Garmin Edge 1050 vs. Hammerhead Karoo 3: Which One Is Better?

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This is my comparison of the Garmin Edge 1050 and Hammerhead Karoo 3, two of the most high-end bike computers on the market. You will learn about their differences, pros, and cons, and I will also compare them with the previous generations and other alternatives.

Edge 1050 vs. Karoo 3: The Basics

Here is the summary of the main differences between Garmin Edge 1050 vs. Hammerhead Karoo 3.

Let me now explain them in depth.

Edge 1050 vs. Karoo 3: Features Comparison and Differences

Below, I compare these two bike computers’ most important features and differences.

Physical Dimensions & Weight

Garmin Edge 1050 and Karoo 3 have similar dimensions. Karoo 3 is thicker and shorter but also about 43g lighter. It doesn’t have curved edges like the Edge 1050, which resembles the first generation of Samsung Galaxy Edge.

The Edge 1050 is among the largest head units available. Alternative flagship bike computers, such as the Bryton Rider S800, Wahoo ELEMNT ROAM 2, etc., are smaller and lighter.

It’s also worth noting that the Karoo 3 adapter (and mount) is proprietary, but the packing includes a quarter-turn adapter that makes it compatible with Garmin mounts. The Karoo socket is not replaceable (you must replace the entire backside). Interestingly, Garmin switched the metal socket found on the Edge 1040 (Solar) to a plastic one that is now replaceable on the Edge 1050. However, remember that the position of the Edge 1050 adapter differs from that of the Edge 1040(s), so it might not fit your current bike computer mount.

You might also be interested in this Edge 1040 vs. Edge 1050 comparison.

Display

The Edge 1050 has a larger, 3.5-inch display, while the Karoo 3 “only” has a 3.2-inch display. Both have the same display size as the previous generations. For comparison, the following chart shows the screen sizes of the best bike computers on the market.

The Karoo 3 display is ~10-20% brighter than the Edge 1050:

Surprisingly, E1050’s pixels per inch (PPI) are still lower than Karoo’s (266 vs. 292)! The following two pictures show the details of the screen resolutions.

The brightness of Karoo 3 is the highest of all bike computers I tested. I know it’s hardly visible in pictures, but I estimate it’s 10-20% brighter than the Edge 1050. I have included a few more pictures below so you can see the brightness in different light scenarios. I think the photo from the dark is the most representative. I also included a comparison with other bike computers. Karoo 3 is by far the brightest.

Both displays can show up to 10 easy-to-read data fields. It’s disappointing that they won’t allow more, but I understand this from the readability point of view. The 10 data fields are on the edge of good readability. They are easy to read even in direct sunlight, mainly thanks to the increased brightness compared to the previous generations.

I will comment on the displays’ responsivity and controllability in the Control & User Friendliness section.

Winner: Karoo 3

Battery Life

Battery life is one area where there are significant differences between these bike computers. Garmin claims the Edge 1050 can last up to 20 hours, while Karoo 3 only 15 hours. The following chart shows the battery life of the best bike computers so you can see how they compare.

But how long will the battery last in normal use?

When testing the Edge 1050, it lasted me only around 14.1 hours. Surprisingly, the Karoo 3 was not that far behind, with about 12.3 hours. I had Garmin Varia RTL515, Wahoo TICKR, Favero Assioma DUO, Shimano Ultegra Di2, and my iPhone connected to them. I used navigation for about 20–30% of the rides. Both devices were set to auto-brightness.

Given the Edge 1050’s focus on maximum brightness, it’s unsurprising that there isn’t a Solar option, like the E1040s. The main focus is maximum brightness and readability, and Solar could hurt that (but only by about 10 %). So, I don’t expect the release of the Solar option.

Although the Karoo 3 has about 15% more battery capacity than the previous generation, it still lasts less than the Edge 1050 due to its brighter display. But the difference between them is not as huge as expected.

