Garmin nuvi 265WT Features

The Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator with traffic, of course, has the 4.3-inch widescreen. If you’ve never owned a GPS before, and if you’re thinking about getting one of the smaller screen sizes, be aware that the 4.3-inch screen gives you a whopping 60% more viewing area! When you’re in unfamiliar territory and you’re looking for a road sign and glancing at your GPS at the same time, that extra 60% can be really meaningful.

In addition to the screen size, the nuvi 265 WT also has Bluetooth™ connectivity, so you can use it in conjunction with your cell phone. Another feature I really like is the fact that the Garmin 265 WT comes with a lifetime subscription to traffic updates from Navteq. You might have noticed that the Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator with traffic has a “T” after it’s name. That means that the normally optional traffic receiver comes with the device. There’s nothing else to buy.

Of course, you get the super slim design that all of Garmin’s 2X5 series has. You can take the GPS from your dashboard and slip it into your pocket or purse. It’s rechargeable battery makes it really convenient for pedestrian use.

When you get your Garmin nuvi 265 WT, it will come pre-loaded with Garmin’s City Navigator NT maps for all of North America, lifetime traffic subscription, FM traffic receiver with power cables, a suction cup mount, USB cable, and a dashboard disk.

Here are the technical specs:

Ready to solve the Garmin vs TomTom issue?

Garmin vs TomTom: Garmin’s Product Line

Garmin used to have two lines of products, the StreetPilot and the newer nuvis. The StreetPilots are discontinued by the company, although you can still pick up a few new ones from online retailers like Amazon. I’m going to just focus on the nuvi line, because these will be the ones that Garmin supports in the future.

To understand the nuvi line, you basically have to understand Garmin’s numbering system. By that I mean, for the purposes of our Garmin vs TomTom article, we’re just going to talk about the actual numbered product line, instead of particular units. I’ll throw in my two cents about a few individual products, as I just said.

To begin with the Garmin nuvi line is broken up into their 2X5 series, 5oo series, 7X5 series, 1200′s, 1300′s, 1400′s, and their newest (coolest) series, the 3700. Also, currently Garmin is offering one unit in their 800 series, called the 855, and one in the 1600 series called the 1690.

Basically, you get more features and also have to pay more money the higher the series number. Although with the also newer 1200′s and 1300′s that’s not totally the case. So, let’s break down each series so you can start to compare Garmin vs TomTom.

Garmin vs TomTom: 2X5 series

The 2X5 series currently takes us from the entry level model, the nuvi 205 to the more sophisticated 275T, and the newest, ultra-cool nuvi 295. The nuvi 205, for instance, is just a basic GPS, 3.5-inch screen navigator with maps of the lower 48 United States. There’s actually a 205 and a 205W. The W means widescreen, or in the case of GPS’s a 4.3-inch screen. Get more information on the 205, here.

As you go up in number, the features increase. Most of the 2X5 series is the smaller, 3.5-inch screen. But, without spending a ton of money, you can get Bluetooth™ for hands free calling, text to speech (which means your GPS will actually tell you street names), and real time, FM traffic via either a subscription or with some few models, it comes complete with the price of the unit. The nuvi 265 is an example of a model that comes with lifetime traffic.

One of my favorite GPS’s in the 2X5 series is the newer Garmin nuvi 295W Wi-Fi GPS navigator. Built much like a cell phone and with loads of new technology, the 295W is a way cool GPS that you definitely need to put on your short list.

Garmin vs TomTom: 500 series

I’m sure you’ve heard of Geo-caching and the general craze about off road GPS’ing (if that’s a word). It’s kind of a pain in the neck to have too many GPS’s floating about, one for traveling, one for off road. The 500 series is Garmin’s attempt to solve this problem. Currently, there are two nuvis in the 500 series, both support topographic maps in addition to road maps. Is this as good as the kind of GPS you would take backpacking? Probably not. But for the weekend trekker wanna be, a nuvi 500 might easily be the ticket. You can find out more about the nuvi 500, here.

Garmin vs TomTom: 7X5 series

Okay, we’re back to “normal” GPS’s with the 7X5 series. Basically what the 7X5′s add over the 2X5′s is lots of newer, advanced features. Not only that, but they’re all widescreens. 4.3-inches on the diagonal. That’s a whopping 60% more viewing area over a 3.5-inch screen.

Among all the other features, the 7X5′s can do two things, which I really like. You get what’s called lane assist, which means the device will tell you actually which lane to get in when you’re going through interchanges and intersections of larger roads. That’s really worth it for longer trips. Also, your nuvi 7X5 can speak through your car’s stereo system. You don’t have to just hear it through it’s own speaker. Personally, I like that a lot. I think that makes the instructions easier to hear. Of course it has text to speech, or the ability to tell you which street to turn on by name. Some of the 7X5′s have Bluetooth. Some have lifetime traffic subscriptions, and come with the optional traffic receiver (the device that receives the traffic signal from the air waves).

