This post aims to help you to choose between the Garmin Edge 540 vs 530. Is this long awaited upgrade worth it? How does it compare to the much-loved unit it replaces, the 530? This post sums up what is new about the Garmin Edge 540, so you can make up your own mind if this upgrade is useful for you. We start with a quick look at the current prices, and then you can dive right into our in-depth comparative chart that will show you at a glance what you can expect from the new Garmin Edge 540.
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Chart Showing Differences between the Garmin Edge 540 vs 530
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| Best Price Right Now on Amazon | Best Price on Amazon Right Now: | Best Price on Amazon Right Now for Solar Version: . Best Price on Amazon Right Now for NON-Solar Version: |
| BEST SUITED FOR? | Cyclists who want: • An outstanding bike computer with premium training features and high-quality maps preloaded on the unit. • Free preloaded routable cycle map of all of your region (e.g. North America or Europe), plus Trailforks (worldwide MTB trail data). • ClimbPro preloaded (but not the FreeRide version, so you do have to preload the course). | This is the LATEST UPDATE. Best suited to cyclists who want: • An upgraded, superior user interface that you navigate with 7 buttons. • The ability to configure the bike computer on your smart phone. • Nothing but the very best and the very latest premium training features. • Free preloaded routable cycle map of all of your region (e.g. North America or Europe), plus Trailforks (worldwide MTB trail data). • Enhanced accuracy and responsiveness. • FreeRide ClimbPro preloaded. • The option of solar assistance for increased battery life on very long rides. Also well suited to those who do a lot of hills, thanks to the upgraded ClimbPro FreeRide that shows you the details of all climbs, even if you have not downloaded a course. |
| Size of Unit | 1.9" x 3.2" x 0.8" (50 x 82 x 20 mm) | 2.3" x 3.4" x 0.8" (57.8 x 85.1 x 19.6 mm) |
| Display Resolution | 246 x 322 pixels, color | 246 x 322 pixels, color |
| Weight | 2.7 oz (75.8 g) | Solar: 3 oz (84.9 g) Non-Solar: (2.8 oz) 80.3 g |
| Waterproof rating | IPX7 (the 7 means it is resistant to damage from accidental splashes, rain, or being submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes) | IPX7 (the 7 means it is resistant to damage from accidental splashes, rain, or being submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes) |
| Display size | 2.6" (66 mm) diagonal, color | 2.6" (66 mm) diagonal, color |
| Internal storage | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Charging | Micro USB | USB-C (Garmin-specific for connection to Garmin online; generic for charging) |
| Touchscreen or button control? | 7 buttons, NO touchscreen | 7 buttons, NO touchscreen |
| Battery Life | Up to 20 hours in GPS training mode, and up to 40 hours in battery saver mode | Up to 26 hours in GPS training mode, up to 48 hours in battery saver mode |
| Battery Save Mode (extends battery life by up to 50% while still tracking all ride data) | Yes | Yes |
| Option to add Garmin Charge Power Pack (to double battery life)? | Yes | Yes |
| Bike alarm that connects with your phone? | Yes | Yes |
| Find my bike computer? | Yes | Yes |
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| What the Feature is Called | What the Feature Does | |
| Multi-Band GNSS/GPS (Global Navigation Satellite System/Global Positioning System) | State-of-the-art positional accuracy and coverage — even in the most challenging environments — with multi-system, multi-band GPS technology. Rated most accurate bike computer ever for this mapping function, especially in tough conditions. Uses the best GPS system available in the world today. | |
| Event Goals | Add a race to your calendar, and the Edge 540 will help you to train for it by providing daily suggested workouts. | |
| Adaptive, Targeted Coaching | The unit gives you daily suggested workouts, plus training prompts. Also provides personalized coaching based on your planned event. The coaching adapts to your current training load and recovery status. | |
| Configuration on Phone | Now, you can finally configure your Garmin bike computer on your phone, bringing Garmin in line with Wahoo. This makes for a much easier set up and configuration. Of course, this is compatible with both Android and Apple. | |
| Updated and more user-friendly User Interface | The user interface is much improved vs previous models, including better fonts, more granular detail on graphics such as Climb profiles, improved navigation, Connect IQ widgets right on the home page, and very nice ride summary page. | |
