New Garmin Edge 850 Review: The New Compact Premium Bike Navigation Device?

Buy the Garmin Edge 850

Garmin Edge 850 practical test

The Garmin Edge 850 is a compact GPS bike computer that impresses above all with its sharp 2.7-inch colour display and almost all the features of the larger Edge 1050. With up to 12 hours of battery life, or 36 hours in battery saver mode, precise multi-GNSS navigation and advanced training and analysis features, it is ideal for performance-focused riders who value clarity, efficiency and smart performance data. Touchscreen and button controls remain reliable even under challenging conditions.

The device is particularly suited to minimalists and weight-conscious riders who prefer a compact, lightweight and functional device. The test shows that its display is somewhat smaller than the Edge 1050's, but the modern interface keeps operation comfortable. Features such as crash detection, LiveTrack and safety functions are integrated, keeping you well supported even on longer rides. Overall, the Edge 850 offers a successful blend of high-end functionality and compact construction, ideal for ambitious cyclists focused on weight, aerodynamics and full control.

At around 9.2 cm long and weighing approximately 113 grams, the Garmin Edge 850 is among the compact and comparatively lightweight high-end bike computers. It is smaller and handier than the larger Edge 1050 while offering almost the same features. The Edge 850 feels balanced on the bike and is particularly interesting for riders who prefer a slim, aerodynamic device combining powerful training, navigation and analysis features without unnecessary bulk.

Pros and Cons

Rating

Display

The Garmin Edge 850 has a high-resolution 2.7-inch colour display specifically designed to remain readable in direct sunlight. The combination of a reflective screen and sharp pixel density presents maps, route information and training data clearly even in bright daylight. The display provides clear data fields and map views so important information can be absorbed at a glance.

Compared with devices such as the Karoo 3, however, the Edge 850 display is not quite as strongly anti-reflective. In extremely bright light or awkward shadows, such as those cast by the rider's head, a slight change in viewing angle may therefore be needed for the best visibility. Despite this limitation, readability impresses in the test through high clarity and good colour reproduction, making the device reliable in everyday use.

The Garmin Edge 850 is operated through a touchscreen combined with side buttons. This allows secure operation even in rain or with gloves, while the touchscreen provides quick input in most situations. The menu structure is generally logical, although some areas feel somewhat nested and occasionally require a few extra taps to reach the desired feature.

In our test, the Garmin Edge 850 display impressed with good readability in everyday use and performance riding alike. Anyone placing particular importance on a larger or especially brilliant display should consider alternatives such as the Hammerhead Karoo 3, Garmin Edge 1050 or Wahoo Elemnt Ace. For those seeking a versatile, compact and readable bike computer, the Edge 850 offers a balanced overall package with clear advantages in direct sunlight.

The new speaker and digital bell!

Unlike earlier Garmin models, the Garmin Edge 850 now has both a speaker and an integrated digital bike bell. Voice guidance for navigation or notifications can therefore play directly through the device, a clear advantage over computers limited to simple beeps.

The integrated digital bell also lets you alert other road users audibly at the press of a button. Our impression is that the Edge 850 bell is even slightly louder than the larger Garmin Edge 1050's, providing additional safety in traffic.

These innovations clearly distinguish the Edge 850 from more compact devices without audio output, combining versatility with practical features for everyday and performance riding.

An alarm system for road bikes!

The Garmin Edge 850, like the Edge 1050, offers an integrated bike alarm. It can be activated directly on the device or through the Garmin Connect app. Once enabled, the bike computer responds to movement with a loud warning through the speaker. A notification is also sent to the paired smartphone, useful when leaving your bike outside a café, for example.

Personally, I think this new alarm is a cool extra. Whether it would actually deter a thief remains questionable. It might instead alert a thief that particularly expensive components are fitted to the road bike. For occasional stops, however, it can be a reassuring addition. I still consider it nice to have.

Battery Life

In practical testing, the Garmin Edge 850 achieved around nine hours of battery life under realistic conditions. A heart rate sensor, power meter and Garmin radar remained connected throughout use. In relatively sunny weather at around 11 °C, power consumption was somewhat higher because automatic brightness control more frequently brightened the display. The chart shows a steady decrease in battery level from 100 percent at the start to 0 percent after around nine hours.

