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Great for battery life
Garmin Edge 1040
The Garmin Edge 1040 is a feature-rich bike computer with a large 3.5″ display. It also offers up to 35 hours of battery life under demanding use, group ride capabilities, navigation tools with multi-band GNSS for highly accurate GPS tracking, and advanced performance tools.
Strong Points- Long battery life
- Highly accurate GPS tracking
- Advanced Training Features
- Large display is easy to read
Cons- The screen looks very outdated
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Best display
Garmin Edge 1050
The Garmin Edge 1050 is a premium cycling computer with a bright, responsive touchscreen and plenty of safety features like road hazard alerts and an electronic bell, plus handy navigation tools and Garmin’s robust training platform.
Strong Points- Very bright, clear and large display
- Very feature rich
- Supports Garmin Pay
- Built-in speaker that also functions as a bell
Cons- Bright displays affect battery life
When Garmin released the Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar in 2022, it was the most advanced bike computer ever from any company. It was the first head unit to incorporate a solar panel for longer battery life, and it was also the first to add multi-band GNSS for significantly improved GPS tracking accuracy in all conditions. The display looks better than its predecessor, the Edge 1030, but it still looks pretty dated for 2022, especially in today’s world where bright, vibrant displays are everywhere.
Garmin heard the criticism and responded this summer with the launch of the Edge 1050. The Edge 1050 retains many of the advanced features of the Edge 1040 and adds a few more valuable features and tools. But most notably, it adds a very bright and responsive display that outshines the Edge 1040 with a much more modern overall design for the unit.
Garmin has made it clear that the Edge 1050 does not replace the Edge 1040 (or the Edge 1040 Solar), and all three models will continue to coexist in the Edge bike computer lineup. So which model should you choose?
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The photo below is of the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar: Design-wise the Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar are very similar, but the 1040 Solar has solar panels on the top and bottom of the unit’s display.
Pricing, Availability and Specifications
The Garmin Edge 1040, Edge 1040 Solar, and Edge 1050 are all available for purchase on the Garmin website, Amazon, Target, and specialty bike and outdoor retailers. The Edge 1040 is priced at $599.99, the Edge 1040 Solar at $749.99, and the Edge 1050 at the middle price of $699.99.
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Garmin Edge 1040 Garmin Edge 1050 brand Garmin Garmin Color Screen yes yes Notification Support yes yes Battery life Up to 35 hours 20 hr screen Transflective TFT liquid crystal IP Rating IPX7 IPX7 size 2.3 x 4.6 x 0.8 inches 2.4 x 4.7 x 0.6 inches Mobile Payments no yes
design
Modern and bright vs. old-fashioned
The most obvious difference between the Edge 1040 and Edge 1050 is the display. They’re both 3.5 inches, but the 1040 uses a transflective TFT display and the 1050 uses an LCD. This new screen technology results in a pretty substantial difference in terms of brightness and color. Garmin doesn’t offer peak brightness on the Edge 1040, but the 1050 offers 1,000 nits of brightness. Compared to the 1040, it’s like looking into the face of the sun (only less painfully).
The colors on the 1040 are very muted, while the 1050 is vibrant and vibrant. The more vibrant colors make it easier to see key stats and features at a glance, which is very useful when riding. It also makes reading maps on the move much easier. That’s not to say the Edge 1040 is hard to read — I had no issues even in bright light — but the 1050 is easier to glean information at a glance, and it looks better, too.
Of course, one of the reasons it looks better is that the resolution is doubled: the 1040 has a resolution of 282 x 470 pixels, while the 1050 has a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. That’s a big difference in resolution, and it results in much cleaner and sharper graphics and text.
Beyond the screen, there are some design differences: the Edge 1050 features a more modern, aggressive design, while the 1040 has the rounded edges typical of the Edge line. The displays are the same size and have roughly the same dimensions, but the Edge 1050 is an ounce heavier than the 1040. It’s subtle, but the difference is noticeable.
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Battery life
Big Differences
Sure, that fancy display looks great, but it comes at a price. As a result, the Edge 1050’s battery life is pretty diminished: It only lasts up to 20 hours under demanding usage and up to 60 hours in battery-saver mode. By comparison, the Edge 1040 lasts up to 35 hours under demanding usage and up to 70 hours in battery-saver mode. Additionally, the Edge 1040 Solar lasts up to 45 hours under demanding conditions with solar, and up to 100 hours with solar and battery-saver mode.
Of course, battery life is highly variable and depends on many individual settings and what the display shows during your ride. So the figures above will vary greatly depending on your usage. Also keep in mind that you need consistent 75,000 lux conditions to get the most out of the solar charging feature. In sunny locations, this isn’t difficult, but in cloudy areas, you might not get as much of a boost from solar charging. But either way, the Edge 1050 will have a shorter battery life than the Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar.
Features
A subtle but important difference
While the Edge 1050 and Edge 1040 share many features, some key differences may lead some people to prefer one device over the other. First, the Edge 1050 is the first Garmin bike computer to offer Garmin Pay, which means you can leave your wallet behind when you go for a ride and still buy coffee or water. This is a great level of convenience, as long as you use a bank that’s compatible with Garmin Pay.
The Edge 1050 also has a built-in speaker that can be used as an electronic bike bell. The bell is really loud and sounds very similar to a real bell, and it’s easy to access while riding. You could buy a bell separately from the bike computer, but that would mean adding another piece to your handlebars. It’s very convenient to have this feature integrated, but I find it missing when using the Edge 1040.
Both the Edge 1040 and Edge 1050 offer group ride and incident detection, but the Edge 1050 combines them: it alerts you to incidents involving other riders in your group so you can stop and help. The 1050 also lets you enter group ride contests to win prizes, whereas the 1040 doesn’t.
Another great safety feature available on the 1050 is community-generated hazard reporting. It’s basically like Waze for Garmin bike computers. Garmin Edge 1050 users can report hazards like potholes or problem animals, which will appear as warnings while they’re riding, and they can also make edits if the hazards are resolved.
Which one should I buy?
Ultimately, which of Garmin’s top-of-the-line bike computers is best will come down to your needs and preferences, as each caters to a different type of cyclist, but for most people, the Garmin Edge 1050 is the better overall choice, with a brighter, clearer display, onboard speaker, extra safety features and Garmin Pay.
Garmin Edge 1050
The Garmin Edge 1050 is packed with great features to cater to the needs of a wide variety of riders. It comes with advanced training tools, Garmin Pay, extensive safety features, and much more. Plus, its vibrant display makes it stand out from the crowd.
That said, if battery life is the most important factor for your cycling, the Edge 1040, or even better the Edge 1040 Solar, are your best bets. You’ll sacrifice display quality and some features, but if you want extremely long battery life, the Edge 1040 is the way to go.
Garmin Edge 1040
The Garmin Edge 1040 may not have the most impressive display, but it does offer a long battery life that will stand up to long journeys and epic adventures.
Garmin Edge 1040 Solar
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar has all the features of the Edge 1040 but adds a solar panel for even better battery life. For those who need even longer battery life, the Edge 1040 Solar is a great choice.