| Cycling Ability and Course Demands | Based on your personal cycling records, the Edge 540 will try to define your cycling strengths, and measure them up against the course demands. For example, it will decide if you are a "flats specialist" or an "endurance specialist". Will you be up to this course? Which parts will be more challenging for you? (Requires the unit to be paired with your power meter and heart rate monitor). | |
| Type-Specific Maps | Improved maps highlight popular roads and trails, plus searchable points of interest (POIs). | |
| Forksight Mode within Trailforks App | Automatically displays upcoming forks in the trail, with context (shows you where you are within the trail network). | |
| Solar Option to extend battery life further (for a substantial extra cost) | For about an extra $100, you can get the version that has solar power built into the hardware. In our opinion, you would have to have extreme battery needs, and a whole lot of sunshine, in order to justify this extra expense. | |
| Power Guide/Stamina Insights | Using your own personal history and preferences, the bike computer will help you to pace yourself over a course. For example, for each segment it will show you a Power Target that will enable you to hit your time goal. Similar to what you can do with the app Best Bike Split. But it is better than Best Bike Split, because you can adjust your aims mid-ride. | |
| Hardware change: USB-C charging port | With this model, Garmin has FINALLY switched from a mini USB to a USB-C charging port. However, note that while you can use a generic USB-C to USB-A cord for charging, you will need the Garmin-specific cord that ships with the unit to connect to Garmin online. | |
| Up Ahead Waypoints | As seen on the Fenix 7. You can add Waypoints to a course on Garmin Connect, with custom icons. Then as you are riding, you will see a forecast of upcoming waypoints, and estimated time to arrive there. | |
| Real Time Stamina | As seen on the Fenix 7. This is intended to help you figure out pacing on a ride. It shows you your stamina levels during the ride, so you have an idea of how much more you have "in your tank". | |
| ClimbPro FreeRide | This great feature that shows you every detail of hills as you approach them and as you climb them, is now available on every ride you do (hence the name FreeRide). Previously, you had to preload a course. The unit has every climb preloaded. It will guess your upcoming choice of route, and show you the climbing gradient accordingly. If you make a sudden unexpected turn, it simply recalculates. Note: this update puts Garmin on a par with Hammerhead Karoo bike computers, which have had this feature for a while. However, Garmin does it a lot better, thanks to having better data in their maps. | |
| ClimbPro Explore | This widget lets you explore your surroundings and look for a climb you would like to do. Once you find one, the unit will help you to get to it by providing full navigation. | |
| Hardware Change - Replaceable Mounting Tab | Both the 530 and the 540 have a plastic tab on the back of the unit to attach to your Garmin mount. However, on the 540 there 2 little screws so that you can replace the tab, if you happen to break it. | |
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| Satellite Systems: | ||
| Barometric Altimeter? | ||
| Accelerometer? | ||
| Ambient Light Sensor? | ||
| Basemap | ||
| Ships pre-loaded with high-quality routable cycle maps for one map areas, plus can download any other countries for free? | ||
| Can you add maps for free, and swap out maps? | ||
| Waypoints | ||
| How many routes can you save on the device? | ||
| How much history can you store on the device? | ||
| Address search (input address and it will plot a route)? AKA On-Device Course Creator | ||
| Popularity routing (Trendline) - shows routes used most by cyclists? | ||
| Turn-by-turn navigation? | ||
| Recalculate route on the device? | ||
| New re-routing options? | Yes, on routes that you downloaded. Choose from Rejoin where you left course; Skip ahead to course; or Cut across. Plus you can Pause the route while you dart off to a coffee shop or a photo opp | Yes. Choose from Rejoin where you left course; Skip ahead to course; or Cut across. Plus you can Pause the route while you dart off to a coffee shop or a photo opp |
| Calculate route back to start? | ||
| Can you create a custom course on the unit (this is a sequence of waypoints or locations that leads you to your final destination)? | ||
| Create a round-trip route on the device? | ||
| Find nearby POI (points of interest)? | ||
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| How does it communicate with your phone and other devices? | Bluetooth Smart (aka BLE or Bluetooth Low Energy), ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth Smart (aka BLE or Bluetooth Low Energy), ANT+, Wi-Fi |
