Garmin says the new Edge 550 and Edge 850 are its “brightest and smartest” compact bike computers yet.
Launched today, the Edge 550 (£379.99) and Edge 850 (£469.99) have a new bright and colourful 2.7in display, which is a small increase of 0.1in compared to the previous Edge 540 and Edge 840.
Garmin says the two bike computers are also highly responsive, fast and they come with a whole host of advanced training features, including free training plans.
This extra performance also comes with a boosted battery life, which has increased from 26 hours on the Edge 540 and 840 to 36 hours.
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What features do the new computers have?
One of the biggest draws of the new Edge 550 and 850 computers is the free Cycling Coach plans, which come alongside a host of other training features.
Accessible via the Garmin Connect app, these plans are said to “adapt based on specific course demands and the rider’s training and recovery, providing recommended training adjustments.”
However, you will need a compatible power meter and heart rate monitor to make use of the training plans.
You can also use the Edge 550 and 850 to see your cycling ability. Garmin says this can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses as a cyclist, and it tracks your progress over time.
Elsewhere, the smart fueling alerts prompt you to hydrate and refuel during your ride based on your current fitness, the course you’re riding, heat and humidity.
When paired with a smartphone and the Connect cycling app, you can use the computers to access Garmin’s new GroupRide data comparisons. This feature shows how your speed, heart rate, power output, cadence and more stack up against your fellow riders.
If you ride with electronic gears, after your ride you can use the computers to check how much time was spent in each gear with Garmin’s new Gear Ratio Analysis.
One particularly useful feature on the Edge 550 and 850, that doesn’t require an app or high-tech equipment, is real-time weather updates, including wind direction.
The computers also support Garmin’s enduro and downhill profiles, which launched with the recently announced Edge MTB computer. These enable 5Hz GPS recording while descending to help you see the lines you took in greater detail.
The timing gates feature will also be of use if you ride off-road. This enables you to see splits in real time for each lap or run of your ride.
So what’s the difference between the Edge 550 and 850?
While the new Garmin Edge 550 and Edge 850 share the same bright screen and training features, the Edge 850 has several extra features, which contributes to its higher price and brings it more in line with Garmin’s flagship Edge 1050 bike computer.
One of the big draws of the Edge 850 over the 550 is the responsive touchscreen. As with the Edge 1050, the Edge 850’s touchscreen means you can pan or zoom on the map, swipe between data screens and even report road hazards.
The Edge 850 also has a built-in speaker like the Edge 1050, which provides you with a digital bike bell, audible turn-by-turn navigation, workout prompts and more.
As with Garmin’s smartwatches, the Edge 850 supports contactless payments. But this feature is only supported by certain countries, payment networks and banks, which you can check on Garmin’s website.
Another difference between the new Garmin Edge bike computers is the Edge 850 has a route creator, so you can plot out point-by-point courses directly on the device via the touchscreen.
Safety features
The Edge 550 and 850 also include Garmin’s core safety features, which are said to help “support cyclists’ peace of mind and awareness”.
Both computers will alert you to road hazards reported by other Garmin users, and enable you to contribute any hazards you spot.
Your family and friends can use Garmin’s LiveTrack feature to see your location in real time.
If an incident is detected, the computers will send a message with your location to your emergency contact.
The computers are also compatible with Garmin’s Varia radar bike lights to audibly alert you to when a vehicle is approaching and capture footage from your ride.
New Garmin Rally pedals
The Garmin Edge 550 and 850 have launched at the same time as the new Garmin Rally 110 and 210 power meter pedals.
Garmin says the single- and dual-sensing power meter pedals can be swapped easily between road and off-road pedal bodies and from bike to bike.
They have rechargeable batteries and new Pedal IQ smart calibration, which alerts you when the pedals need to be recalibrated.
