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The bike computers in the Garmin Edge series are considered top products. Until now, the models Edge 840 and 1040 available - now Garmin presents the Edge 1050 the first high-end bike computer with a 3.5-inch LCD touch display. Even the design is striking: The new Edge navigation device has corners.
Garmin Edge 1050: Brighter, clearer display
The technical innovations are particularly exciting, with the centrepiece being the new LCD display. Although it is the same size as the 1040, it looks much more like a smartphone display and can be operated in the same way.
We have already had the opportunity to take a first look at the new Garmin sat nav - but it was not possible to test drive it. On the one hand: The colours appear clearer and brighter and - without technical evidence - the display seems to react faster. This applies in particular to the touch operation, which at first glance seems to react more sensitively to touch - comparable to a smartphone. How well this works with cycling gloves or even winter gloves has yet to be determined in a detailed test. The disadvantage of the new display, however, is the battery life: in GPS mode it is up to 20 hours and in energy-saving mode up to 60 hours. Garmin's predecessor models fared better here: the Edge 840 (up to 26 / 32 hours according to the manufacturer) and the Edge 1040 (up to 35 / 45 hours).
New hardware features for the Edge 1050
The main new features of the Edge 1050 are the built-in loudspeaker and the new stand. The loudspeaker is located at the bottom rear and enables route announcements without headphones, such as: "Turn left in 200 metres" or "Caution: busy road". Another new feature is the integrated electric bicycle bell, which can be operated via the display.
The new stand of the Garmin Edge 1050, also known as the swivel mount, is no longer made of metal but of plastic like the rest of the housing. This is worth mentioning as it has been positioned slightly higher due to the speaker. Garmin points out: "As a result, aero cockpit mounts or handlebar/stem solutions may be too short and the Edge 1050 cannot be mounted. Some bicycle and third-party manufacturers will offer suitable mounts for the market launch of the Edge 1050."
All of this affects the weight of the bike computer: according to the manufacturer, the new Garmin Edge 1050 weighs 161 g - in comparison, the 1040 model with solar cells weighed just 133 g and without solar cells only 126 g. There is also a change in price: The price for the new sat nav is now 750 euros, while the 1040 model without solar cells was available for an RRP of 550 euros - but can currently be found online for around 460 euros.
Garmin Edge 1050 software with new features
The GroupRide function is not completely new - it was already available in the previous Edge navigation devices. However, it has been extended for the Edge 1050. You can now share your route, exchange messages and receive accident notifications as well as compare yourself in leaderboards and collect awards. A real innovation is the community function for reporting danger spots such as potholes, flooding or road closures. To make route planning safer, these hazards are now also displayed in the route planner of the Edge 1050. The more people use this function, the safer the journeys will be for everyone involved. According to Garmin, both the GroupRide feature and the hazard warning will soon be available on the Edge 540, Edge 840 and Edge 1040 models.
The new bike computer from Garmin also features Garmin Share. This function makes it possible to share planned routes, workouts and positions quickly and easily with other Garmin devices. It is therefore no longer necessary to take the diversions via the Connect app. In addition, Garmin Pay is now also available on the 1050, so that - ideally - you can pay at the ice cream parlour without cash or a mobile phone.
With the new route planner, routes can be planned directly on the Edge 1050 - without a smartphone or internet connection. Updating the map data is also more independent: an update no longer requires the use of Garmin Express on the PC; instead, maps can simply be updated and synchronised via WLAN with the new map manager.
All the functions you may have come to love, such as Heatmap, ClimbPro and Stamina, are also available on the new bike computer.
The Garmin Edge 1050 bike computer in detail
- Size: 60.2 x 118.5 x 16.3 mm
- Weight: 161 g
- LCD touch display: The 3.5-inch LCD touch display marks the start of a new era on the bike. Thanks to a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels, you can read all your data in razor-sharp detail
- Up to 20 hours of battery life in GPS mode / For longer adventures, the energy-saving mode offers a battery life of up to 60 hours
- GroupRide for sharing routes and staying in touch
- Direct reports on danger spots from the community
- Be alerted if your bike is moved while you are away and the option to recover the last position of your Edge if it is lost in a fall.
- Built-in loudspeaker with integrated bicycle bell function
- Improved route planning with pin drop navigation from iOS Maps and map manager
- Contactless payment with Garmin Pay
- Compatibility with Varia security products
- With the introduction of the new Sram RED AXS, it is now possible to operate data pages and settings of the Edge via the shift levers. This was already possible with Shimano Di2 groupsets
- Price: from €749.99 // €849.99 for bundle with speed and cadence sensor
- available now >> e.g. at Fitstore24
Marc Strucken
Editor
