Smartphones aren’t the most effective navigation instruments. There, I mentioned it. It’s not that I’ve something towards smartphones – I’ve 100 apps for journey, leisure, and group that I exploit every day. However after a yr of touring throughout the Florida Gulf Coast, highway tripping throughout North Carolina, and exploring small cities in Virginia, I spotted a smartphone was simply not the most effective navigation device.
That’s after I returned to utilizing a Garmin automotive GPS gadget.
There are loads of nice navigation apps for smartphones like Google Maps, Waze, and Roadtrippers. With information connections, these maps can immediately discover updated details about locations you need to go to and supply visitors updates.
However there are drawbacks to utilizing smartphones for navigation.
Repeatedly utilizing a smartphone for navigation drains the battery, and repeatedly holding the telephone plugged right into a cost is dangerous for the battery. It’s a lose-lose state of affairs. Smartphone navigation can also be inconceivable whenever you lose information sign except you assume forward and obtain maps for offline use.
Though these aren’t world-ending complaints, they had been sufficient for me to modify it up and take a step backwards in navigation. I reached out to Garmin about testing a few of their newest gadgets. And that’s after I realized I wasn’t taking a step backwards – the brand new automotive GPS gadgets had been taking a giant leap ahead.
I examined all their gadgets for just a few weeks earlier than writing these opinions. Be sure you try the listing of options – a few of these gadgets provide rather more than smartphones.
Garmin Drive 52
The Garmin Drive 52 is the bottom mannequin – and also you don’t need it. Beginning at $149.99, the Drive 52 has a 5-inch touchscreen and comes preloaded with North American highway maps. The gadget options turn-by-turn instructions and visible guides that can assist you discover the right lane for journey.
The $169.99 Garmin Drive 52 & Visitors contains a suitable charging cable with built-in visitors receiver. Alerts are offered when visitors alongside your driving route begins to snarl from highway building or an accident.
However that’s the place the options of the bottom mannequin come to an finish. The Garmin Drive 52 doesn’t embrace voice-activated navigation, wi-fi connections, or a high-resolution display screen.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Execs: Lowest value
Cons: No voice-activated navigation, tedious to replace the highway maps, small display screen measurement
Garmin DriveSmart 66
The Garmin DriveSmart 66 represents a big enchancment over the Drive 52 – but it surely’s an enchancment you’ll should pay to get. The $249.99 gadget contains a 6-inch high-resolution touchscreen with backlit glass that makes it simply readable day or evening.
The largest enchancment is the addition of voice-activated navigation. Converse the phrases, “Hey Garmin,” and provides numerous instructions for locating factors of curiosity, particular avenue addresses, or adjusting settings like quantity and brightness.
The DriveSmart 66 options turn-by-turn instructions, visible guides, visitors alerts, and comes preloaded with North American highway maps. The gadget additionally contains a Bluetooth connection for easy wi-fi map updates. Amazon customers may also benefit from the built-in Alexa gadget for controlling sensible gadgets and listening to music.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Execs: Constructed-in visitors updates, voice-activated navigation, Bluetooth connection to smartphone for map updates
Cons: 6-inch display screen is a bit small, and the value is a bit excessive
Garmin DriveSmart 86
For the previous month, I’ve been touring with the Garmin DriveSmart 86 fastened to the sprint of my Honda Pilot. The gadget options a formidable 8-inch, high-resolution touchscreen – the identical measurement display screen present in most trendy automobiles.
The $349.99 DriveSmart 86 contains the identical options of the DriveSmart 66. The DriveSmart 86 may also be rotated vertically for a distinct orientation – curiously, it makes the Garmin gadget appear as if an outsized smartphone. Use the Randconcept Dashboard Mounting Pad to suction cup mount the gadget to the sprint as an alternative of the windshield.
The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is my high really useful automotive GPS gadget for private automobiles. The big display screen is simple to learn particulars of maps, the voice-activated navigation is sort of flawless, and the smartphone connection retains the gadget updated and linked to stay visitors experiences.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Execs: Massive display screen measurement, smartphone connection, built-in visitors updates, voice-activated navigation
Cons: Worth
Garmin RV 890
The Garmin RV 890 isn’t just a distinct mannequin quantity – it’s a completely completely different navigation gadget particularly designed for RVers. The $499.99 GPS gadget features a function for consumer to pick out their RV sort, enter dimensions and weight, after which obtain notifications about upcoming highway obstacles like low clearance bridges and steep inclines.
The 8-inch high-resolution touchscreen is an effective measurement for RVers touring in pickup vans whereas towing journey trailers of fifth wheels. The windshield mount contains a magnetic connection to the gadget, making it straightforward to take away and retailer for those who’ll be away from the automobile. The gadget is preloaded with North American highway maps, options voice-activated navigation and turn-by-turn instructions, and contains further data on campgrounds.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Execs: Specialised routing for RVs, magnetic mount connection, Bluetooth connection to smartphone
Cons: Small display screen measurement if driving a bigger automobile, Android working system will appear overseas to Apple customers
Garmin RV 1090
The Garmin RV 1090 is the highest really useful GPS gadget for Class C or Class A RVs. The Garmin RV 1090 contains a whopping 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen. The HD show is well readable day or evening whereas touring on the freeway. The gadget features a suction cup to connect the magnetic mount to a windshield, but in addition a plate for completely attaching with screws to the dashboard.
The $699.99 RV 1090 contains all the identical options of the Garmin RV 890.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Execs: Massive display screen measurement, specialised routing for RVs, Bluetooth connection to smartphone
Cons: Worth, the gadget is heavy and hulking
Garmin Overlander
The Garmin Overlander is the reply to GPS navigation for individuals who like to depart the paved roads behind. The $699.99 gadget contains a 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen, a cushty measurement for many off-road automobiles just like the Toyota Tacoma.
Inside, the gadget is like different Garmin GPS gadgets. The gadget comes with preloaded North American maps, however further maps can simply be uploaded – after buy – to the 64GB inner reminiscence. Voice-activated navigation and turn-by-turn instructions will preserve your eyes on the highway and fingers on the wheel. The Garmin Overlander options the identical choices because the RV 890 for including details about the dimensions and weight of your automobile.
Outdoors, the Garmin Overlander is a really completely different form of automotive GPS gadget. The housing is constructed to U.S. army commonplace for thermal and shock resistance and has an IP5X mud ranking. The magnetic mounting plate contains a 1” ball with AMPS plate for attaching to RAM mounting programs.
The Overland is suitable with Garmin’s InReach satellite tv for pc communicators. With a service plan, the $399.99 InReach Mini 2 permits for two-way textual content messages, SOS alerts, and climate updates. Connecting with the Garmin Overlander supplies a safter and extra alert expertise when exploring off roads.
Options
Basic
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Execs: Specialised routing for RVs, 1” ball mount, satellite tv for pc communication compatibility, rugged housing
Cons: Price of your complete system
