Now you can charge your Garmin head unit while riding or at the cafe–and leave the cable at home. Garmin could have stopped there, but there’s much more to the new Edge 1040 unit. What Garmin calls the “ultimate GPS bike computer” boasts solar charging, multi-band GNSS, real-time stamina insights, and a slew of performance metrics that can help you perform better every season.
Garmin Edge 1040 and Edge 1040 Solar
The new Garmin Edge 1040 cycling head units arrive in two options; solar ($750) and standard non-solar ($600). The $150 price difference is substantial, but so are the benefits if you’re a full-time adventurer.
Harnessing the power of the sun
I feel like it has been a long time coming with the Garmin Fenix solar watches, but it finally hit the Edge. Garmin employs the same Power Glass solar charging lens on its watches to deliver less time between charges and insights on battery recharging, all without taking up much of the 3.5-inch touch screen display.
The new Power Glass solar charging lens extends the battery life to up to 100 hours in battery saver mode, giving cyclists back 42 minutes per hour during daytime riding. Plus — when you turn your Edge 1040 Solar off, the unit continues to collect a charge, instructing you in intensity and placement.
It’s a game-changer for those who forget to charge their head units frequently (quietly raises hand), and it seems Garmin knows they touched on something unique.
What’s new — Garmin Edge 1040/1040 Edge Solar
Though the solar charging feature is quite fantastic, the new Edge 1040 does have more to offer, enough to provide a unit without the solar charging capabilities.
The Garmin “case” makes a comeback, as the Edge 1040 arrives with a soft-touch silicone protective case and three different mounting options. The unit is slightly different from the standard Garmin Edge shape, it’s a bit slimmer, with metal buttons and an alloy machined half-turn mounting piece. Garmin updated the charging power from a Micro USB to Type-C.
Updated Features — Garmin Edge 1040/1040 Solar
- Pinpoint GNSS accuracy: The Edge 1040 offers multi-band GNSS technology, giving better positional accuracy and coverage, even in challenging environments.
- Course demands: Classify strengths and weaknesses as a cyclist, focus on improvement, and prepare for the demands of a specific track or course.
- Power guide: Recommended power targets make it easier to manage efforts throughout a course.
- Stamina insights: Monitor and track exertion levels in real-time during a ride with help from Garmin Connect real-time feedback.
- Simple setup: Custom ride profiles prepopulate based on previous Edge data, ride types, and sensors. Cycling activity profiles can be managed directly on your compatible smartphone from the Garmin Connect intelligent device app.
- Weight: 135g (actual)
Training and performance guidance
To help cyclists boost their performance, the Edge 1040 and 1040 Solar provide insights from Firstbeat Analytics such as VO2 max (estimated), recovery time, training load, training focus, and more to see how their body responds to their training efforts. If you have a Garmin watch or wearable, you can benefit even more from the training algorithm, as it will gather sleep data, HRV, and non-training stress — all of which affect athletic performance.
The Edge 1040/1040 Solar will offer training session suggestions based on their current training load and VO2 max for those looking for some ride inspiration.
Like heat and altitude acclimation from the prior units, the Edge 1040 Solar lets riders see how their bodies hold up in different environments.
ClimbPro lets riders see the remaining ascent and grade for each climb when following a course and review their performance on the climbs post-ride right from the Edge 1040 Solar or in Garmin Connect. Meanwhile, mountain bike metrics, including jump count, jump distance, hang time, grit, and flow, track every ride’s epic details.
Updated navigation, mapping, and connected apps
Whether riding through busy cities or exploring remote areas, the Edge 1040 Solar includes advanced navigational tools to help cyclists stay on track. High-contrast, ride-type-specific maps use Trendline popularity routing to highlight popular roads and trails based on billions of miles of ride data that other users have uploaded to Garmin Connect.
The new Edge 1040 Solar utilizes the TrailForks app for mountain bike navigation, and riders can view routes and trail details from more than 80 countries. Riders can navigate easily with turn-by-turn navigation, and alerts notify riders of sharp curves ahead. When using the Trailforks app, “Forksight” mode automatically displays upcoming forks in the route and where a rider is within a trail network.
Safety and connectivity
If you’re using the new Varia or Garmin Connect, the new Edge 1040/1040 Solar has quite a few safety features. LiveTrack lets loved ones follow a cyclist’s real-time location and view their entire preplanned course to see where they’re headed, while group messaging and tracking let cyclists stay in touch when they get separated from the pack.
For added confidence while riding, the Edge 1040 Solar is compatible with the Varia line of cycling awareness devices, including the new Varia RCT715 rearview radar with the camera and tail light, so cyclists can see and continuously capture video footage during their ride.
The Edge 1040 Solar also works with inReach devices so cyclists can view and reply to messages, share trip data and trigger interactive SOS alerts with an active inReach subscription.
Availability
The new Garmin Edge 1040 Solar and Edge 1040 are available for purchase now at Gamin.com and Garmin global retail partners.