| Time & date display? | ||
| Smart notifications? | ||
| Can you respond to a phone call with text on your Android phone? | ||
| Rider to Rider messaging? | ||
| Does it display the weather and weather alerts? | ||
| Garmin Connect compatible? (this is an online community where you can share data, plys analyze - like Strava) | ||
| Automatically syncs your rides to your computer? | ||
| Unit to unit transfer (share your data with friends with similar units)? | ||
| LiveTrack | ||
| Group LiveTrack? | ||
| Incident detection (so someone is automatically notified if you have an accident)? | ||
| LEV/ebike compatibility via ANT+ or Shimano Steps? | ||
| Compatible with heart rate monitors, plus power, speed and cadence sensors? | ||
| ANT+ shifting? | ||
| Shimano Di2 electronic shifting integration? (“Digital Integrated Intelligence” enables instant electronic shifting) | ||
| Can it download free apps and widgets from the Connect IQ™ store? | ||
| Compatible with Garmin VIRB video camera? | ||
| Compatible with Garmin inReach 2-way satellite communicator (to send your location if you need assistance and your cell phone cannot connect)? | ||
| Garmin Varia Compatible? | ||
| Can you control it with a Garmin Edge remote control? | ||
| Does it have Extended Display (so you can use your bike computer as an extended display to view data screens from a compatible Garmin mulitsport watch)? | ||
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| Autostart (so your timer will start automatically once you are cycling at a custom speed)? | ||
| Can You Customize Your Data Pages? | ||
| Interval training? | ||
| Advanced workouts? (so you can create customized, goal-directed workouts) | ||
| Daily Workout Suggestions? | ||
| Can You Download Training Plans to It? | ||
| Can You Create Workouts on the unit itself? | ||
| Virtual Partner (so you can compete against a digital cyclist)? | ||
| VO2 Max estimate? (the maximum amount of oxygen a person can utilize during intense exercise) | ||
| FTP tracking? (Functional Threshold Power is the average power that a rider can produce over the course of an hour) | ||
| Will it Advise You on Recovery Time? | ||
| Time in heart rate training zone? | ||
| TrainingPeaks iLevels (WKO4) | ||
| ClimpPro (feature that shows you graphically the grades ahead, and all details of hills as you ride them as well)? | ||
| Power Meter Compatible? | ||
| Performance Power Curve? (tracks your power output over periods of time) | ||
| Advanced Power Analysis? | ||
| Does it have Physio TrueUP (a Garmin Connect feature that keeps physiological data in sync between multiple devices)? | ||
| Does it compute calories based on heart rate? | ||
| Strava Live Segments on the unit? | ||
| Aerobic training effect? | ||
| Heat acclimation (how well are you adjusting to heat)? | ||
| Altitude acclimation (how well are you adjusting to changes in altitude)? | ||
| Water and calorie requirements (reminders based on course)? | ||
| Auto Pause (so it stops recording when you stop your bike)? | ||
| Smart Trainer Control? | ||
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| Grit rating (how tough is the route)? | ||
| Flow rating (how well did you ride the route)? | ||
| Hang time (how long were you in the air when jumping, how far did you go)? | ||
| Integrated Trailforks? (130,000 trails preloaded on unit) | ||
Related Post: Wahoo TICKR Heart Rate Monitor – Read Our Review of this Budget, Accurate Heart Rate Monitor
Garmin Edge 540 vs 840 vs 1040: Complete Comparison with Chart
Garmin Edge 540 and 540 Solar
The 540 is a major upgrade to the Garmin Edge 530, and has some very attractive new features. The question is, do you NEED a bike a computer this awesome? That’s for you to decide, of course. As to the choice between the solar and non-solar editions, see further below in this post.
Updates to the Garmin Edge 540
The Garmin Edge 540 has several features that previously have only been seen on the new 1040. Most of these can now be found on the three new models: the Edge 1040, the 840, and of course the 540. These new features are detailed below.
User-Friendly, Upgraded User Interface
The upgraded UI that arrived with the Edge 1040 is the game changer, in our opinion. Of course, Garmin makes what are arguably the best smart watches in the industry. (We happen to like Samsung better, as we explain in our post called 7 of the Best Smart Watches. But it’s a personal choice.) You can see the influence of smart watch design in the new UI. I remember the very early Garmin bike computers, where your choices were pretty much between “Go” and “Stop”! Now, there is an attractive smorgasbord of widgets to scroll through and choose. These apps give you access to in-depth data about your surroundings and your own training status.