Weight

According to our measurement, the Garmin Edge 850 weighs 113 grams. This makes the bike computer pleasantly light and barely noticeable even on longer rides.

Power Guide: optimise your effort on every route

With Power Guide, the Garmin Edge 850 offers a particularly useful tool for anyone wanting to manage cycling effort deliberately. Using the planned route and personal performance data such as FTP, weight and training goals, Power Guide creates an individual strategy for optimum power distribution during the ride.

For example, imagine a ride that starts flat, then heads into a long mountain section before returning to flat terrain. Without Power Guide, many riders invest too much energy early and run short on the climb. With Power Guide, the Edge 850 shows precisely which power range to use on the flat section, how many watts you can produce on the climb without overdoing it and how to ride efficiently when the terrain flattens again.

The result is a more consistent load, better endurance performance and a faster overall route time. Particularly for long rides, training sessions or cycling marathons, Power Guide provides a real improvement in structure and control.

Nutrition alerts

The Garmin Edge 850 supports cyclists not only with navigation and training management but also with fuelling. Integrated nutrition alerts automatically remind you to eat and drink regularly, a crucial factor for long rides, intensive training or cycling marathons.

Alerts can be individually configured, for example by time interval or distance covered. This reliably reminds you to take small snacks or drinks even on flat sections, so you do not run out of energy on later climbs. Particularly over long routes with changing profiles, nutrition alerts help maintain performance and avoid dips caused by a lack of energy.

This feature makes the Garmin Edge 850 an even more valuable companion for ambitious cyclists who want to manage nutrition as deliberately as power or heart rate.

Live weather data

The Garmin Edge 850 provides not only navigation and performance data but also live weather information directly on the display. Its smartphone connection gives you current weather reports, temperature readings and forecasts for rain, wind direction and wind speed during your ride.

This is a real advantage on longer rides or training sessions: you can respond early when rain clouds or strong headwinds approach and adjust clothing or riding strategy accordingly. Live weather data also helps on mountain stages, as temperature differences between valley and summit become immediately visible.
With this feature, the Garmin Edge 850 makes cycling more comfortable and safer, whether in everyday life, ambitious training or long rides.

Garmin Coach and workouts

The Garmin Edge 850 supports cyclists who want to improve performance systematically through Garmin Coach. It creates personalised training plans tailored to your goals, current fitness and available training volume.

Sessions sync automatically to the Edge 850 and appear directly on the display. On every ride, you therefore know exactly which intervals or intensities are planned. Particularly practical is Garmin Coach's dynamic adjustment: if you miss a session or perform especially well, the plan adapts automatically.

Whether you want to improve FTP, prepare for a road race or simply train with more structure, Garmin Coach on the Edge 850 provides a digital coach that guides you towards your goals step by step.

Garmin Pay: contactless payments

With Garmin Pay, the Garmin Edge 850 offers a particularly practical feature for everyday use and longer rides. Integrated NFC technology lets you pay contactlessly on the move without cash or a bank card. Simply add your preferred account or credit card in Garmin Connect, and the Edge 850 becomes a digital wallet.

Garmin Pay is particularly useful on long rides: whether quickly buying a bar at a petrol station or paying for a coffee, a brief tap with the bike computer is enough. This saves time and lets you concentrate fully on your ride.

With Garmin Pay, the Edge 850 becomes not only a powerful training and navigation device but also a practical everyday companion.

Group Ride

The Garmin Edge 850's Group Ride feature is a practical tool for anyone who enjoys cycling in a group. Riders can share their positions in real time and see where other participants are, directly on the Edge 850 display or in the Garmin Connect app.

This is particularly useful on longer rides or training sessions where group members might become separated. Each rider can keep track of the group and adjust their speed or route. The feature improves safety and navigation while making group riding more relaxed and coordinated.

For ambitious group rides, club outings or training sessions, Group Ride is therefore a clever feature that makes the Edge 850 an indispensable companion for team and group riding.

You might also be interested in…