Upgraded from my 530 after 4+ years. I'm pretty much purely a fitness and training user and rarely use the maps. It has been a welcome upgrade for a number of small reasons. The screen is brighter, easier to read, and more responsive. USB-C charging seems faster and is definitely easier to use. And there are several features for power, climbing, and stamina that are either new, or were so buried on the 530 that I never found them. Transferring my sensors via Garmin Connect was automatic, and wi-fi connectivity is exponentially improved. Bottom line is that this is a much more polished platform than the 530 and for me it was well worth the upgrade.
I never owned a Garmin before, but I'm getting back into cycling after a few years off. I plan to use GPX files to participate in cycling events and train for a century ride at the end of the season.
After using my Garmin 530 for a few months, I can't imagine riding without it. The navigation works great, and I appreciate being able to track my heart rate, cadence, and other metrics.
I prefer the button interface over a touchscreen, as I can't stand having fingerprints on the display. There is a bit of a learning curve, but it's manageable and straightforward.
I would definitely recommend this device to anyone serious about cycling; it's a must-have.
This is an update to my prior review. After a lot of frustration, Garmin sent me a replacement Edge 1050. The navigation functions work on the replacement Edge 1050. There are a few minor glitches. But, it has a lot of great features. When I set up the replacement Edge 1050, I did not transfer the settings from my old Edge 1000. So, I'm not sure if the navigation issues with the first Edge 1050 were because the unit was defective or because of issues with the transfer of settings via Garmin Connect. Based on the performance of the replacement unit, I would recommend the Edge 1050.
I replaced my solar garmin instinct with the Forerunner 965. For the most part, the battery life didn't change. I'm still going through the settings and tweaking everything the way I like it. Soooo many settings... I've done multiple 70+ mile rides with this watch over 8+hours of active use and a ride like that typically takes the battery down 30% or so for me. Otherwise I'm liking it. I don't think it has any other real advantages over my last watch as it's still the same Garmin software running.