Features of the new, improved UI also include better fonts, more granular detail on graphics such as Climb profiles, and improved navigation. Plus, you can access Connect IQ widgets right on the home page. There is also a very nice ride summary page. In general, the new UI is just a joy to use.
This brings me to my only criticism of the Garmin Edge 540. This bike computer now has so many great training and navigation features, that you can spend a fair bit of time finding your way around. It seems to us that perhaps the new UI was developed with a touchscreen in mind. Because it can at times be a bit cumbersome to navigate all of the features with just buttons.
For this reason, we happen to prefer the new Garmin Edge 840. With that model, Garmin has not only retained an excellent touchscreen, but also provided 7 buttons (the same configuration found on the 540, which does not have a touchscreen). This gives you the flexibility to find your way around the 840 much more deftly and quickly, especially while on a ride. All in all, the combo of touchscreen and seven buttons puts the Edge 840 ahead of the new Garmin Edge 540, in our opinion.
Related Post: Garmin Edge 840 vs. 830: What’s the Difference?
Related Post: Garmin Edge 1040 vs. 1030 Plus: What’s the Difference?
Event Goals and Adaptive Coaching – a Clear Winner for the 540 in the Garmin Edge 540 vs 530 Contest
In our opinion, the Garmin Edge 540 (and the 1040 and 840) will enable you to take your training to a new level. For example, you can add a race to your calendar, and the Edge 540 will help you to train for it. The training plan your bike computer creates for you will include a Base Phase, a Build Phase, a Peak Phase, and a Taper Phase. To guide you through these phases, the unit will provide daily suggested workouts, plus training prompts as well. As you progress, the coaching will adapt to your current training load and recovery status.
Note that this function works even better if you also happen to wear a Garmin smart watch. In this case, if for example you have a night when you get almost no sleep, your Edge computer will adjust your training load accordingly. So you won’t get up after half an hour’s sleep to find your bike computer reminding you to start your hundred-mile training ride!
Configure on Your Phone – Garmin Edge 540 vs 530
In this regard, the 540 is a clear winner. In the past, we have often commented that we preferred configuring Wahoo bike computers on our phones to configuring Garmin bike computers on the computer itself. Well, with the debut of the 1040 and now the 540, Wahoo no longer has this advantage. You can now set up the Garmin Edge bike computers on your phone, which makes life easier and simpler. That is, if you own a 540, 840, or 1040.
Cycling Ability and Course Demands
Based on your personal cycling records, the Edge 540 will try to define your cycling strengths, and measure them up against the course demands. For example, it will decide if you are a “flats specialist” or an “endurance specialist”. This is interesting, but not especially useful, in our experience.
Based partly on this, the unit attempts to help you decide whether you will you be up to the course you plan to do today. Which parts will be more challenging for you? It will also recommend how to ride the course (see below under Power Guide).
This assessment can and does change over time, depending on what cycling you do. If for example you usually cycle 40 miles to and from work on a flat route, but you start off using your new 840 while on a vacation cycling in the Alps, it is most likely going to classify you as a climbing specialist. And then reclassify you after you spend a few weeks not doing any climbing.
Type-Specific Maps
Type-Specific Maps are improved maps that highlight popular roads and trails, plus searchable points of interest (POIs).
Trailforks Pre-Activated
The Garmin Edge 540 has the Trailforks app preloaded but not yet activated, so it is not quite ready for you to use. (Unlike the 840.) However, it only takes a few minutes to activate it.
Forksight Mode
This new feature resides within the included Trailforks App. It automatically displays upcoming forks in the trail, with context (that is, it shows you where you are within the trail network). This can be useful for making informed on-the-fly route decisions.
Power Guide
The new Garmin Edge 540 has a Power Guide, which uses your own personal history and preferences to help you to pace yourself over a course. This is similar to what you can do with the app Best Bike Split. But it is better than Best Bike Split, because you can adjust your aims mid-ride. To use this, you do have to pre-load the course.
Real Time Stamina
This feature was previously seen on the new Garmin Fenix 7 smart watch. It is intended to help you figure out pacing on a ride. It shows you your stamina levels during the ride, so you have an idea of how much more you have “in your tank.” We found this useful for making on-the-fly route decisions.
