Smartphones should not the perfect 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 take advantage of 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 noticed a smartphone was simply not the perfect navigation software.
That’s once 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.
Constantly utilizing a smartphone for navigation drains the battery, and constantly preserving the cellphone plugged right into a cost is unhealthy for the battery. It’s a lose-lose state of affairs. Smartphone navigation can also be unimaginable if you lose information sign until you assume forward and obtain maps for offline use.
Though these should not 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 once I realized I wasn’t taking a step backwards – the brand new automotive GPS gadgets had been taking an enormous leap ahead.
I examined all their gadgets for a number of weeks earlier than writing these critiques. You’ll want to take a look at the checklist of options – a few of these gadgets supply way 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 will help you discover the proper lane for journey.
The $169.99 Garmin Drive 52 & Visitors encompasses a suitable charging cable with built-in visitors receiver. Alerts are offered when visitors alongside your driving route begins to snarl from highway development 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.
Options
Normal
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Lowest value
Cons: No voice-activated navigation, tedious to replace the highway maps, small display measurement
Garmin DriveSmart 66
The Garmin DriveSmart 66 represents a big enchancment over the Drive 52 – however it’s an enchancment you’ll should pay to get. The $249.99 gadget encompasses a 6-inch high-resolution touchscreen with backlit glass that makes it simply readable day or night time.
The most important enchancment is the addition of voice-activated navigation. Communicate the phrases, “Hey Garmin,” and provides varied instructions for locating factors of curiosity, particular road 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 encompasses a Bluetooth connection for easy wi-fi map updates. Amazon customers can even benefit from the built-in Alexa gadget for controlling sensible gadgets and listening to music.
Options
Normal
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Constructed-in visitors updates, voice-activated navigation, Bluetooth connection to smartphone for map updates
Cons: 6-inch display is a bit small, and the worth is a bit excessive
Garmin DriveSmart 86
For the previous month, I’ve been touring with the Garmin DriveSmart 86 mounted to the sprint of my Honda Pilot. The gadget options a formidable 8-inch, high-resolution touchscreen – the identical measurement display present in most trendy automobiles.
The $349.99 DriveSmart 86 contains the identical options of the DriveSmart 66. The DriveSmart 86 will also be rotated vertically for a distinct orientation – apparently, 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 a substitute of the windshield.
The Garmin DriveSmart 86 is my high advisable automotive GPS gadget for private automobiles. The massive display is straightforward to learn particulars of maps, the voice-activated navigation is almost flawless, and the smartphone connection retains the gadget updated and related to dwell visitors reviews.
Options
Normal
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Massive display measurement, smartphone connection, built-in visitors updates, voice-activated navigation
Cons: Value
Garmin RV 890
The Garmin RV 890 is not only a distinct mannequin quantity – it’s a wholly totally different navigation gadget particularly designed for RVers. The $499.99 GPS gadget features a function for consumer to pick out their RV kind, 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 efficient measurement for RVers touring in pickup vans whereas towing journey trailers of fifth wheels. The windshield mount encompasses a magnetic connection to the gadget, making it simple to take away and retailer should you’ll be away from the car. 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
Normal
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Specialised routing for RVs, magnetic mount connection, Bluetooth connection to smartphone
Cons: Small display measurement if driving a bigger car, Android working system will appear international to Apple customers
Garmin RV 1090
The Garmin RV 1090 is the highest advisable GPS gadget for Class C or Class A RVs. The Garmin RV 1090 encompasses a whopping 10-inch high-resolution touchscreen. The HD show is well readable day or night time whereas touring on the freeway. The gadget features a suction cup to connect the magnetic mount to a windshield, but additionally 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
Normal
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Massive display measurement, specialised routing for RVs, Bluetooth connection to smartphone
Cons: Value, the gadget is heavy and hulking
Garmin Overlander
The Garmin Overlander is the reply to GPS navigation for individuals who like to go away the paved roads behind. The $699.99 gadget encompasses a 7-inch high-resolution touchscreen, a snug 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 inside reminiscence. Voice-activated navigation and turn-by-turn instructions will maintain your eyes on the highway and palms on the wheel. The Garmin Overlander options the identical choices because the RV 890 for including details about the dimensions and weight of your car.
Exterior, the Garmin Overlander is a really totally different sort of automotive GPS gadget. The housing is constructed to U.S. navy normal for thermal and shock resistance and has an IP5X mud ranking. The magnetic mounting plate encompasses 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 offers a safter and extra alert expertise when exploring off roads.
Options
Normal
Compatibility
Sensors
Navigation Options
RV Options
Professionals: Specialised routing for RVs, 1” ball mount, satellite tv for pc communication compatibility, rugged housing
Cons: Price of all the system
