Garmin Edge Series Cycling GPS Comparison

Written by GPS Central
Wednesday, July 28, 2021 — 0 Comments

Garmin Bicycle GPS Comparison

Here’s how the popular Garmin bicycle GPS series, Garmin Edge, models are different and what they have to offer so you can find the right one for you.

Product	Edge MTB	Edge 540	Edge 550	Edge 840	Edge 840 Solar	Edge 850	Edge 1040 Solar	Edge 1050	Edge Explore 2
Physical dimensions	50.4 x 77.8 x 19.8 mm	2.3″ x 3.4″ x 0.8″ (57.8 x 85.1 x 19.6 mm)	54.6 x 92.2 x 16.8 mm	2.3″ x 3.4″ x 0.8″ (57.8 x 85.1 x 19.6 mm)	2.3″ x 3.4″ x 0.8″ (57.8 x 85.1 x 19.6 mm)	54.6 x 92.2 x 16.8 mm	2.3″ x 4.6″ x 0.8″ (59.3 x 117.6 x 20.0 mm)	2.4″ x 4.7″ x 0.6″ (60.2 x 118.5 x 16.3 mm)	4.2″ x 2.2″ x 0.8″ (106.1x 55.7 x 20.6 mm)
Touchscreen	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Color display	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Display size	2.13" (54.1 mm) diagonal	2.6″ (66 mm) diagonal	2.7" diagonal	2.6″ (66 mm) diagonal	2.6″ (66 mm) diagonal	2.7" diagonal	3.5″ (88.9 mm) diagonal	3.5″ (88.9 mm) diagonal	3.00″
Display resolution	240 x 320 pixels	246 x 322 pixels	420 x 600 pixels	246 x 322 pixels	246 x 322 pixels	420 x 600 pixels	282 x 470 pixels	480 x 800 pixels	240 x 400 pixels
Display Type	Transflective TFT	Transflective TFT	Liquid Crystal	transflective TFT	transflective TFT	Liquid Crystal	transflective TFT	liquid crystal	transflective TFT
Weight	58 g	80.3 g	110 g	84.8 g	88.9 g	113 g	4.7 oz (133 g)	5.7 oz (161 g)	3.7 oz (104 g)
Power Glass solar charging	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌
Built-in speaker	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌
Battery life	Up to 14 hours (demanding use) Up to 26 hours battery saver mode See Details	up to 26 hours	Up to 12 hours (demanding use) Up to 36 hours battery saver mode See Details	up to 26 hours	up to 32 hours	Up to 12 hours (demanding use) Up to 36 hours battery saver mode See Details	45 hours See Details	Up to 20 hours, demanding use Up to 60 hours, battery save mode See Details	up to 16 hours
Battery save mode: Extends battery live up to 50 percent while still tracking ride detail	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
In-ride power compatible (Garmin charge battery pack)	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Water rating	IPX7	IPX7	IPX7	IPX7	IPX7	IPX7	IPX7	IPX7	IPX7
Maps & Memory
Ability to add maps	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Wi-Fi^® map manager	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	❌
Basemap	✅	Preloaded Garmin cycle map	✅	Preloaded Garmin cycle map	Preloaded Garmin cycle map	✅	Preloaded Garmin cycle map (multi-region)	Preloaded Garmin cycle map	Preloaded Garmin cycle map
Accepts data cards	❌ -32 GB internal memory	❌ – 16GB internal memory	❌- 32 GB internal memory	❌- 32 GB internal memory	❌- 32 GB internal memory	❌- 64 GB internal memory	❌ – 64 GB internal memory	❌ – 64 GB internal memory	❌ – 16 GB internal memory
Waypoint	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200	200
Routes	100 courses	100 courses	100 courses	100 courses	100 courses	100 courses	100 courses	100 courses	100 courses
History	up to 200 hours	up to 200 hours	up to 200 hours	up to 200 hours	up to 200 hours	up to 200 hours	up to 200 hours	up to 200 hours	200 hours
Address Search	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Navigation Features
Popularity routing	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Turn-by-Turn navigation	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
On-device recalculation	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
On-device Back to start calculation	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
On-device A/B navigation, POI and address search	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
On-device roundtrip course creation	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Clock Features
Time/date	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Sensors
GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo	GPS/GLONASS/Galileo
Multi-band GNSS	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
5 Hz GPS	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Ephemeris satellite predictions	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌
Magnetometer	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Gyroscope	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Barometric altimeter	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Accelerometer	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Ambient light sensor	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Daily Smart Features
Connectivity	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi	Bluetooth, ANT+
Connect IQ compatible	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
On-device Connect IQ™ Store	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Smart notifications	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Text response/reject phone call with text (Android only)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Weather	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Real-time weather map display	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Realtime settings sync with Garmin Connect™ mobile	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Controls smartphone music	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
VIRB compatible	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Garmin Pay^™	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌
Smartphone compatible	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android	iPhone, Android
Garmin Share	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Safety & Tracking Features
LiveTrack	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Group LiveTrack	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Group Ride (Cycling)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
GroupRide competitions and awards	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	❌
