Simplified setup and a streamlined interface make it quick and easy to access the information, courses and tools you need and even adjust data fields right from the Edge® device or from your paired smartphone
Improved ClimbPro ascent planner is now available on every ride — no course required; view on your Edge® device and in the Garmin Connect™ app on your smartphone for ride planning
Buttons! Now the 540 AND 840 have button controls, with the 840 still having the touchscreen capabilities.
Battery life: in demanding use cases, get up to 26 hours or up to 32 hours with solar charging in direct sunlight (75,000 lux); In battery saver mode, get up to 42 hours or up to 60 hours with solar charging in direct sunlight (75,000 lux); during daytime rides, solar adds up to 25 minutes per hour in battery saver mode
View daily suggested workouts and training prompts on screen; based on your event, get personalized coaching that adapts to your current training load and recovery when riding with a compatible power meter and heart rate monitor
Better GPS: Find your way in the most challenging environments with multi-band GNSS technology that provides enhanced positional accuracy
Classify your strengths as a cyclist, and compare your cycling ability to the demands of a specific course, so you can focus your training and improvement in the right areas, when paired with your compatible power meter and heart rate monitor
Manage your efforts with the power guide feature, which recommends power targets throughout a course, when paired with your compatible power meter
Get stamina insights while you ride, so you can keep an eye on how much longer you can really push it, when paired with your compatible power meter and heart rate monitor
Stay on top of your training program with prompts to complete missed workouts
Ride like a local, whatever your bike type, with improved ride type-specific maps that highlight popular roads and trails plus searchable points of interest
Through the Garmin Connect™ app on your smartphone, pair with your favorite apps and platforms, including Strava, Komoot, TrainingPeaks® and many more
Not to surprising it is basically the one feature that would entice people to upgrade. Still would be nice if the older devices would get the new features, since it doesn’t seem like something that should be impossible on that hardware…
Conversely, this is the first time I am considering a Garmin unit (shivers) 840 as a replacement for my Elemnt Bolt V1. The combo touch / button options and middle child size seems solid for the price.
I added the 1040 US pricing in the OP above for quick reference.
I don’t trust myself to get other currencies, but will paste it in if someone grabs it all.
ETA: I snagged the other currencies for the new models from DCR, but am I had to get the 1040 ones from other sites, so not sure those are correct.
Have to say, I found the 530 an upgrade on my Bolt v1. (Not enough extra in a 540 for me to upgrade really - I’m not entirely convinced by climb pro for general riding even when following a course).
Helpful when it’s accurate. Some known issues right now with rides imported from Strava to Garmin Connect and then sync’d to head unit. download GPX directly to the unit via USB seems to fix that issue. @GPLama had a great video on that with @WindWarrior providing files for the investigation. (yes Hamilton is FIVE climbs on the out and back)
ClimbPro has been accurate, except on that Mt Hamilton climb which was a ride I found on Strava and copied to My Routes. All courses made on my own (Strava or RideWithGPS), or by my club on RideWithGPS, have been accurate.
Am I understanding correctly that mapping/routing between the 540 and 840 is the same? Other than the noted can’t search a street address from the unit itself on the 540 noted in the DCR quick comparison video?
I’m still on an 800. Really tired of having to plug it in after rides, it works but is limited in what it shows when doing TR workouts outside, planning/setting routes is way cumbersome, and I’m done with anything not USB-C in my life. Also potentially moving to a much hillier area (anything is hilly compared to the C&O canal I end up on most of the time) so climb pro is of interest and some updated/faster mapping seems nice to be able to explore.
As long as I’m not losing anything with routing on the 540, that 349 is a pretty enticing price.
My last Garmin experience was an 820 - it was a bad one and I swapped to Wahoo. 820 battery and touchscreen were bad experiences for me and I wouldn’t revisit them
However, given the state of my current Wahoo computer I’m seriously considering going back to Garmin - first time in a long time
I had the same experience with an 820. It died during a 9 hour gravel ride with no navigation running. The touchscreen was so slow and unresponsive. Luckily I found a 1030 on a steep discount, so I sold the 820 and I’ve been happy ever since. I have a lot of Garmin products so it’s easier for me to operate in their ecosystem.
