Having looked at the battery numbers and the solar rates - I think the 840 non-solar is the sweet spot for me
For those buying, or considering buying, the solar models of any of these - what is your use case that is driving you in that way? I’m curious if I’m missing something I’d benefit from
No UI awards to Garmin, but they are straightforward and a LOT easier to learn than the driver UI in a no-cost upgrade to Mercedes SUV they gave me in Palm Springs.
My personal 530 favorites are the real-time power graphs and other workout stuff. Wanted to upgrade to a touchscreen but also wanted buttons, looking forward to my 840 (non-solar) arriving in 3 days.
I vaguely recall that DCRainmaker posted more impressive solar charging on the 1040, but his results on the 840 it means plugging in after all those 2 hour rides I do. And the solar screen is a little dull. Pretty much a slam dunk for me to save money and buy the non-solar 840.
I think leaving the solar versions lying around on the windowsill after the ride means that you’d only have to charge them very infrequently. The constant charging of all sorts of devices gets on my nerves a bit, so that’d be neat.
I’m not in the market for one, but I do like that feature.
The 800 was 449usd when it was released back in 2010, which is about 620 today. The 830 at 399 would be about 470 if released today. 449 for the 840 is pretty consistent with the pricing on the 800 series.
Leaning 840 not 540 to replace my 800, I thought I could do without the touch but I know I’ll be annoyed at some point.
Doesn’t seem wise to go from touch to just buttons. Long time button-pushing 520 and 530 user, and I’m looking forward to having both touch & buttons. Thanks for the historical pricing!
It depends how its executed. The touchscreen on the 1030 is annoying. When its locked it still goes from page to page :-/ If its not locked a drop of rain, etc can send it crazy, Quite often I’ve got to avoid unlocking it to save until I am home in the dry. Its maybe my fingers but it’ll sometimes fail to activate also unless I take my gloves off and even then its not fast. I picked my self up a 130+ in the sales last week and unless I’m navigating its becoming my favourite :-/
Looked ok in this DCR YouTube video:
And didn’t see it mentioned in reviews. FWIW I rarely ride outside in the rain.
I’ve also seen the same from watching IG stories from the likes of Payson Mcelveen. Impressively responsive touch screen in wet conditions and with gloves
They’ve hopefully sorted it, given that Ray hasn’t mentioned it but etc means a drop of sweat, snot indoors or out, a very light shower that catches you out (you’re way is probably less spontaneous than the UK there), etc, they just got it way wrong with the 1030.
In Europe they went from 299 to 399!!
That’s a big step-up for the non-solar basic version with huge bezels.
Speaking of bezels, I can’t remember where I read an interview asking someone from Garmin why the presence of those bezels.
Essentially he was saying they are harder to remove on those devices than smartphones (but can’t remember why exactly).
I think it is not that straightforward. With electronics the new product should always be more powerful/have better screen/etc. compared to the old version. In Garmin 540/840 case the hardware is basically the same as in the older model. Correct me if I am wrong but I think the 1040 is the only x40 device with upgraded hardware.
I thought @gpl’s review of ClimbPro was great. To see a direct comparison of how the maps look and function on the Karoo unit compared to the 840. What really stood out to me is how much better and clearer the maps are on the Karoo unit. I really wish Garmin could have spent a bit of time improving the usability of their maps.
I covered it briefly in my written review, but somehow forgot to insert the footage in my video review. Sigh.
Still, I’ve just grabbed that footage and stuck it in a very short video. This shows standard Dutch weather, uncut, using the Edge 840 touchscreen, and then I show it again with gloves.
The 840 touchscreen definitely looks a step up on the previous models.
Just cross posted 
Thanks for a great review 
Ouch!
1030 to 1040, or 840. Hmm…
Inflation aside, I personally think that bike computers are kind of expensive. You can buy an unlocked Motorola phone for $100 or any number of laptops for $500.
But, I certainly understand that the market for high end bike computers is orders of magnitude smaller than the cell phone market and Garmin only has a couple of competitors.
The great thing is that these devices tend to last a long time. My 510 still works fine and my 530 might easily last another 5-10 years.
They don’t charge up at all when not being used, that was one reason i went for the solar, have a look at garmin forums.
