Screen in direct sunlight more difficult to read than on my Edge 530

SFBike
1 month ago

I have had at least 4 Garmin Edge cycling computers over the years and am currently upgrading from the 530.   I had kept the 530 with the screen set to be always on, at about 50 or 60% brightness, and in direct sunlight (here in Florida, perhaps only at 9 or 10 in the morning), I find my new 1050 much more difficult to read, than on the 530.   My data screens are just 5-7 number entries...no graphics, or anything fancy.   In the dark, when I ride at 5 am, they are probably equal in ease of reading, but during sunlight, even with the 1050 set on its BRIGHTEST setting, it is more difficult to read, than on my Edge 530.  I had hoped, given the way they describe the high end screen of the 1050, that it would be at least as easy to read as my unit that cost me less than 1/3 the price.    

I also have had the glitch that is seems many others have had with the 1050, where the screen goes black randomly for a few seconds (or a split second), at least a few times a week, during the ride.  

  • 0 1 month ago

    My 1050 is about a year old, with probably > 1000 hours of screen on time. It's almost unreadable in direct sunlight, and the glare is terrible. I swear it wasn't this bad when it was new, but it is. I've talked to support about it and they recommended updating to the latest firmware, but it isn't really any better. I don't know if I should push for a replacement or just accept that it's bad in sunlight. When I put it side-by-side with my 830, the difference is astonishing. As soon as you ride into a shadow, the 1050 is much better, but otherwise the screen is awful for a significant portion of the day when the sky is clear.

  • 0 1 month ago in reply to wes-m

    Yes, I have only had my 1050 for about a month....and given summer, have mostly ridden it before the sun comes up......and the screen is great....but the majority of the year, I ride during the daytime, and even at 9 or 10 am, (which i do not consider anywhere near peak sunlight), with my standard bike sunglasses on, I cannot see the screen well at 60-80% brightness setting and cannot see the screen at all at times.   When I increase the brightness to Full, 100%.....again....I can see the screen well in the shade, but it becomes less easy to read in the sunlight.  These are the same sunglasses that I have worn for 15 years, and through 3 prior Garmin Edge devices with no problems at all reading the screen (set at 60% all year). The larger screen on the 1050 is a plus... but the visibility in the sun, in my opinion is a minus. 

  • 0 29 days ago in reply to SFBike

    Yeah, the screen is a big fail, just like moving the mount attachment point. Maybe the 1050 plus will correct the issue. I wish I had a 1030 plus, honestly. My 830 did everything I needed, but I do like the larger screen. The only feature the 1050 has that I would miss is the "wallet" feature, but it isn't a dealbreaker.

  • 0 29 days ago

    I've said it before --- Garmin is a watch company that thinks the Edge is a small phone. So we've got unnecessary phone-like features, especially in the physical design, as well as watch-like features all smashed together into a big hot mess.

  • 0 28 days ago in reply to wes-m

    Yeah, the mount thing was a major pain.   I have a Trek, and my Blendr mount would not work with the 1050.    I have used 3 or 4 prior Edges with no problem.  Had to try 3 or 4 other mounts before I found one that would work.  (Trek Blendr High mount, by the way,....if anyone happens upon this thread)

    It never dawned on me that the screen on their top of the line cycling computer would be much worse than that of the lowest end, in the sun.  Guess they don't figure many people ride during the day, lol.