Long-term review of the new Garmin Edge 1050 bike computer/GPS

A bright, smartphone-responsive screen, an integrated speaker, and advanced social functions are the new features of Garmin’s latest high-end bike computer/GPS: the Edge 1050. A very complete and easy-to-use device, as we were able to verify during an extended test over 3000 km.

By Guillaume Judas – Photos: David Polveroni/©3bikes.fr/©Garmin

With the Edge 1050, Garmin claims to offer its most powerful and connected bike computer/GPS to date, with new features as well as a slightly curved casing for easier touch manipulation, metallic buttons for a high-end look, and especially a bright 3.5-inch LCD screen powered by a new, faster processor. This model does not replace the Edge 1040 Solar, which offers unparalleled battery life on the market. But it offers new functions such as an integrated speaker for GPS guidance or a bell to signal your presence, receiving alerts indicating road hazards, creating routes directly on the device, contactless payments for your bakery stops, or better connection with other cyclists in a group with live tracking, sending and receiving messages, and even live rankings after certain segments.

With its qualitative appearance, the Garmin Edge 1050 is also one of the heaviest devices of its type on the market, weighing 161 g. That’s 23 g more than a 1040 and double an Edge 840, which is preferred by racers. But weight is obviously not the only criterion to consider, and it must be said that in use, the 1050 quickly becomes addictive, even if it seems impossible for a single user to regularly enjoy all its functions. For this reason, we decided to test this device with four hands, with two riders of different profiles, both on road and gravel.

Other developments brought by the Garmin Edge 1050

In addition to the new features mentioned above, the Edge 1050 benefits from a redesigned user interface to take advantage of the new screen, a Wifi map manager for updates/downloads, the ability for direct device-to-device transfers, indication of surface type on the road, instant responsiveness of gradient indication, a replaceable mounting tab (in case of damage or breakage), and on-device tutorials for even easier and faster setup.

Like the Edge 1040, the 1050 retains superior waterproofing (IPX7) and 64 GB of internal storage for maps and activity history. Garmin claims a battery life of just over 20 hours, which we can confirm despite a phone, heart rate strap, and power meter connected, all while enjoying the excellent brightness of the new screen. It is still possible, however, to use Battery Saver mode if you don’t need to see your data displayed constantly, which allows for over 60 hours of battery life.

Sold for €749, the Garmin Edge 1050 is priced the same as the 1040 Solar, which is now slightly less advanced in some respects, but retains a significantly longer battery life (up to 90 hours).

=> BUY THE GARMIN EDGE 1050 FOR €729.99

Getting started with the Garmin Edge 1050

Upon taking the device out of the box and powering it on for the first time, you are greeted by a QR Code that you are invited to scan with your smartphone. If you have already downloaded the Garmin Connect app (with the latest update), it automatically opens on your phone and recognizes the 1050, before offering to reinstall the menu page organization from your old Garmin onto your new device. The transfer then takes only a few seconds. This is not only a considerable time saver, but it also means you don’t lose your own usage habits.

Just like the Wahoo app, Garmin Connect now also allows you to organize data pages directly on your smartphone (up to 10 pages) by choosing the number of display fields and their layout on the screen. Each modification is then directly transferred to the device. It is, of course, possible to create several profiles, for example, for different types of riding (e.g., road, gravel, indoor trainer, or training/race), each with different data pages. Switching from one profile to another is easy from the home screen, at the top, by swiping left and right and tapping to select.

On the lower part of the home menu screen, you have to swipe the screen to access different functions, such as the Garmin Pay wallet, the list of your favorite Strava segments, or the nearest listed climbs. A slightly less intuitive operation from our point of view, but you get used to it quickly nonetheless.

Road hazard prevention: a feature that will grow

With the Edge 1050, Garmin integrates a new road hazard prevention function, much like Waze does for car traffic. The goal is to allow each user to warn other riders of a potential danger on the road, such as a pothole, the presence of gravel or a slippery surface, a construction zone, etc. While riding, the user can simply touch the screen to mark a hazard, choosing from five categories. This alert is transmitted in real time to the Garmin Connect app via your phone. In return, other cyclists passing on the same road receive an alert message on their bike computer/GPS also via Garmin Connect, allowing them to be more attentive as they approach the hazard. And as with Waze, they have the option to confirm or deny the presence of the hazard, and thus keep the alert message active.

During our test, we appreciated the alerts, and their relatively discreet placement on the screen, accompanied by an audible warning, without obscuring the data. They are not very intrusive for now, given the still relatively small number of users. But it is always possible to deactivate them on the bike computer.

Since a recent update, this function is not limited to the Edge 1050, as it is now available for Garmin Edge 540/840/1040 and Explore 2 bike computers. Its use should therefore develop rapidly.

GroupRide and the social side of the Edge 1050

With GroupRide, Garmin extends its features for group rides. This function was also introduced with the Edge 1050, but is now available for 540/840/1040 bike computers after a recent update. It allows you to see the location of other members of your group live on the map, as well as send them messages. It also allows you to receive alerts if an incident is detected for one of the other members of the group. Useful when all your friends don’t ride at the same speed or some are lagging behind on a climb.

