Should You Go With A Higher-End Portable GPS System?
When portable GPS systems first hit the market, they were quite costly. It was rare to find one that didn’t cost at least $300. Today, though, it’s not that difficult to find several quality GPS systems for under $500.
The question, though, is this: Should you go with an inexpensive GPS system? Or should you invest more for a higher-quality system?
Of course, only you can answer this question, and it requires taking a close look at your own driving habits.
There are several significant differences between expensive and inexpensive GPS systems. For instance, costlier systems boast text-to-speech technology. This means that they will announce important street names as you approach them. If you need to make a turn at Western Avenue, costlier GPS units with text-to-speech capabilities will speak the phrase, “Left turn at Western Avenue in 1 mile.”
Cheaper portable GPS navigation systems don’t have this capability. Instead, they will say something like, “Left turn coming up in 1 mile.” Do you want to pay more for text-to-speech technology? That is a call only you can make.
Costlier GPS units generally feature larger video screens, too. For instance, the Garmin StreetPilot 7200 series boasts an impressive 7-inch screen. The smallest GPS screen sizes are a tiny 2.1 inches. Of course, most screen sizes fall somewhere in between, but, in general, you’ll pay more for a larger screen size. Again, you’ll have to decide how large of a screen you want, and how much you’re willing to pay for it.
Cheaper portable GPS systems also require you to load your own maps either directly into them on onto a memory card that you then insert into your unit. This can be a bit of a hassle. More expensive GPS units, though, come pre-loaded with their own maps but there is always the option to get Garmin map updates. This way, you can simply type in the address you are looking for and directions will pop up. Again, you’ll have to decide whether the inconvenience of downloading maps yourself outweighs the money you’ll save by buying a less expensive GPS unit.
If you truly want an affordable GPS unit that comes with the features of a high-end unit, you can always explore buying a used system. These systems often retail at bargain prices. If you’re lucky, they may even come with features such as text-to-speech at reasonable prices.