Winner: Edge 1050

Control & User Friendliness

The Edge 1050 has a redesigned user interface compared to its previous generation. I like it more than the previous one, but it’s still not perfect due to the many features Garmin offers. Karoo 3, on the other hand, runs on Android and has probably the coolest user interfaces (more about it below). You can also control it with control buttons, which can help in winter when you wear gloves. This is not possible on the E1050.

By the way, I noticed the buttons on the Karoo 3 are easier to click than on the previous generation, but they also feel “cheap.” When I shake the bike computer, I can hear how they move.

In the videos below, I demonstrate how to operate the Garmin Edge 1050 and Karoo 3 in wet conditions and with gloves.

Tapping the desired field while wearing full-finger gloves is sometimes difficult, so I recommend buying tight touchscreen-compatible gloves for easier control. I also noticed that the Edge 1050 manages water slightly better than the Karoo 3. However, both displays are hydrophobic, so wiping the water off them is easy.

Overall, both bike computers are very responsive. They react quickly and don’t freeze. I just noticed that Edge 1050 starts to be a bit choppy when navigation is turned on, but it’s nothing serious. Karoo 3 is a bit laggier when pulling down the widgets menu. It’s a shame because the internals are twice as powerful as the previous generation.

On the other hand, I like its UI more—especially the data page layout and field previews. I am sure Garmin inspired itself with Karoo 2 because it introduced something similar (but not as good) to the E1050.

While you can set up the E1050 using the Connect app, Karoo 3 can only be set up on the device. I prefer an on-device setup when done well, so I don’t mind not having the app. However, for some people, it can be a dealbreaker.

I noticed that the beeps on the Edge 1050 are less annoying compared to previous generations. Instead of “beeep” you get “brmprm”. Okay, so maybe it’s not “brmprm” but you get the idea. On the other hand, they are harder to hear in strong winds, so sometimes, it’s difficult to hear a car alert from a bicycle radar. Karoo 3 alerts are easy to hear thanks to the penetrating sound, which is louder than the previous generation.

Overall, I enjoy using Karoo 3 more. The UX designers did a great job, and except for minor things (like the inability to infinitely swipe between widgets), I think it’s the best user interface on any bike computer.

Winner: Karoo 3

Maps & Navigation

Garmin Edge 1050 and Karoo 3 offer various navigation features (basically all you can think of). I am glad that the maps on the Edge 1050 finally look more like maps, but the maps on Karoo 3 look more refined, almost like on a smartphone. This also applies to how you interact with them and the smoothness. Watch the following video, where I demonstrate the ease of browsing maps on Karoo.

I tested the navigation of these two bike computers side by side in Italy, near Lake Como. I enjoyed the Karoo 3 navigation more. It felt easier to follow. On the other hand, it didn’t give me as many alerts about dangerous turns as Edge 1050, for example.

Additionally, the Edge 1050 gives audible instructions on where I should turn so I don’t have to look at the screen all the time. This is surprisingly useful. You don’t have to take your eyes off the road, which could lead to a disaster, especially in those twisty and narrow descents in Lombardy.

Both computers have enough storage to store maps for multiple regions. Speaking of downloads, pop a champagne because WE CAN FINALLY DOWNLOAD MAPS TO THE Edge 1050 WIRELESSLY! I honestly stopped believing that Garmin would ever introduce this feature. Their bike computers were soooo outdated in this area. We had to download them through the Garmin Express desktop app and a wired connection on Edges x40 and older.

You won’t get lost with any of these bike computers because they reliably navigate you where you need to go and can quickly recalculate routes. Garmin’s navigation provides more information, especially when combined with the Road Hazards feature, which isn’t as widespread yet. I rode about 350 km in Italy and only encountered 3 Road Hazards. On the other hand, Karoo 3 felt easier to follow and more modern.

Winner: It’s a draw

GPS Accuracy

Both head units support the multi-band GNSS. Below, you can see a few screenshots from my rides in Italy. I recommend checking out this ride recorded on Karoo 3, and this one recorded on Edge 1050. As you can see from the following screenshots, the accuracy is basically the same.

However, I noticed that the Edge 1050’s accuracy is a bit worse with actual gradients, but I will discuss that later in the ClimbPro section.

