Latest Garmin Edge Models

[liamba]

I have a Garmin Edge 1000 that I’ve had since 2016. I use it for navigation, upcoming hill profiles, cadence, heart rate and just uploading my ride details. All road cycling for fitness/fun.

Whilst it all works, the navigation isn’t always the easiest to see, the hill profile seems to lag behind and I’m getting close to the limits of the battery (although have seen a DIY to replace this).

My question is, have the new models seen significant improvement that would make an upgrade worthwhile or would it just be like upgrading an iPhone in that the new model pretty much does exactly the same as the old, just a little faster?! Hoping someone will tell me the new models are a great upgrade because……

Thanks in advance

[Jdsk]

I have the same. Brilliant little machine.

All of the reviews that I have read say that the successor models will run longer before requiring recharging. And with my pattern of use I only need that to be a bit longer.

The solar charging seems to work but I'm not convinced that it's right for me.

So I'd happily buy a 1030 Plus. But I don't use any of the activity or or performance features, so I might drop to a less expensive model, possible the Edge Explore 2. I'd need to see the screen first.

Jonathan

Current models, with comparison tool:
https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/c/sports-f ... allcycling

[rareposter]

My question is, have the new models seen significant improvement that would make an upgrade worthwhile or would it just be like upgrading an iPhone in that the new model pretty much does exactly the same as the old, just a little faster?! Hoping someone will tell me the new models are a great upgrade because……

IME, Garmin tend to last about 4 years at most before becoming so slow as to be near unusable. The battery life seems to drop off a cliff as well, it'll be good > good > decent enough > terrible - although as you say there are DIY fixes for it or you can send them away:
https://satnavspecialist.co.uk/product- ... n-repairs/

If you don't need all the performance data, connection to power/HR/cadence etc, it's worth just going for the Edge Explore 2 which is aimed much more at the leisure / touring rider with navigation as a priority.

Garmin will also take old models for disposal / recycling.

[Psamathe]

My iniotial review of the Garmin 1040: viewtopic.php?t=151982

Ian

[keyboardmonkey]

My Garmin’s battery is depleted - it’s entry level, has been discontinued and I’m looking for a replacement.

Without spending quite so much as the 1030, does anyone recommend the 530, please?

[wirral_cyclist]

How are you judging battery life? My Edge Explore gradually declines to reading 0% for several hours before actually shutting down An easy fix is to back everything up, run to shut down and then charge with a full reset to let the device re-learn the charge state, works for at least a year at a time, and maybe longer if it was done in summer when battery use is at peak length - I can't be sure as the plague rather messed with a longer term assessment. Not sure how old this explore is but at least six years ars old, it did an 8hr imperial century last summer. I expect it to do the same this summer - though I might not...

[rareposter]

My Garmin’s battery is depleted - it’s entry level, has been discontinued and I’m looking for a replacement.

Without spending quite so much as the 1030, does anyone recommend the 530, please?

There's a 540 out now so you'll probably be able to pick the 530 up at a decent discount.

[NickJP]

I have a Garmin Edge 1000 that I’ve had since 2016. I use it for navigation, upcoming hill profiles, cadence, heart rate and just uploading my ride details. All road cycling for fitness/fun.

Whilst it all works, the navigation isn’t always the easiest to see, the hill profile seems to lag behind and I’m getting close to the limits of the battery (although have seen a DIY to replace this).

My question is, have the new models seen significant improvement that would make an upgrade worthwhile or would it just be like upgrading an iPhone in that the new model pretty much does exactly the same as the old, just a little faster?! Hoping someone will tell me the new models are a great upgrade because……

As someone who has owned both the 1000 and 1030+, I would say that the newer model has a) substantially longer battery life, and b) much worse lag on hill profile - there are several very long threads on the Garmin 1030+ support forum about the problem with the substantial delay in the gradient indications. My view is that the newer models are not a substantial improvement on the 1000 with the exception of battery life. Replacing the battery on the 1000 is fairly easy - I've done it on both mine and a friend's units. I'd suggest you try that first.

[liamba]

Some great replies to my question, thank you very much everyone, much appreciated.

[PH]

If you don't need all the performance data, connection to power/HR/cadence etc, it's worth just going for the Edge Explore 2 which is aimed much more at the leisure / touring rider with navigation as a priority.

The Explore 2 offers those connections. I've used the HR which works fine, I haven't used the others so can't comment on their functionality, but the reviews say they're there. Although I think you're right that it's aimed more at the leisure (And E-bike) sector, the lines do seem to be getting blurred, or maybe it's the sports devices getting even more performance features.
Full review in the usual place:
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2022/07/gar ... eview.html

I've had mine about a year, upgraded from a broken Touring + which lasted long enough for me to have forgotten how long, I was happy that I'd had my monies worth. It's been a bit of a learning curve, I preferred the Touring in some regards, but the more I use the Explore the more I like it. Did my longest ride so far with it on Saturday, 13.5 hours, mostly with the mapping screen showing and the battery was still at 35%. That's way more than the Touring even when new.

[drossall]

I also got an Edge Explore 2 for Christmas, as an upgrade from my Edge Touring Plus, which I have liked very much, and I think was a lower model in the same range as the 1000. I agree that the battery life is better, and my Touring's had not declined seriously, at least that I had noticed. The extra sensors are welcome - I'm adding speed and cadence to my bikes.

Uploading routes is easier. I've discovered using Garmin Connect for that (I was still using Mapsource, which I preferred, and Basecamp, if I had to). And it's much faster connecting to satellites and calculating routes.

My wife rather likes the facility to dot-watch me, and that helps if I don't always keep in touch from Audax checkpoints and whatever.

[CyberKnight]

the explore is a cut down version of the 1000 series with less connectivity, the 530 basically has the same sort of functions as the 1000 series but is button rather than touchscreen with the added bonus of a big battery life

[rareposter]

Info on the new, just released 540 and 840:

https://road.cc/content/tech-news/garmi ... ers-300501

[Manc33]

I had my Edge Explore 2018 on standby for weeks and weeks (where it doesn't need to boot up, you can press the top left button and it's on instantly) with the battery saying 99% after all that time. Then I used it and half drained the battery, then charged it. Next time checking it after only a few weeks it wouldn't switch on and the battery was fully drained. I wonder why, when it was in standby mode each time and the first time, for far longer.

I regret getting it now because it doesn't have the functionality to be used with a smart trainer. Apparently the Explore 2 does have it.

Those smaller solar ones seem pricey:

Edge 540 Solar: £450 (Standard is £350)
Edge 840 Solar: £520 (Standard is £450)
Edge 1040 Solar: £590 (Standard is £480)

If I was going to spend £450 on something like this, I'd spend £590 and get the best one.

[keyboardmonkey]

My Garmin’s battery is depleted - it’s entry level, has been discontinued and I’m looking for a replacement.

Without spending quite so much as the 1030, does anyone recommend the 530, please?

There's a 540 out now so you'll probably be able to pick the 530 up at a decent discount.

Thank you. And subsequent comments on this thread - that the 530 is a non-touch screen version of the 1000 with a beefier battery capacity - makes me tempted to try to swing the 530 from Halfords and chance a CTC discount request