Another great feature is the 3D building view. You can also access Panoramio and get user generated pictures of various places on your viewing screen. Is that absolutely necessary? No! Heck, you can go back to road maps! But frankly, it’s really cool. It’s a feature that I really like.

Find out more about the nuvi 7X5 series, here.

Garmin vs TomTom: 1200 1300 series

The next big grouping is the 1200 and 1300 series. I’m doing these in one section, because they’re basically the same, except the 1200′s have the 3.5-inch screens and the 1300′s have the widescreens.

The 1200 and 1300 series is a fairly new series, introduced only a year or so ago. This is Garmin’s attempt to upgrade their entry level models with new features. Instead of just putting all these new features into the 2X5 series, they just came up with a whole new look. For instance, the nuvi 1200 sells for about as much as the nuvi 205. But the 1200 has a few newer features. It’s got Garmin’s new pedestrian oriented map capability (you have to buy and download the city you want), and it’s got ecoRoute™, which is the ability to give you the most fuel efficient route. The case is redesigned. It’s basically thinner. Also, you get the user generated photo option I spoke about earlier. For more information about the 12oo’s check this out!

The 1300 series is the same as the 1200′s, but with the 4.3-inch widescreen.You can find out more about the 1300′s, here.

Garmin vs TomTom: 1400 series

If you like the features you get with the 1200 and 1300 series, but like the widescreen you get with the 1300′s, then the 1400 series might easily be for you. The big key to the 1400′s is that they have a really wide, 5-inch screen. The 1450 has some really great features like pedestrian maps and ecoRoute. The 1490 adds lifetime FM traffic and Bluetooth™. To find out more about the 1400 series, check out this page, here.

Garmin vs TomTom: 3700 series

Finally, we’ve arrived at Garmin’s top of the line, most technologically advanced GPS’s ever! The 3700′s!

You can find out more about the three models in the 3700 line, here.

For a quick run down, let’s just say the following. The 3700′s come in a new ultra-sleek, ultra-thin design. They sport Garmin’s nuRoute technology, which means basically that some degree of artificial intelligence has been added to them. For instance, any of the three can keep track of your most frequently taken daily routes. They can figure out where you’re probably going and automatically route you around any traffic issues. This would be perfect for someone with a longish commute, for instance. All three have glass instead of plastic display covers. This will make your device more easily readable and also will make it last longer. (Harder to scratch.) They come with a variety of other features like Bluetooth™, pedestrian navigation options, lifetime FM traffic, and neat features like “Where am I?”, or the capability of locating you quickly and also locating the nearest emergency services.

For prices and more information about the 3700′s, just click here.

Garmin vs TomTom: Conclusion about Garmin

Okay, we’re half way there. That’s a good basic run down of Garmin’s product line for after-market car GPS navigators. Now, let’s take a look at what TomTom has to offer, then we’ll do a little comparison to round out this Garmin vs TomTom buyer’s guide.

Garmin vs TomTom: TomTom’s Product Lines

Just like Garmin, TomTom has several overlapping product lines. I know it’s all very confusing, but just as I did with Garmin, I’m going to try to sort this out for you with TomTom.

To begin with, let me say that I’m writing this from a United States point of view. TomTom is a European company, and they have many models that focus on European countries. If you’re buying a GPS for European use, you might want to go with TomTom over Garmin, just for that reason. Right now, this website is focused on the US marketplace. (Later, I’ll expand it for other countries including links to Amazon and my other retailers in other countries.) So, just bear in mind that I’m talking from a US point of view. Okay, having said that…

For the US market, we see basically five models in TomTom’s car GPS line, the ONE, the EASE, the GO, the XL, and the XXL. Let’s take these in order.

Garmin vs TomTom: The TomTom ONE and the TomTom EASE

There are three ONE’s currently for sale in the US (at least through Amazon, which is my main retailer that I link to), the ONE 130, ONE 140, and the ONE 3rd Edition. All three of these are the smaller, 3.5-inch screens. The ONE’s would correspond roughly to Garmin’s 2X5 line. They’re somewhat older models; they do all the basic stuff, even with a few neat features like saying street names; and they’re priced somewhat less than $200. You can find out more about the TomTom ONE’s, here.

