Garmin Edge 1040 vs. Garmin Edge 1050: Which is greatest?

• Greatest for battery life

  Garmin Edge 1040

  The Garmin Edge 1040 is a feature-rich bike pc with an enormous 3.5-inch show. It affords as much as 35 hours of battery life in demanding use circumstances, group trip options, navigation instruments with multi-band GNSS for extremely correct GPS monitoring, and superior efficiency instruments as nicely. 

  Execs

  • Good battery life
  • Extraordinarily correct GPS monitoring
  • Superior coaching options
  • Massive show is straightforward to learn

  Cons

  • Display screen is relatively outdated trying

• 

  Greatest show

  Garmin Edge 1050

  The Garmin Edge 1050 is a premium biking pc with a brilliant, responsive touchscreen. It affords loads of security options like highway hazard alerts and an digital bell, together with helpful navigation instruments and Garmin’s strong coaching platform. 

  Execs

  • Extraordinarily brilliant, vibrant, and huge show
  • Very feature-rich
  • Suitable with Garmin Pay
  • Built-in speaker that doubles as bell

  Cons

  • Brilliant show impacts battery life

When Garmin launched the Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar in 2022, it was essentially the most superior bike computer from any firm so far. It was the primary head unit to include photo voltaic panels to increase battery life and was additionally the primary so as to add multi-band GNSS for considerably higher GPS monitoring accuracy throughout all circumstances. Whereas the show appeared higher than its predecessor, the Edge 1030, it nonetheless appeared relatively outdated for 2022 and particularly seems outdated in at present’s world of brilliant, vibrant shows discovered in all places.

Garmin heard this critique and got here out with the Edge 1050 this summer season as a solution. The Edge 1050 takes lots of the superior options of the Edge 1040 and builds on them, including a handful of worthwhile options and instruments. Most notably, although, it provides an extremely brilliant, responsive show that places the Edge 1040 to disgrace with a way more trendy design to the unit as a complete.

Garmin was clear that the Edge 1050 doesn’t exchange the Edge 1040 (or Edge 1040 Photo voltaic), with all three fashions persevering with to coexist in its Edge bike pc lineup. So, that begs the query, which mannequin do you have to select?

Associated

Garmin’s latest bike computer is close to perfection

A contemporary show, speedy efficiency, and an limitless checklist of options received over my bike owner coronary heart.

Value, availability, and specs

The Garmin Edge 1040, Edge 1040 Photo voltaic, and Edge 1050 are all accessible for buy by Garmin’s web site, Amazon, Goal, and specialty bike or outside shops. The Edge 1040 is $599.99, whereas the Edge 1040 Photo voltaic is $749.99. The Edge 1050 falls within the center at $699.99.

• 	Garmin Edge 1040	Garmin Edge 1050
  Model	Garmin	Garmin
  Colour Display screen	Sure	Sure
  Notification Help	Sure	Sure
  Battery Life	As much as 35 hours	20 hours
  Show	transflective TFT	Liquid crystal
  IP ranking	IPX7	IPX7
  Dimensions	2.3 x 4.6 x 0.8 in	2.4 x 4.7 x 0.6 in
  Cellular funds	No	Sure

Design

Trendy and brilliant versus extra old-school

The obvious distinction between the Edge 1040 and Edge 1050 is the show. Each are 3.5 inches, although the 1040 makes use of a transflective TFT show, whereas the 1050 is a liquid crystal show. That newer display expertise leads to fairly a distinction by way of brightness and shade. Garmin does not present a peak brightness for the Edge 1040, however the 1050 supplies 1,000 nits of brightness. In comparison with the 1040, it is like trying into the face of the solar (in a much less painful approach).

The 1040’s colours are very subdued, whereas the 1050’s are punchy and wealthy. The extra vibrant shade makes it straightforward to acknowledge key stats and options at a look, which could be very helpful when driving. It additionally makes studying the map whereas shifting a lot simpler. That is to not say that the Edge 1040 is difficult to learn, as I’ve had no points even in brilliant mild. However, the 1050 is less complicated to assemble info with a fast look and easily seems higher.

In fact, a part of the rationale it seems higher is as a result of the decision is doubled. The 1040 is available in at 282 x 470 pixels, whereas the 1050 affords a decision of 480 x 800 pixels. That is a giant distinction in decision and leads to rather a lot cleaner, sharper graphics and textual content.

