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 laptop with a large 3.5-inch show. It gives as much as 35 hours of battery life in demanding use instances, group experience options, navigation instruments with multi-band GNSS for extremely correct GPS monitoring, and superior efficiency instruments as effectively. 

  Professionals

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

  Cons

  • Display is relatively outdated trying

• 

  Greatest show

  Garmin Edge 1050

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

  Professionals

  • Extraordinarily shiny, 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 probably the most superior bike computer from any firm up to now. 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 situations. Whereas the show regarded higher than its predecessor, the Edge 1030, it nonetheless regarded relatively previous for 2022 and particularly appears to be like outdated in in the present day’s world of shiny, vibrant shows discovered in all places.

Garmin heard this critique and got here out with the Edge 1050 this summer time 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 shiny, 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 laptop lineup. So, that begs the query, which mannequin must you select?

Associated

Garmin’s latest bike computer is close to perfection

A contemporary show, speedy efficiency, and an countless record of options received over my bicycle owner coronary heart.

Value, availability, and specs

The Garmin Edge 1040, Edge 1040 Photo voltaic, and Edge 1050 are all out there for buy by means of 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	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

Fashionable and shiny 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 screen expertise leads to fairly a distinction when it comes to brightness and shade. Garmin would 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 means).

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 may be very helpful when driving. It additionally makes studying the map whereas transferring a lot simpler. That is to not say that the Edge 1040 is tough to learn, as I’ve had no points even in shiny gentle. However, the 1050 is less complicated to assemble info with a fast look and easily appears to be like higher.

After all, a part of the rationale it appears to be like higher is as a result of the decision is doubled. The 1040 is available in at 282 x 470 pixels, whereas the 1050 gives a decision of 480 x 800 pixels. That is an enormous distinction in decision and leads to lots cleaner, sharper graphics and textual content.

Past the display screen, there are another design variations as effectively. The Edge 1050 encompasses a extra trendy, aggressive design, whereas the 1040 gives the everyday rounded edges of the Edge line. Although the show is identical measurement and the scale are practically an identical, the Edge 1050 weighs one ounce greater than the 1040. It is refined, however you possibly can 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 record of options, however the show is a letdown.

Battery life

A major distinction

Whereas that fancy show actually appears to be like good, it does come at a price. Battery life on the Edge 1050 takes a reasonably vital hit in consequence. It solely supplies as much as 20 hours in demanding use instances or as much as 60 hours in battery saver mode. The Edge 1040, by comparability, guarantees as much as 35 hours in demanding use instances or as much as 70 hours in battery saver mode. Taking issues even additional, the Edge 1040 Photo voltaic gives as much as 45 hours in demanding conditions with photo voltaic or as much as 100 hours in battery saver mode with photo voltaic.

After all, battery life is sort of variable and depending on a number of particular person settings and what you’ve on the show throughout a experience. So, the numbers above will differ fairly a bit primarily based in your specific utilization. It is also vital to notice that to get probably the most out of the photo voltaic charging function, you may want constant 75,000 lux situations. In sunny areas, that is not exhausting to do, however in cloudy locals, it’s possible you’ll 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 may lead some to choose one system over the opposite. First, the Edge 1050 is the primary Garmin bike laptop to supply Garmin Pay, which means you possibly can depart 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 basically loud, although it sounds remarkably like a bodily bell. It is also straightforward to entry throughout rides. Whilst you can actually get a bell separate out of your bike laptop, that is extra issues in your handlebars. Having that function built-in is sort of good, and I do miss out on it after I’m utilizing the Edge 1040.

Each the Edge 1040 and Edge 1050 provide Group Journey and Incident Detection options, however the Edge 1050 combines these. It now alerts you to incidents of different riders within the group so you possibly can cease and assist. You too can take part in group experience competitions and earn awards with the 1050 however not with the 1040.

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

Which must you purchase?

On the finish of the day, which of Garmin’s top-of-the-line bike computer systems is greatest really is determined by your wants and preferences, as they every serve several types of cyclists. Nonetheless, for most individuals, the brighter, extra vibrant show, onboard speaker, further security options, and Garmin Pay of the Garmin Edge 1050 make it the higher selection general.

Garmin Edge 1050

The Garmin Edge 1050 gives a formidable record of options to suit the wants of all kinds of riders. It gives 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 only 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 whenever you want that extra-long battery life, the Edge 1040 is the best way to go.

Garmin Edge 1040

The Garmin Edge 1040 could function a much less thrilling show, but it surely 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 offer an excellent higher increase to battery life. For these needing additional lengthy battery, the Edge 1040 Photo voltaic is best choice.