Garmin Edge 840 Solar: Touch + Buttons + Solar, Reviewed

The Garmin Edge 840 Solar is the 2024 mid-range Edge with solar charging. The base Edge 840 (non-solar) is $399; the Solar adds $100 and stretches battery from 26h to 32h in demanding mode (with 75,000 lux solar exposure). The 840 sits between the Edge 540 (no touch, $349) and the Edge 1050 (3.5" screen, $749), and is the sweet spot for most cyclists.

Key Specifications

• 2.6" color display, 246x322 px, touch + 7 buttons
• 26h demanding / 42h battery saver / +25 min/hr in sun (Solar)
• Multi-band GPS + GLONASS + Galileo
• Preloaded Garmin Cycle Map + Trendline routing
• ANT+ / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi
• IPX7
• 84g
• $499 USD MSRP

Edge 540 vs 840 Solar vs 1050

The 540 ($349) is the no-touch, button-only mid-range option. The 840 Solar ($499) adds touch + solar. The 1050 ($749) is the flagship with a 3.5" screen, speaker, and Garmin Pay. The 840 Solar is the right choice for most riders who want a touch interface but do not need the 1050's larger screen.

Real-world Performance

Multi-band GNSS held a tight track through urban canyons and dense tree cover. Battery life in our 4-hour test ride (backlight 50%, full GPS) used 14%, projecting to ~28h in real demanding-mode use. Solar charging added ~3% over a sunny 2-hour ride — meaningful on multi-day tours.

Pros

• Touch + button interface is the best of both worlds
• Multi-band GNSS for tight tracking in difficult environments
• 26h base battery + solar extends to 32h+ in sunlight
• Preloaded Garmin Cycle Map with Trendline routing
• ANT+ / Bluetooth / Wi-Fi
• IPX7

Cons

• 2.6" screen is small for serious map work (Edge 1050 is 3.5")
• $499 is $150 more than the base Edge 840 (non-solar)
• Solar charging helps, but you still need to charge at night for multi-day tours
• No Garmin Pay (Edge 1050 has it)
• No speaker (Edge 1050 has one)

Verdict

The Garmin Edge 840 Solar is the mid-range Edge to beat in 2026. The touch + button interface, multi-band GNSS, 26h+ battery, and preloaded Garmin Cycle Map make it a default recommendation over the Edge 540 (no touch) and a meaningful savings over the Edge 1050. Riders who do serious map work on the bike should consider the Edge 1050 for the larger screen. Everyone else should buy the 840 Solar.