Replaceable Mount
Both the 530 and the 540 have a plastic tab on the back of the unit to attach to your Garmin mount. However, on the 540 there are two little screws so that you can replace the tab, if you happen to break it. This can happen when you crash your bike, so it is a thoughtful and useful change.
ClimbPro Now Available Even When You Do Not Download a Course
ClimbPro is a cool feature that tracks a hill you are climbing, showing you what challenges lie ahead. It used to be that you could only use this on preloaded courses. Now, it works on the fly, wherever you are. This is because every possible hill is already preloaded onto the unit. With this in mind, it is now called ClimbPro FreeRide.
Of course, this does require the unit to guess which route you are taking. Occasionally, it will make a mistake, if you take an unexpected turn. Although Garmin is attempting to fine-tune this, we are not expecting any future updates to impart the power of mind-reading to your Garmin Edge. However, the good news is that ClimbPro will recalculate quickly.
ClimbPro Explore
Say you are out on a ride, and you decide you really have not suffered enough today to meet your training goals? Well, you can now use the ClimbPro Explore widget to search for nearby climbs. Once you have found one that is sufficiently daunting, your Garmin Edge 540 will use its awesome turn-by-turn navigation skills to take you to that hill.
Should You Buy the Garmin Edge 540 Solar?
Recently Garmin bought solar to its flagship computer, the 1040 Solar. Now it has rolled this solar technology out to the new 840 and 540. Garmin already had this technology on their most high-end watches. For the privilege of some solar charging, you will need to pay about ninety dollars extra. So the question is, is it worth it?
Personally, I would not pay that much extra for the solar option. However, it may be something you want. Probably only if you do multi-day cycling events, so you desperately need extra battery life. Or you have a terrible memory when it comes to charging your devices. And you live in an area that has a LOT of sunshine. If not, the relatively small increase in battery life hardly seems worth the extra money.
The Edge 540 Solar will tell you how much charge you have added during a ride. The report is usually startling – in that you will be surprised at just how little charge was added. Even leaving the unit lying in the sun for hours achieves remarkably little in added power. Much less than you would achieve by leaving it charging from a power outlet, definitely.
I am not sure how Garmin justifies so much extra for this solar feature. After all, it is not as if solar power was invented last week. So, it seems a bit over-priced for what it is. Maybe this will change over time. I hope so.
Physical Changes
The physical changes are fairly minor. However, the 540 does have a replaceable tab to attach to your Garmin mount. This could come in handy if you have an accident, as you are less likely to damage it.
Also, the 540 is noticeably wider and chunkier than the 530, no doubt to accommodate the solar panels. We like the chunkier look, but it is a personal thing. The 540 is a tiny bit heavier than the 530, but the difference is almost certainly not enough to cost you your spot on the podium (two-tenths of an oz).
The seven buttons on the 540 are noticeably better than the buttons on the 530. They have a more solid feeling, and are more “clicky” when you press them. On the 530, they felt more like marshmallows when you pressed them. Now, they feel like buttons. The solar option makes the screen just a little bit darker – around 10% darker.
The New USB-C Charging Port
The Garmin Edge 540 now has a USB-C charging port. This is a very welcome change from the mini USB port that Garmin inexplicably clung to for so long. However, not that the charging cord that comes with the unit might look like a simple USB-A to USB-C cord, but in fact, it is not. Yes, you can charge your Garmin Edge 540 using any USB-A to USB-C cord.
However, if you want to connect the unit to your computer so that you can access Garmin Connect, you need to have the Garmin-specific USB-A to USB-C cord. The one that ships with the unit is of course Garmin-specific, and is even labeled as a Garmin product. Make sure you keep this cord in a safe place!
Bottom Line on Garmin Edge 540 vs 530
As with all our gadget choices, this comes down to what you need, what you want, and what you can afford. Because of that, we usually don’t make a strong recommendation either way. However, the new 540 has come in at just $50 more, and is three years newer. Plus, it has a lot of useful new features. Therefore, if I currently had neither one of these bike computers, I would definitely go for the 540. Except for one little thing … the fact that the new Garmin Edge 840 also exists. We do suggest you take a look at our post on the 840 vs 830, before making up your mind.
Related Post: Garmin Edge 840 vs 830: What’s the Difference?
Related Post: Garmin Edge 1040 vs 1030 Plus: What’s the Difference?
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