Past the display, there are another design variations as nicely. The Edge 1050 encompasses a extra trendy, aggressive design, whereas the 1040 affords the everyday rounded edges of the Edge line. Although the show is identical measurement and the size are practically equivalent, the Edge 1050 weighs one ounce greater than the 1040. It is delicate, however you may discover a distinction.

Associated

Garmin’s Edge 1040 Solar has everything I need, except a decent display

The Garmin Edge 1040 Photo voltaic supplies in depth battery life with an extended checklist of options, however the show is a letdown.

Battery life

A big distinction

Whereas that fancy show definitely seems good, it does come at a price. Battery life on the Edge 1050 takes a fairly vital hit consequently. It solely supplies as much as 20 hours in demanding use circumstances or as much as 60 hours in battery saver mode. The Edge 1040, by comparability, guarantees as much as 35 hours in demanding use circumstances or as much as 70 hours in battery saver mode. Taking issues even additional, the Edge 1040 Photo voltaic affords as much as 45 hours in demanding conditions with photo voltaic or as much as 100 hours in battery saver mode with photo voltaic.

In fact, battery life is sort of variable and depending on a lot of particular person settings and what you could have on the show throughout a trip. So, the numbers above will fluctuate fairly a bit based mostly in your explicit utilization. It is also vital to notice that to get essentially the most out of the photo voltaic charging function, you will want constant 75,000 lux circumstances. In sunny places, that is not exhausting to do, however in cloudy locals, you could not get as a lot of a lift from photo voltaic charging. However, it doesn’t matter what, the Edge 1050 will present much less battery life than the Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Photo voltaic.

Options

Delicate however vital variations

Whereas the Edge 1050 and Edge 1040 share many options, some key variations could lead on some to favor one gadget over the opposite. First, the Edge 1050 is the primary Garmin bike pc to supply Garmin Pay, that means you may go away your pockets behind on rides and nonetheless be capable to decide up a espresso or water. That is a very nice degree of comfort, supplied you utilize a financial institution that is suitable with Garmin Pay.

The Edge 1050 additionally encompasses a built-in speaker, which permits an digital bike bell. The bell is absolutely loud, although it sounds remarkably like a bodily bell. It is also straightforward to entry throughout rides. Whilst you can definitely get a bell separate out of your bike pc, that is extra issues in your handlebars. Having that function built-in is sort of good, and I do miss out on it once I’m utilizing the Edge 1040.

Each the Edge 1040 and Edge 1050 provide Group Trip and Incident Detection options, however the Edge 1050 combines these. It now alerts you to incidents of different riders within the group so you may cease and assist. You may as well take part in group trip competitions and earn awards with the 1050 however not with the 1040.

One other good security function accessible on the 1050 is community-generated hazard reporting. It is primarily like Waze to your Garmin bike pc. Garmin Edge 1050 customers can report hazards like potholes, problematic animals, and extra, which is able to then present up as alerts throughout your trip. You may as well contribute edits if these hazards have been resolved.

Which do you have to purchase?

On the finish of the day, which of Garmin’s top-of-the-line bike computer systems is greatest actually relies on your wants and preferences, as they every serve several types of cyclists. Nevertheless, for most individuals, the brighter, extra vibrant show, onboard speaker, extra security options, and Garmin Pay of the Garmin Edge 1050 make it the higher alternative total.

Garmin Edge 1050

The Garmin Edge 1050 affords a powerful checklist of options to suit the wants of all kinds of riders. It affords superior coaching instruments, Garmin Pay, loads of security options, and a lot extra. Plus, the colourful show makes it stand out towards different choices.

That mentioned, if battery life is the one most vital issue to your rides, then the Edge 1040, and even higher, the Edge 1040 Photo voltaic, can be the only option for you. You’ll sacrifice the show high quality and some options, however if you want that extra-long battery life, the Edge 1040 is the way in which to go.

Garmin Edge 1040

The Garmin Edge 1040 might function a much less thrilling show, however it supplies for much longer battery life to maintain up on lengthy rides and epic adventures.

Garmin Edge 1040 Photo voltaic

The Garmin Edge 1040 Photo voltaic takes all of the options of the Edge 1040 however provides photo voltaic panels to provide an excellent better increase to battery life. For these needing additional lengthy battery, the Edge 1040 Photo voltaic is best choice.