As opposed to the ONE’s, which are slightly older models, recently TomTom introduced the EASE. The EASE is a completely remodeled entry-level GPS navigator. It doesn’t have tons of features, but it’s got great maps, and what I really like a really simplified user interface. If you were buying a basic navigator for your mother or your technologically disinterested significant other, the EASE might be an excellent choice. You can find out more about the TomTom EASE, here.

Garmin vs TomTom: The TomTom GO

Two of my favorite TomTom GO’s are the 630 and the 730. Both have lots of features, like Bluetooth™.  The GO series as a whole is a little newer and slightly more expensive than the ONE’s. The main difference between the 630 and the 730 is the 730 has FM transmission capability. In other words, you can hear it through your car’s stereo system. That costs about $50 more, but again, it’s a feature that I personally like.

To learn more about the GO line, check this page out.

Garmin vs TomTom: XL and XXL’s

The XL’s and the XXL’s represent TomTom’s newest lines. The main difference between the XL and the XXL is the screen size. The XL’s have the “normal” widescreen. It’s 4.3-inches on the diagonal, while the XXL’s have an even larger 5-inch screen. Other than that one (albeit big) difference, both these lines come with all the bells and whistles you would expect in a GPS that costs between $100 and $200, Bluetooth™, TomTom’s IQ Routes technology, which actually uses average speeds on certain routes to calculate the route and times, MapShare technology, which lets you modify the maps in your device for various road conditions, and turn by turn voice instructions.

Click here to find out more about TomTom’s XL and XXL models.

Garmin vs TomTom: Which Should You Buy?

I guess this is what you’ve been waiting for. Me telling you which to buy. Unfortunately, I can’t do that. What I can do, however, is summarize what you’ve just read.

The way I see it, as far as Garmin vs TomTom, the GPS market place is divided into two sections–your average, everyday, workaday GPS, and the much more technologically advanced GPS’s with tons of new, cool features.

As far as the upper end of price and innovation, Garmin has it all over TomTom! Watching this over the past few years has been like watching a horse race. For a while TomTom was gaining ground, but now, Garmin is streaking ahead with innovative products like the 295W and the 3700 line. If you want the coolest, most technologically advanced GPS on the market, that’s Garmin. No questions about it.

At the lower end of the spectrum, however, it’s not so cut and dried. What a lot of users like about TomTom over Garmin is the fact that TomTom’s interface is a little easier to use. Now, that’s just anecdotal. There’s no way to measure this. But I read a lot of forums and comments on sites like Amazon about various devices and ease of use is certainly an issue. Of course, it doesn’t take that long to learn Garmin’s interface, so after a few weeks that might not be an issue, either.

You won’t go wrong buying either one. But frankly, right now, I think Garmin has TomTom beat.

One more thing: this is all my opinion. I don’t receive money from either Garmin or TomTom to write reviews. I do receive money when you click through one of my links and buy a product through Amazon. But that’s a third party and doesn’t sway my opinion. You can read more about this on my Privacy Policy page at the top, if you’re interested. Just know that I’m giving you my opinion. Think of me like a trusted friend. I’ll just tell you what I think. You buy what you want.

I hope this Garmin vs TomTom review has helped you. If so, leave a comment. If I’ve left anything out, or you would like to know more about something, likewise let me know.

If you’re interested in the true cutting edge, state of the art GPS device, then the

Here’s a few of the phenomenal features you’ll get when you buy the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

Now, I’m not going to mention all of the “normal” stuff that the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator can do. Suffice it to say that this GPS device is an excellent example of Garmin engineering and quality.

What I would like to talk about, briefly, are the features of the 3790, which I’m totally fascinated by. (And, which I hope will fascinate you.)

One really cool feature is the fact that the nuvi 3790 has less thickness than a pencil. It’s only 9 mm wide. Another thing I like about the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator is the fact that you can use it either horizontally or vertically. I don’t know about you, but I sometimes just take my GPS and put it in my pocket. Not that it really matters, but it’s cool when walking around to be able to look at your GPS in “portrait” view, rather than “landscape” view. In the portrait view, the nuvi 3790 will feel more like an iPhone than a GPS. (And, who knows, this might be where Garmin is ultimately headed.)

Probably one of my favorite features of the nuvi 3790 is voice recognition. I’ve used GPS systems with voice recognition before, and I prefer this. I’m not saying that you need to be doing a lot of talking and other stuff while driving, but it’s really useful to be able to give your GPS commands without touching all those icons.

As far as maps, the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator comes with maps of the US, Canada, and Mexico. Another thing I like about the maps is the 3D maps that the nuvi 3790 comes with.

There are a ton of other features this device comes with. To learn more, click here. To find out what the Garmin nüvi 3790T 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator sells for, check out the price on Amazon, today.

