Garmin Edge 1050®, Premium Cycling Computer, Vivid Color Touchscreen Display, Built-in Speaker, Advanced Training and Group Ride Features, Road Hazard Alerts

I don’t usually splurge on cycling gadgets—this computer actually costs more than some of my bikes—so I was hesitant at first. For over a decade, I’ve relied on Strava on my phone, but I wanted a more data-rich, dedicated solution. After reading countless reviews, I decided to give Garmin’s flagship unit a try.First Impressions & SetupThe Edge 1050 arrived well-packaged and was quick to set up. Pairing with the Garmin Connect app and my Varia radar/taillight was seamless. On my first ride, I used the default settings and quickly realized a few tweaks were needed. It beeped constantly—every time a hazard or vehicle was detected, or when I stopped for a break. While some may appreciate the audible alerts, I found them excessive and turned them off after the first ride.Connectivity & SensorsSensor pairing is simple. In addition to my Varia, it connected easily to my Wahoo speed and cadence sensors. I don’t have a dedicated heart rate monitor, but it paired with my Amazfit watch and used that data without issue.App IntegrationSyncing with apps like ROUVY, Ride With GPS, and Strava was straightforward. Occasionally, Strava data takes a minute or two to update post-ride, but it’s consistent and reliable.Navigation & PerformanceDownloading routes to the device is easy, and navigation worked flawlessly—even during a 105-mile ride through remote, off-grid areas. The battery life is stellar: after a 10+ hour ride using navigation at full brightness, I still had 58% remaining.Display & UsabilityThe screen is bright, clear, and readable in all conditions. Some reviewers think it’s too large, but I appreciate the size—much smaller than a phone, yet just as easy to read. The touchscreen is responsive, even with damp full-finger gloves.Customization & ProfilesThe Edge 1050 offers a wide range of ride profiles, each highly customizable. You can choose exactly what data to display and leave out what you don’t need. It takes a bit of setup, but online tutorials help, and once configured, it’s a very intuitive device for daily use.Final ThoughtsThe Garmin Edge 1050 isn’t cheap, but it delivers a premium experience. If you’re looking for a powerful, feature-rich cycling computer that goes well beyond the basics, it’s worth the investment.

Let me guess — you’re here wondering: Is the Edge 1050 really worth the price? Or should you just grab the discounted 1040? Maybe even switch to Wahoo?I’ve owned the Edge 1040. I’ve used Wahoo. And now, after spending serious saddle time with the 1050, I can tell you: yes, it’s worth it — if you care about training, smart integrations, and ecosystem-level polish.What makes it great:• Training profiles & customizable screens are superb. I set up my music controls on one screen, and just below them — heart rate, distance, and ride time. It’s intuitive, quick, and clean.• If you run Shimano Di2, this thing reads battery level, active gear, and even lets you map Di2 buttons to functions. That’s pro-grade stuff.• It has a tap-to-ring bike bell. I’m not joking. A real, polite digital ding on tap. Never thought I’d love that so much.• It connects with radar and smart lights. You can control them right from the head unit. Yes — it’s a cycling ecosystem now.• It syncs with Apple Health, which matters if you track your fitness holistically.Where it falls short:For the price, I expected smarter navigation. You can’t just type “Starbucks” or “public restroom” like on a phone. You need the exact address — like it’s 2005. Garmin makes GPS devices for a living. This is a miss.If you want a smartphone-like experience, Hammerhead is the way to go — but you’ll lose Apple Health integration and the deep Garmin ecosystem.⸻Verdict: If you want the best cycling computer in terms of ecosystem, reliability, and training features, the Edge 1050 delivers. It’s expensive, yes. But if you’re serious about riding, it’s an investment that feels right every time you clip in.

I've been using Garmin bike computers since 2009 with the Edge 305. Some new models are what might be called mild upgrades. This 1050 is replacing a 1030 Plus and I would call this a major upgrade. The screen is so much more brilliant and it integrates nicely with my Gamin head light and tail light.

Price is high but the quality is higher

Great Tool that is helping me to improve my skills

-2 stars for being useless when it gets wet. It only has a touch screen display, no physical buttons to navigate. When a little rain gets on it the display it's unresponsive to touch. I mean completely unresponsive, nothing you can do with it. Very frustrating. Another star removed because it crashed and rebooted twice in one ride. I never had a crash with my old Wahoo. The Edge 1050 user interface is a pain, finding basic functions is a hunt and peck expedition. Re-routing doesn't work very well, it took me way off course once. During one ride it kept beeping approximately once per minute even though I turned off every alert, so I had to turn all alert sounds off. Later in the ride I turned sounds back on and the mystery beeps went away. I also couldn't find a way to turn off the beep when I went into a gear it thought was a cross-chain gear. I have SRAM eTap and the groupset won't allow cross-chaining. I'm returning it to get either another Wahoo or a Karoo.

Love the bright display, much improved over the 1040. New bell feature comes in handy