These days, even midrange smartphones come with a decent GPS
functionality and turn-by-turn navigation. Many of these even have voice
navigation, support for downloading new maps on the fly, displaying
community-added markers and in some cases, 3D images of the buildings
populating the landscape. With all these available in a smartphone, why
should anyone buy a dedicated GPS device, especially one that is
primarily for in-car use?
For one, the GPS transceiver in cellular phones is necessarily downscaled and therefore has a much longer lock-on time than a dedicated GPS unit which is completely geared towards navigation. In addition, the proximity of the smartphone's GSM antenna to its GPS receiver can generate interference that might weaken satellite reception. Finally, most smartphones have Assisted GPS capability which only functions with a cellular signal.
Dedicated GPS devices have none of these weaknesses but often come priced like smartphones while offering only navigation capabilities. Are any of them truly worth the expense? Enter the Garmin 265WT, which comes at a solid value price point while offering a wide variety of features and excellent reliability.
The Garmin 265WT is part of a relatively new family of GPS receivers that provides an excellent feature set at an affordable price, with its integrated Bluetooth, text-to-speech and the ability to function as a speakerphone by acting as a Bluetooth audio device. This means that one can use it to make or receive calls by pairing it with a Bluetooth-capable mobile phone, turning the GPS device's onboard speaker and microphone into the handset, while the large 480x272 touchscreen turns into a dialer. Definitely efficient.
Navigation features are also extensive. The device comes preloaded with City Navigator NT street maps for North America, and more than 6 million POIs or points of interest in categories such as gas stations, restaurants by cuisine, and more. Its memory can also be extended using SD cards, and there are many maps available for download. It also has a lifetime subscription to free traffic alerts, but these are ad-driven and so you'll occasionally see advertisements pop up while navigating. It isn't that big a deal, though.
The hardware is solidly built, with a sturdy plastic shell covering its seemingly small frame. The speaker is unfortunately too soft to be used over a loud stereo, but it's audible enough when the car is quiet. The 4.3" 480x272 screen is very bright and clear; if you have ever seen a PSP or PlayStation Portable, the Garmin's LCD very much resembles its screen.
Ultimately, the Garmin 265WT is a must-buy navigation device that has a high-end feature set while having a budget price. It can easily outmatch a smartphone's GPS capabilities, and remains very reliable at any time.
For one, the GPS transceiver in cellular phones is necessarily downscaled and therefore has a much longer lock-on time than a dedicated GPS unit which is completely geared towards navigation. In addition, the proximity of the smartphone's GSM antenna to its GPS receiver can generate interference that might weaken satellite reception. Finally, most smartphones have Assisted GPS capability which only functions with a cellular signal.
Dedicated GPS devices have none of these weaknesses but often come priced like smartphones while offering only navigation capabilities. Are any of them truly worth the expense? Enter the Garmin 265WT, which comes at a solid value price point while offering a wide variety of features and excellent reliability.
The Garmin 265WT is part of a relatively new family of GPS receivers that provides an excellent feature set at an affordable price, with its integrated Bluetooth, text-to-speech and the ability to function as a speakerphone by acting as a Bluetooth audio device. This means that one can use it to make or receive calls by pairing it with a Bluetooth-capable mobile phone, turning the GPS device's onboard speaker and microphone into the handset, while the large 480x272 touchscreen turns into a dialer. Definitely efficient.
Navigation features are also extensive. The device comes preloaded with City Navigator NT street maps for North America, and more than 6 million POIs or points of interest in categories such as gas stations, restaurants by cuisine, and more. Its memory can also be extended using SD cards, and there are many maps available for download. It also has a lifetime subscription to free traffic alerts, but these are ad-driven and so you'll occasionally see advertisements pop up while navigating. It isn't that big a deal, though.
The hardware is solidly built, with a sturdy plastic shell covering its seemingly small frame. The speaker is unfortunately too soft to be used over a loud stereo, but it's audible enough when the car is quiet. The 4.3" 480x272 screen is very bright and clear; if you have ever seen a PSP or PlayStation Portable, the Garmin's LCD very much resembles its screen.
Ultimately, the Garmin 265WT is a must-buy navigation device that has a high-end feature set while having a budget price. It can easily outmatch a smartphone's GPS capabilities, and remains very reliable at any time.
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