Key Takeaways
- The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar has a large display that makes it easy to see stats and maps as you ride.
- The device boasts extensive performance tools, turn-by-turn navigation, and solar charging capabilities.
- It’s pricey at $750, but it offers great battery life and plenty of features.
When I started cycling about 4 years ago (yes, one of the pandemic cyclists), I rode without a bike computer. I used a Garmin watch to track my rides. Then my husband bought me a Garmin Edge 130 Plus, which made it easier to track my rides because I didn’t have to lift my wrist a bit to see the watch and I could see my vital stats right in front of me. However, it had a small screen and fairly limited features, so it wasn’t a bike computer I was very excited about.
When I took the Edge 1040 Solar out of the box, I was surprised. The device is large, more like a small smartphone than a bike computer. It’s packed with features, more than I need right now, but I’m sure I’ll get more out of it as I continue cycling. Overall, the Edge 1040 Solar is a very impressive device and I had a lot of fun using it.
Recommendation
Garmin Edge 1040 Solar
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar is an advanced bike computer with solar charging for extended battery life, powerful features for navigation, performance and safety, and a large display that makes it easy to see information on your ride.
- Lots of accessories included
- Large display gives you plenty of space to view your data
- Plenty of useful maps and navigation tools
- Very feature rich
- Great battery life
- Solar charging is convenient for long distance driving
- The display looks quite outdated
- Solar charging is only effective in certain situations
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Pricing, Availability and Specifications
The Garmin Edge 1040 Solar can be purchased on Garmin’s website, Amazon, and REI for $750. It comes with a silicone case, three bike mounts, a strap, and a charging cable.
What I like about the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar
Plenty of features and plenty of screen space
Simply put, there’s a lot to like about the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar. First and foremost, its size. The 3.5-inch diagonal screen gives you plenty of room for your display. This extra screen space makes it easy to glance down while riding and see information, especially when looking at a map. Plus, multiple customizable data screens let you choose what information you want to see as you ride.
As is typical with Garmin devices, the Edge 1040 Solar is extremely feature-rich. However, touching on every feature would make this review too long, so I’ll just highlight my favorite features. First, I love how easy it is to sync routes to the Edge 1040 Solar. I mainly use Strava routes, which appear automatically on the device. The head unit also provides turn-by-turn directions as you ride, so you never get lost.
Simply put, there’s a lot to like about the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar.
Directions would appear far in advance of turns, and I was able to quickly correct myself if I went off course. Whether you were following a route or just tracking your ride, you’d be notified if there was busy roads ahead or you were approaching a sharp turn. I really appreciated these features when I was driving in less familiar areas. Plus, even if you knew where you were, it was really handy to have access to the maps while you were driving.
Beyond navigation, the Edge 1040 Solar also features all of Garmin’s performance tools, including daily workout suggestions, training status, performance monitoring, heat and altitude acclimation, and synced training plans. These performance tools become even more powerful and useful when combined with additional sensors like a heart rate monitor and power meter. Since I cycle for fitness, this feature is useful, especially since it all feeds back into the Garmin Connect app, which also collects data from my Garmin watch.
Of course, since this is a solar-chargeable device, it would be remiss not to mention battery life and solar charging. The Edge 1040 has Garmin’s Solar Glass display, which is two solar panels above and below the display, as well as a virtually transparent solar panel that covers the display itself, meaning the entire unit is covered in some form of solar panel.
Garmin promises up to 100 hours in battery-save mode, or up to 45 hours in demanding use cases (basically using all sensors with the most accurate GPS settings). The company also says the solar panel can add up to 42 minutes of power per hour in battery-save mode, or up to 20 minutes per hour in demanding use cases. The ride summary shows the sunlight intensity as you ride, and the resulting battery gains.
I have a Garmin HRM-Fit connected to my Edge 1040 Solar, and many of my rides involve turn-by-turn navigation with the map on display, which drains the battery quicker than the other data screens. Based on Garmin’s battery life prediction chart, I fall roughly into the “medium” use case description, and Garmin says I can expect 40 hours of battery life without solar charging and 50 hours with solar charging.
Most of my rides were under 1.5 hours, so I didn’t push the unit to its limits in terms of battery life on any individual ride. During testing, I was able to get around the 40 hours that Garmin promises. In fact, I barely used the battery on my short rides. I only had to charge it a few times, and one of those times was because I had the brightness at 100% instead of auto and forgot to turn it off (double whammy). I also didn’t take advantage of the fact that the Edge 1040 Solar solar charges even when it’s off (I had it tucked away in a dark corner), which could have extended its life even further.
I didn’t get the solar charging numbers Garmin promised, but you’d need consistent 75,000 lux conditions to get them. One ride was around 10am on a sunny day, with occasional shade on the trail, but the device showed 85% sun intensity and 2:13 battery charge. If I’d been outside completely during the day, this number would probably be significantly higher, and the battery would have charged even more.
Although less important than the features above, we were also impressed with all the accessories that come with the Edge 1040 Solar. It comes with a silicone case to protect the unit in case of a drop or fall – a great addition considering the price – and it also comes with three different bike mount options (MTB, standard, out-front) and straps.
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What I didn’t like about the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar
Outdated screen technology
The display is large but unfortunately looks quite outdated. The touchscreen is very responsive, but the transflective TFT display technology feels a bit disappointing compared to what we’re used to on smartphones and Garmin’s latest watches. The colors are dull, the contrast is quite low, and it’s not very bright.
The Garmin Edge 1040 is a great bike computer. There’s a lot to like about it.
The screen is easy to read in bright environments, but it looks much older than the Edge 1040’s 2022 release date. Garmin uses the same type of display on all of its bike computers, and this was a common complaint. In fact, it was so common that the company recently released the Edge 1050, which has a much more modern, brighter, and more vibrant display. The Edge 1040 pales in comparison.
Of course, price is another sticking point. At $750, it’s one of the most expensive bike computers on the market. Sure, you get a lot for your money, but it’s still more than most people are willing or able to pay.
Should I buy the Garmin Edge 1040 Solar?
The Garmin Edge 1040 is a great bike computer. There’s a lot to like about it: the large display makes it easy to see stats and read maps while riding, it offers a full range of training, safety and navigation tools, and it has great battery life. If you’re someone who tackles long rides, wants detailed metrics, and relies on a head unit for navigation, you should invest in the Edge 1040 Solar.
However, this unit does have its drawbacks. While solar charging is a plus and gives you a nice boost in the right conditions, it costs $150 more than the non-solar version. For those who aren’t tackling long distance rides in tough conditions or don’t live in a sunny location, the extra cost probably isn’t worth it. If you care about long battery life but don’t need the boost that solar charging gives you, you’re better off opting for the non-solar Edge 1040 for $600.
Finally, if you’re picky about your display and want something with more vibrant colors and better readability in all conditions, the Edge 1050 is the better choice.
Recommendation
