Today, Garmin announced the Edge 1040 Solar and Edge 1040 cycling computer. This is the first update since the Edge 1030 Plus two years ago. At that time, Garmin added the Plus name to the Edge 1030 to align it with the rest of the Edge lineup. Today's announcement marks an update to the top of the Edge lineup, leading the product category with new features and a new style.

The most significant feature of the new 1040 model name is its battery life; the Garmin Edge 1030 plus already easily outperformed the competition, but the new model extends that advantage with two new options for the flagship model. The more affordable option is the Edge 1040, which can expect 35 and 70 hours in standard and battery-saver modes, respectively.

For those who want even more impressive numbers, there is an entirely new model available. The flagship Garmin Edge 1040 Solar features solar charging, which extends battery life by 42 minutes per hour during daytime running. This gives it a battery life of 45 hours in standard mode in sunny conditions and 100 hours in battery saver mode, nearly double the battery life of the previous model. Compatibility with Garmin Charge Power Packs is maintained, making these numbers even higher.

The impressive numbers don't come without a size penalty. The new unit is actually slightly smaller, and the battery size has been reduced from 1900 mAh to 1800 mAh; the CPU and screen are also virtually unchanged, so any performance gains are due to software tuning. According to Garmin, the new software architecture optimizes and improves battery life performance while improving overall performance.

In terms of hardware improvements, the exterior remains very straightforward: USB-C has replaced the outdated micro USB charging port, and the exterior is slightly thinner. On the front, the design language remains the same, with solar panels replacing the bezels at the top and bottom of the Edge 1040 Solar's screen. Flip the unit over and you'll find a newly reinforced metal quarter-turn mounting insert that is secure even on rough surfaces.

Another hardware update is the move to multiband satellite connectivity: the Edge 1030 plus already utilized satellite constellations other than the US-based GPS system, but the Edge 1040 series adds multiband connectivity. Practically speaking, this means that one can expect better coverage in situations where sky visibility is difficult. Perhaps more useful, however, is greater accuracy for more precise speed and altitude, and faster acquisition times so that one can get moving with less delay.

Along with the hardware changes, there are also software-based improvements throughout. If you are already a Garmin user, setup takes less than five minutes. With just a few clicks, all of your previous settings are reflected and you are ready to ride. For those who are starting out or need to make changes, the integration with the Garmin Connect phone app has been greatly enhanced; similar to Wahoo's functionality, the data screen can be customized from the app or by long pressing on the device's screen.

On the mapping side, much of what we have come to expect from the Garmin Edge mapping experience has not changed. Turn-by-turn navigation has the ability to pause when it is time to explore, and trendline popularity data is available for route suggestions based on the billions of miles covered by Garmin users. For off-roaders, Trailforks also continues to be integrated. In addition to these details, users can now search for points of interest on the map.

In fact, we see a similar strategy in most software features. It works as expected and in the way you would expect, but with more features added. While the Garmin ecosystem can be leveraged to provide training suggestions and status information, the 1040 series adds even more functionality. The Cycling Ability feature helps categorize your strengths as a cyclist and compare your cycling ability to the demands of a particular course. Real-time stamina provides guidance on pacing during a ride, while the power guide recommends target power.

One of the new features is a customizable home screen: the screen that appears when you turn on the Edge 1040 series has a wealth of customizable information, either through the Garmin Connect app or directly on the unit, a series of Data widgets can be rearranged, added, and removed.

As strange as it may seem, new software features are not offered on older devices. It may only take a few minutes to set up a new device, but even if the update is entirely software-based, a purchase is required to receive the update.