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Buying Guide: GPS on the Cheap
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In the past few years, the ever-expanding GPS market has seen plenty of new manufacturers enter the fray, and the devices just keep getting better and better, with a wide variety of advanced features. Portable navigation devices (PNDs) have evolved from basic, no-frills boxes to feature-filled, multitalented gadgets, often with premium prices. These days, you can find plenty of PNDs offering built-in multimedia players, advanced navigation and routing options, and even handy tools to help you avoid traffic tickets. What's better, these primo features have trickled down to lower-priced models, too.
None of the products featured here will cost you more than $350 (and many ring up for much less if you can snag an online deal), yet they offer robust features such as big screens, text-to-speech capability, multi-segment routing, large Points of Interest (POI) databases, and music, photo, and video playback. Need directions? Here are our picks for the latest and greatest GPS deals.
In this roundup:
Cobra Nav One 5000 ($350 street)
This talented, simple-to-use PND is by no means svelte, but its traffic camera database and sprawling, easy-to-read 5-inch screen make it worth considering.
Garmin StreetPilot C550 ($250 street)
Compelling new features including an integrated speakerphone, live traffic, and an improved screen, along with a number of feature enhancements make the Garmin StreetPilot c550 a solid upgrade.
Magellan Maestro 4250 ($350 street)
The new, slimmer Magellan Maestro 4250 offers a large screen, an integrated traffic receiver, AAA TourBook and roadside assistance location.
Mio DigiWalker C520 ($250 street)
Mio's latest widescreen, feature-packed GPS, the DigiWalker C520, is thin and stylish and offers a lot of bang for the buck. It's brimming with extras such as multimedia players and a deep, searchable POI database.
Netropa Intellinav 3 ($329.99 list)
The Netropa Intellinav 3 is a good choice for those who want text-to-speech conversion, multisegment routing, and a large POI database on the cheap.
Pharos Drive GPS 250 ($299.99 List)
Though the Pharos GPS 250 relies on a small POI database, this budget-priced GPS boast a surprising number of premium features, plus it's a snap to use.
TomTom ONE ($299 list)
The TomTom One is a value-packed, shirt-pocket GPS that has the right features—a sensitive receiver, a graceful interface, and ultraportability—at the right price.
V7 NAV740 GPS Navigation ($299 list)
The Editors' Choice-winning V7 NAV740 offers mid market features such as text-to-speech, multi-segment routing, multimedia players and a huge 11 million POI database, all at a pleasing, entry-level price.