Garmin Edge 540 & 840 — Launch Opinion and Bug Report

[gallery size="medium" columns="2" ids="80656,80657"] Garmin Edge 540 - my go-to bike computer for 2023 Quick Buy Links : Edge 540 : Edge 540 Solar : Edge 840 : Edge 840 Solar : For the first time, I'm going to go 100% Garmin in my training with my Forerunner 965 and today's Edge 540. I used the larger Edge 1040 for an extended period and the Edge 540 near-identically featured but in the smaller format I prefer. I don't need either a touchscreen or solar so it was an obvious choice for me that also keeps the cost of doing sport down...even $350 on the Edge 540 means I've spent over $1000 on Garmin already this year...ouch. Edge 540 Review to follow...later! Garmin Edge 540 & 840 - Are they worth the upgrade? No, I don't think either of them is worth the upgrade from an Edge 530/1030+/830, but if you have an older Garmin Edge, the Edge 840 and 540 represent a very good upgrade with significantly better hardware, features, and accuracy. These are the highlights of what you get new Multiband - This is technically an improvement in positional accuracy, but GNSS reception is pretty good for road cyclists in normal conditions so it won't make much difference. If you navigate in valleys and through trees, this might help you. Battery life - Up to 26 hours in demanding use (32 hours with solar) Up to 42 hours in battery saver mode (60 hours with solar) Daily workout suggestions - only tweaked (more info here) Power Guide & Course demands - more info here. Plan your power output based on your CP curve over a pre-loaded course. Check if the course's power demands match your abilities. Easier setup - more info here. Restore settings from previous devices and transfer sensors. This didn't work for me last work on my new Forerunner 965, but was vaguely OK on the 520 - the biggest setup issue was the super-slow Bluetooth link to the Connect app, it took ages to tweak anything. I easily spent over an hour setting it all up. new(ish) stamina metrics and Training Status - more info here. I find it surprisingly good...even useful! Should sync readiness stats from a Forerunner if you have one. ClimbPro Ascent Planner - tweaked to work on any hill you are about to ride. That is great and a genuinely useful feature that no longer requires you to be navigating (Wahoo will soon launch something similar). Having spent a day using it, however, I can report it doesn't work properly and is 'full' of bugs. None of the initial reviews I've seen point this out (Edit: dcr points out some similar bugs). An improving interface mimics earlier changes we saw in the Edge 1040. There is still more work for Garmin to do here, especially with the use of buttons on the smaller-format 540/840 models. It was a stark move from the button control of my Wahoo to the button control of the 540...it's still an unpleasant experience on the 540. I guess I'll get used to it again in a few days, once the RSI in my wrist goes away. At 32 GB, the 840 has twice the storage of the 540, ideal if you need more regional maps. A slightly faster and more responsive device. Touchscreen/solar versions are available above the 540 base model - 540 solar, 840 touchscreen and 840 touchscreen solar. All models have buttons. Edge 840 or Edge 540 - Which should I choose? The Edge 840's touchscreen sometimes makes menu navigation a tad better. The 840 also has on-device course creation, address search and twice the space for what are now much larger underlying Garmin maps. Those are the only differences So if you think those differences are worth the extra $100, then go for it. If you are tempted not by the 840 but by the larger, otherwise identical Edge 1040, remember that the Edge 1040 doesn't have buttons. https://the5krunner.com/2022/06/08/garmin-edge-1040-review-specifications/ Is Solar Worth It? A: No It's a further $100 premium for the solar option and for 99.9% of you, it's just not worth it for the tiny gains you will get from Solar. Should I switch from a Wahoo Bolt 2 to a Garmin Edge 540/840? Well, I've just done that switch, so I can hardly tell you not to! However, I suspect most Wahoo Bolt users will be happy to stay where they are, trading fewer peripheral features for a superior ride experience. Moving from Wahoo to Garmin, you immediately notice how superior the Wahoo interface is....ELEMNTs are just so easy to use. Remember... you 'use' the device each time you ride... usability really could trump features. Garmin's biggest advantages over Wahoo are its extensive physiology metrics, not limited to the new Stamina feature; many kinds of apps via Connect IQ; superior battery life; and richer mapping and navigation. My main reason for switching is simply that the Garmin Edge can display more than 2 CIQ data fields. I'm using too many unusual sensors now, and a Garmin Forerunner/Fenix watch just can't handle it. Other than that, I'm always intrigued by Garmin's features that classify my strengths as a rider (Cycling Ability) and how they might pace me over a particular course (Power Guide). However, my experience with Power Guide so far on the Edge 1040 hasn't been good, and I don't trust what Garmin's Daily Workout Suggestions say are my best training options for the day. Similarly, I love looking at all the watch-based, physiology-based readiness insights, but much of it is either wrong or feels wrong. Has Garmin Turned A Corner? A: Yes Whilst good, older Garmin Edge 520/820 and earlier models were overrated by reviewers, and the same applied to watches before the Forerunner 935 era. However, the Edge 530/830 generation marked a turning point, and the latest 540/840/1040 generation, as well as the Fenix 7/Forerunner 965, are now market leaders in many respects. I no longer have any serious reservations about recommending them for core usage. If you're considering upgrading to a new Edge 540 or 840, be sure you're comfortable spending that amount of money on the Edge's core sports features, which you can get elsewhere. If you're primarily interested in the fancier features as a bit of fun, then go for a new Edge, but some of those fancy features (like the physiology stuff) might just let you down and feel wrong. Q: $1000 well spent? (if I include the cost of the FR965) A: Probably not! But I REALLY like new toys. Which Retailers Have Stock of the Garmin Edge 540 & 840? Pricing (rrp, MSRP) The following links are now mostly live. Each link provides a choice of retailers, many of whom already have stock in their shops, including Power Meter City in the USA and Wiggle in the UK. It's uncertain what will happen with the various Amazon sites, but for a month they are not expected to have any of the new Edge models in stock at the Amazon-Garmin store. The links below include REI, Power Meter City, Backcountry, and Competitive Cyclist, all of which have stock from day 1. Retailers DEFINITELY have limited stocks at launch (I've spoken to some). You won't get a discounted model at launch, so just buy the first one you find. Edge 540 : $349.99, €399.99, £349.99 Edge 540 Solar : $449.99, €499.99, £449.99 Edge 840 : $449.99, €499.99, £449.99 Edge 840 Solar : $549.99, €599.99, £519.99 Edge 1040 - USA $600, GB £520, Eu600 Edge 1040 Solar - USA $750, GB £630, Eu750 Edge 1040 non-Solar Bundle - USA $700, GB £600, Eu700