Rider-to-Rider messaging	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Incident detection (offers automatic or manual alerts to emergency contacts)	✅ (includes off-road)	✅ (includes off-road)	✅ (includes off-road)	✅ (includes off-road)	✅ (includes off-road)	✅ (includes off-road)	✅	✅ (includes off-road)	✅
GroupRide data comparisons	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
GroupRide incident detection	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	❌
Community generated hazards reporting	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌	✅	❌
Assistance	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Find My Edge	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Bike Alarm	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Integrated bike bell	❌	❌	❌	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌
Weather alerts	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
InReach compatible	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Activity Tracking Features
Calories Burned	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Intensity minutes	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Training, Planning & Analysis Features
Customizable data pages	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Auto pause (pauses and resumes timer based on speed)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Interval training (set up exercise and rest intervals)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Downloadable training plans	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Daily workout suggestions	✅	✅ (event specific)	✅ (event specific)	✅ (event specific)	✅ (event specific)	✅ (event specific)	✅	✅ (event specific)	❌
Primary and secondary workout targets	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Auto lap (automatically starts a new lap)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Virtual partner (train against a digital person)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
VO2 max	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Training Effect (aerobic)	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Realtime stamina	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Recovery advisor	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Cycling ability analysis	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Course demands analysis	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Race an Activity	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
On-device segments	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Auto Scroll (cycles through data pages during workout)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Advanced power analysis	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Physio TrueUp	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Smart fueling	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Physiological measurements (may require use of additional accessories such as heart rate strap and/or power meter)	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
ClimbPro Ascent Planner	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
ClimbPro - Courses	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
ClimbPro - Free Riding	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Extended display	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Cycling Features
Alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goals including time, distance, heart rate or calories)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Courses (complete against previous activities)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
On-device course creation	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Popularity heatmap	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Cycling dynamics	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
MTB dynamics	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Gravity MTB ride profile support (Downhill, Enduro, e-Enduro)	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Timing gates	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
On-device course creator	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅(improved)	✅
On-device location search	❌	❌	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Integrated TrailForks trail data	✅ (includes enhanced ForkSight mode)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Power meter compatible	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Varia compatibility	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Time/distance alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Garmin connect compatible (online community where you analyze, categorize and share data)	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Connectivity
SRAM AXS integration	✅	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	✅	❌
Gear ratio analysis	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	✅	❌	❌	❌
Smart trainer control	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Shimano Di2 electronic shifting integration	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
ANT+ Shifting	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Edge remote compatibility	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Auto start (timer starts automatically at custom speed)	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Elevation	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar units)	❌	✅	✅ via Garmin Share	✅	✅	✅ via Garmin Share	❌	✅	❌
Additional Features
Operating Temperature	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)	-20º to 60ºC (from -4º to 140ºF)
RoundTrip routing	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Routeplanner	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
LEV/ebike compatibility via ANT+	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	❌
Bike speed/cadence sensor compatible	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Heart rate-based calorie computation	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
FTP Tracking	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Time in zone	❌	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
TrainingPeaks iLevels (WKO4)	❌	✅	❌	✅	✅	❌	✅	✅	✅