GPS
Receiver Review Index
Detailed reviews
to help you choose the best unit for your needs
|
|
GPS receivers come in all shapes and sizes, and at many
different price points, from as low as $120 to as high as
$1100.
These reviews and
related buyers guide tells you what you need to know so you can choose
the make and model of GPS receiver that is best suited for your
needs and your pocketbook.
Part
3 of our new series on GPS - see links to other
articles in the box on the right. |
The old adage - you get what
you pay for - is as true with GPS receivers as it is with
anything else.
Surprisingly (perhaps) although
most GPS receivers use the same receiver chip, and one of two
different sources of mapping data, there are wide variations in
end user experience, based primarily on how the interface is
designed.
Use this series of articles to make a better
informed decision about what to expect in a GPS, and use
the reviews to choose the model that best meets your needs.
The Reviews
This is a series of GPS
reviews we're starting in March 2007. In time, we
hope it will rival our web-leading series of reviews on
noise cancelling headphones; please bear with us as we add
extra reviews as time and money (for review unit purchases)
allows.
Here is a summary list of
reviews and comments on what they contain; this will hopefully
save you from needing to read through all of them to get to the
information you need.
Note that in addition to
these product reviews, we have some other very helpful articles
about GPS technology in general - an
overview/introduction to GPS,
a three part Beginner's Guide
to GPS, and an article about
GPS Data and Location Based Services.
Dash Express |
$199 - $299 |
reviewed Oct 2008 |
|
A new product
from a new company, and offering excellent
capabilities and wonderful enhanced services via a
built in wireless data connection. Highly
recommended as our current preferred unit. |
Garmin Nuvi 660 |
$860 |
reviewed June 2007 |
|
From market
leader Garmin, the 4.3" wide screened Nuvi 660 is a
fully featured unit with Bluetooth and FM Traffic
capabilities, too. |
Garmin Nuvi 680 |
$965 |
reviewed June 2007 |
|
Garmin's Nuvi
680 is their current top of the line unit, and
upgrades the FM Traffic data service on the Nuvi 660
(reviewed above) with a much better and broader
range of data via MSN Direct. Recommended. |
Garmin StreetPilot
7200 |
$1071 |
reviewed August 2007 |
|
The StreetPilot
7200 has a large 7" diagonal screen and very fully
featured capabilities, including the ability to
solve the 'traveling
salesman' puzzle.
On the other hand, the screen is disappointing low
resolution, and it lacks Bluetooth connectivity.
Recommended with reservations. |
GlobalSat GV-370 |
$200 or less |
reviewed August 2007 |
|
This unit is
similar in size and price to the Via Michelin X-930,
but is vastly superior in all respects.
We rate this a 'best buy' for a person looking for a
3.5" screen sized entry level unit.
Recommended. |
Hertz NeverLost
Portable GPS |
$8+/day |
reviewed May
2008 |
|
This is a
rebadged Magellan Roadmate 1430.
Useful if you're renting a car internationally, but
not such a good idea for rentals in your home
country. |
Landrover LR3 |
$n/a |
reviewed June
2007 |
|
Either standard
or an option in the 2005 and subsequent year LR3s,
this is an excellent unit with a large screen,
versatile functionality, and clever extra smarts.
Recommended. |
Plenio VXA-3000 |
$369 |
reviewed April
2007 |
|
A huge 7"
diagonal screen, but a small price. This is a
good unit - not a great unit, but a good unit, and
at the price and considering its features, a good
value. |
TomTom Go 930 |
$400 |
reviewed October
2008 |
|
An expensive top
of the line unit from a respected major
manufacturer, but disappointing in almost every
respect. Not
recommended. |
Trafficgauge Traffic Map |
$80 |
reviewed August
2007 |
|
Not actually a
GPS, but instead a device that displays regional
freeway traffic conditions. Very helpful and
more accurate than the traffic data on expensive GPS
units. Recommended. |
Via Michelin X-930 |
$199 |
reviewed March
2007 |
|
Small, compact,
and cheap; this is the first unit released by Michelin
in the US (in Dec 06) but is generally a disappointment in all
respects. Not recommended. |
Read more in the GPS
articles series
See the links at the
top right of the page to visit other articles
in our GPS series.
Related Articles, etc
|
If so, please donate to keep the website free and fund the addition of more articles like this. Any help is most appreciated - simply click below to securely send a contribution through a credit card and Paypal.
|
Originally published
30 Mar 2007, last update
21 Jul 2020
You may freely reproduce or distribute this article for noncommercial purposes as long as you give credit to me as original writer.
|