Winner: It’s a draw

ClimbPro vs. Climber

One of the most popular features of Garmin bike computers, ClimbPro, was also upgraded (again). The new version allows us to edit the data page a bit more. This means that instead of 2 customizable fields, we now have 6.

I have to say that I enjoy the way Hammerhead shows Climber. It only appears as a widget that you can enlarge when needed, which is super clever. Garmin’s ClimbPro is more customizable but takes an entire data page, so you have to swipe back to the data page you had active because Edge will leave you with the one closest to your ClimbPro page. That’s pretty frustrating.

The accuracy of both systems varies. Surprisingly, ClimbPro seems to struggle with gradients, often showing much lower than the actual ones. The starts and ends of the climbs are similarly accurate.

I would appreciate a different gradient coloring here because a 9% climb marked as green is not particularly easy to ride. Also, more flexibility when changing data fields for the climber page would be great.

Winner: It’s a draw

Other Features

Below, I briefly discuss some other features that Edge 1050 offers, but Karoo 3 doesn’t.

Real-Time Stamina

Unsurprisingly, Garmin kept features like Real-Time Stamina and Power Guide on Edge 1050. Since much has been written about these features, I’ll keep it short:

• Real-Time Stamina shows how long you can ride at your current pace and how much energy you have in the tank.
• Power Guide will calculate your power targets based on your FTP for a planned course.

I don’t use them often because I am experienced enough to determine my body’s needs. But these features can be helpful to beginners. Karoo 3 doesn’t provide anything similar to this, so if you care about these features, you know which bike computer to buy.

In-built Speaker and Electronic Bell

The electronic bell is probably the most frequently mentioned feature of the Edge 1050. Honestly, I’ve become a bit allergic to it. I found it incredibly absurd to mention this feature when talking about a bike computer that costs similar to iPhones. But the more I thought about it, the more brilliant it seemed. It simply works.

Of course, it’s not perfect. For example, the speaker’s position prevents the bell from being loud enough in crosswinds, so pedestrians might not hear it. It also requires an extra tap, so it would be nice if Garmin gave us the option to show the bell button on the top (I believe the screen has enough real estate for it). However, I can’t forget to mention that you can pair it with Shimano Di2 or SRAM AXS buttons. Damn, I wish shifters had as many buttons as gaming mice, haha.

Karoo 3 doesn’t have an in-built speaker, but I think they could add bell-like functionality with future firmware updates.

Shared Road Hazards

Sharing risks on the go, like what we know from Waze or Google Maps, is mega cool. Unfortunately, this feature will not be as useful initially due to the low number of users who can submit these hazards. But, if Garmin opens this to other manufacturers or pushes this to older head units (UPDATE: Edge x40 devices also got this feature), the network would be much bigger, allowing many more people to share the hazards. I am curious to see the future development of this feature.

GroupRide, Challenges, and Awards

GroupRide has received several improvements. For example, the first is that if the E1050 detects a crash, it notifies others in the group (with the GroupRide feature on). This is brilliant. I am surprised we didn’t get this feature sooner. Imagine how useful this feature will be in fast descents.

The Challenges are similar to Strava live segments. You can compete with your friends to see who can climb the upcoming climbs faster. Yes, this feature has only worked for climbs in ClimbPro so far. This is Garmin’s way of giving you another reason to choose the Garmin bike computer and lock you into their ecosystem.

And the Awards are just Garmin’s way of leveraging additional gamification elements. You get rewards for your power output, speed, etc.

Winner: Edge 1050

Total score: Garmin Edge 1050 (2) | Hammerhead Karoo 3 (2) | It’s a draw (3)

My Verdict

Garmin beats Karoo only in battery life. In other important areas, Karoo is my winner. I love its modern and easy-to-navigate user interface, which is similar to controlling a smartphone. Anyway, I can’t deny Garmin has more features and also the strength of its ecosystem, especially if you use a Garmin smartwatch. The data collected can be useful for training and assessing any fatigue or readiness to give maximum performance.

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Edge 1050 vs. Karoo 3 FAQ