Even more fun, this function offers the possibility to follow live the speed and ascent times of each group member in the middle of a ride, and to establish a ranking. Interesting for those who like to compete with friends on certain reference climbs. Finally, at the end of the shared ride, it offers virtual rewards by taking into account, for example, the maximum speed of each group member, or power data. These challenges are ultimately not very relevant for experienced riders, but they are a source of motivation for a whole new category of new riders.

To activate GroupRide, each group member must have a phone connected to Garmin Connect, and all live tracking options must be enabled. Then, you can create or join a group using a verification code received on your phone and entered on the bike computer. Messages, location options, incident detections, and live rankings will depend on your phone’s cellular coverage. In other words, the function may falter in very remote areas or areas with poor phone network coverage. We will see over time if it becomes a real must-have for all potential buyers of an Edge 1050.

The bell: a feature that can make a difference

The new “bell” or “horn” function of the Edge 1050 is available thanks to the integrated speaker under the device. The advantage? To have a warning device to signal your presence to other road users or cycle paths, much nicer than a shout in the middle of a city intersection, or even better on trails in the middle of nature used for gravel riding.

The bell’s “ding-ding” can be activated while riding in two ways: first, by tapping twice on the bike computer screen (once to exit the data screen to access the main menu, a second time to press the horn icon), or by configuring one of the hidden buttons on the Shimano Di2 or new Sram Red AXS shift/brake hoods. This latter option is obviously the most practical and intuitive. The artificial sound (adjustable in intensity) of this bell is, in our opinion, very well done, to the point that it surprised no one among the people we passed or overtook on cycle paths. A very good point.

A fast and accurate GPS

With its multi-band GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), the Garmin Edge 1050’s GPS is very powerful. Fast and accurate, it handles difficult situations with flying colors, such as signal detection in the city between two buildings in just a few seconds at startup, or signal recovery when exiting a tunnel a few hundred meters long. On our road rides, whether in the Paris region or in high mountains, even with some steep or forested sections, we did not detect any signal loss or erratic tracks that were off from the road.

The mapping is, in our opinion, of better quality than on previous models. It is clearer, more legible, and also more user-friendly. A real pleasure to use, even if it remains subjective.

But like most bike computers/GPS, the 1050 lacks a little responsiveness off paved roads, as we observed on some gravel rides. Following a predetermined track with very narrow paths can sometimes be difficult. A delay of one or two seconds in updating the location is enough to miss a path entrance or a change of direction. It must be said, however, that in these conditions, it is not always easy to pay close attention to both the terrain in front of the wheels and the bike computer screen. Voice guidance (thanks to the integrated speaker), which can be activated or deactivated, is very useful in this case, even if not very discreet. It is, in any case, an undeniable asset compared to all other devices of this type on the market.

When following a route, the on-screen directions are generally very clear and easy to follow. We experienced a route traced in a few minutes on Strava. Once recorded, it is automatically sent to Garmin Connect, then transferred to the Edge 1050 as soon as the device is powered on. When following the route, the GPS automatically redirects to the track if you stray from it for any reason. However, we tested the “Return to Start” function several times, and curiously the Edge 1050 did not always suggest the shortest path.

Altitude and elevation data also seem to have improved significantly at Garmin recently, with values mostly consistent with reality. Up until the Edge 530/830/1030 bike computers, Garmins were very sensitive to weather conditions and sometimes gave erratic values, especially in the rain. We did not observe this phenomenon here.

Finally, regarding the ClimPro function, which detects an upcoming ascent and indicates changes in gradient, it is still as useful and particularly legible. We note the good responsiveness of the gradient changes indicated on the bike computer, thanks to a new algorithm (also updated for the Edge 540/840/1040) which allows the gradient percentage to be displayed on the bike computer in a very short time (3 or 4 seconds maximum).

Finally, as the picture is not 100% perfect, it should be noted that the bike computer crashed twice in 3000 km, with a frozen screen, forcing us to stop and reboot it. A minor bug already encountered on previous Garmin bike computers, which will undoubtedly be fixed with future updates.

Conclusion: always higher

The Garmin Edge 1050 follows in the footsteps of the 1040, with a similar format and very similar functions. It stands out with an improved user interface, a more responsive touchscreen, a brighter display, an integrated speaker, and social functions. It offers a more premium feel in use, and represents what we believe is the best in its field today. But it is also a little heavier and has less battery life than the 1040.

=> BUY THE GARMIN EDGE 1040 SOLAR ON SALE FOR €649.99

Choosing the new Garmin Edge 1050 will therefore depend on your use and your goals. If you already have an Edge 1040, recent updates already allow you to enjoy some of the features offered by the 1050. If you have an older device, the gap in terms of screen quality and accuracy can really be worth it.

Finally, if your practice is more performance-oriented, the Edge 840 is still an excellent compromise, with a much more contained weight and features equivalent to the 1040, but a smaller screen and therefore less legible.

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