Garmin today launched the new Edge 1050 cycling computer, which the brand says is ‘the clearest and smartest cycling computer ever’.
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar is listed in our best bike computer buyer’s guide, and we understand it will still exist as a solar option alongside the Edge 1050, which we hope to get our hands on soon to test alongside the 1040.
The device has a suggested retail price of £649.99 / $699.99 / €699.99. This makes the Edge 1050 £200 more than the recently released third generation Hammerhead Karoo and puts the new 1050 at the top of the cycle computer market.
The Edge 1050 has a touchscreen display and delivers 20 hours of battery life and 60 hours in battery saver mode. That’s very capable in terms of normal roads and gravel, but it lags behind the latest crop of ultra-long battery life computers like the Coros Dura, which we calculated could get up to 375 hours of driving.
It looks like the Edge 1050 has received some updated design tweaks, interesting new features like support for contactless payments, and building on Garmin’s strong reputation for its computers offering powerful fitness and training features and support.
Dan Bartel, Garmin Vice President of Global Consumer Sales, said;
“We’re excited to introduce our most capable, highest-performing bike computer yet with the Edge 1050. Offering an exceptional riding experience, superior navigation and community-oriented features, our latest bike computer is built to keep cyclists motivated, whether they’re planning a group ride with friends or a long solo adventure.
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So, what’s new?
The new Garmin 1050 is said to have an updated design and the new device now has a slanted casing and stronger, all-metal buttons. There’s also a replaceable quarter-turn mount and a 3.5-inch LCD screen.
The Edge 1050 also supports Garmin Pay Contactless payments – a technology championed in Garmin’s smartwatches that aims to compete with Apple Watch’s Apple Pay. This technology means that owners can pay in the café with their bike computer, leaving the cards at home and the phone in their back pocket.
There’s also a built-in speaker that Garmin says allows riders to hear training and navigation cues. There is also a bicycle bell on the device to alert other road users of your presence.
A new on-device course creator allows owners to create courses and routes on the device. Paved and unpaved surfaces will also be clearly visible on the screen, according to the brand’s press release.
With Wi-Fi connectivity, users can use the Map Manager feature to add, swap or update additional maps, and ride-specific routes are suitable for mountain, gravel or road rides.
The GroupRide feature has also undergone improvements, according to the brand, and riders can communicate via in-ride messages. Live location and incident detection alerts can notify other cyclists and even direct them to a cyclist who needs help. Riders can also receive hazard alerts reported by fellow riders, such as fallen trees or potholes. These alerts will also soon be available on Edge 540, Edge 840, and Edge 1040 units.
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Training and fitness features
Garmin devices enjoy a reputation for powerful fitness training features and the Edge 1050 looks to uphold this.
The device includes free Garmin training plans and real-time endurance insights. The Power Guide feature now factors in wind data and a rider’s current endurance to make real-time adjustments to power targets.
Training insights are provided by Firstbeat Analytics, including training status, heat and altitude acclimatization and V02 Max. Trendline popularity routing also helps cyclists find the most used routes from other Garmin cyclists. Users can also send a PIN from Apple Maps and navigate to that location, a feature the Hammerhead Karoo also offers for Google Maps.
ClimbPro shows climbing stats such as time remaining and gradient, while ClimbExplore shows nearby climbs on the device or in the Garmin Connect app. MTB riding stats are also covered with 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 chosen contacts. It will also be similar to Varia products, Garmin’s range of smart radars and lights.
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