this first hands-on, the Edge 1050 appears user-friendly and easy to use. As often with this type of device, no one will use all the functions, but the fact that Garmin has focused on the social and sharing aspect here should appeal to many users. Especially technology aficionados.

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