Of course, there’s the larger screen. What GPS manufacturers generally call a larger screen is 4.3-inches on the diagonal. The Garmin nüvi 1450 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator has a five inch screen. Does that make a difference? To me it does.

Other features are: voice prompted turn by turn directions, multi-point routing, pedestrian routing, and what Garmin calls ecorouting, which gives you the most fuel efficient routes. You can get traffic alerts, or MSN direct on the  Garmin nüvi 1450 5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator.

Here’s a list of technical specs to help you out.

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

• Widescreen ultra-slim GPS design with 4.3-inch WQVGA touchscreen display; interface features improved graphics and a new slide control for menu operation

• Pre-loaded with City Navigator 48 States NT maps, including millions of name-searchable points of interest

• Pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps; ecoRoute suggests fuel-efficient routes to save drivers money and fuel

• Public transit mode allows you to navigate using buses, tramway, metro, and suburban rail systems

• Turn-by-turn directions with spoken street names (text-to-speech)

Technical Details

• Faceplate Color: Silver

• Dimensions: 4.8 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches (W x H x D)

• Weight: 5.7 ounces

• Battery: Built-in Lithium-Ion battery

• Battery Life: Up to 4 hours, depending on usage

• Connectivity: USB

• Display: 4.3-inch touchscreen WQVGA TFT display with white backlight

• Display Resolution: 480 x 272

• Additional Storage: microSD card slot

For more information about the Garmin nüvi 1300 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator, check out Amazon, today!

The nüvi 1200 series is one of their newer series, which combines up-to-date technology with a simple user interface. The Garmin nüvi 1260/1260T 3.5-inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator has real time traffic, Bluetooth, ecoRoute (a feature that is supposed to choose the most fuel efficient route), and a pedestrian navigation feature (optional). The only possible drawback is its smaller screen. It’s got a 3.5-inch screen. This could be a positive, however, if you want a GPS which is easily slipped into your pocket. If you want all of this with a widescreen, then you’ll have to upgrade to the 1300 series.

Product Features and Technical Details

• High-sensitivity GPS receiver for fast satellite lock pre-loaded with City Navigtor NT maps for North America, including more than 6 million points of interest
• Bluetooth wireless technology enables hands-free calling with a compatible phone; included traffic receiver provides North America traffic information
• Pedestrian navigation capability enabled through optional CityXplorer maps; ecoRoute suggests fuel-efficient routes to save drivers money and fuel
• Public transit mode allows you to navigate using buses, tramway, metro, and suburban rail systems
• NOTE: Model number on the box is 1260T because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 1260 as the “T” in 1260T refers to the additional component

Technical Details

• Faceplate Color: Piano Black
• Dimensions: 3.7 x 2.9 x 0.6 inches (W x H x D)
• Weight: 4 ounces
• Battery: Built-in lithium-ion battery
• Battery Life: Up to four hours, depending on usage
• Connectivity: USB
• Display: 3.5-inch touchscreen QVGA TFT display with white backlight
• Display Resolution: 320 x 242
• Additional Storage: microSD card slot

To find out more about the Garmin nüvi 1260/1260T 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic, click here for Amazon’s current price, today!

One of my favorite GSP navigators from Garmin is the nüvi 885/885T. What doesn’t this GPS system have? Not much! For starters, it’s got voice activation and assistance with the proper lane to get into when you’re on a wide street or busy intersection. Of course, the Garmin nüvi 885/885T 4.3-inch widescreen Bluetooth portable GPS navigator has plenty of other bells and whistles, too. It’s also got voice recognition, plenty of maps, hands-free calling with Bluetooth and FM transmission (you can route it through your car stereo system). The nüvi 885T comes with maps of the continental United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico.

Product Features and Technical Details

• Sleek, ultra-slim design fits in a pocket; High-sensitivity GPS receiver for fast satellite lock
• Pre-loaded with City Navigator NT maps for North America, including more than 6 million points of interest
• Speech recognition allow you to speak menu options and keep your eyes on the road; Bluetooth-ready for hands-free use of compatible phones
• Features text to speech for spoken directions with real street names, MP3 player, photo viewer, multi-destination routing, “Where am I?” and “Where’s my car?”
• NOTE: Model number on the box is 885T because the traffic receiver is included; however, the model number on the device itself is 885 as the “T” in 885T refers to the additional component

Technical Details

• Brand Name: Garmin
• Model: 010-00577-30
• Receiver Description: 12 channel
• Connectivity: USB; standard headphone and microphone jacks
• Display: 4.3″ touchscreen WQVGA TFT display with white backlight
• Native Resolution: 480×272
• Battery: Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
• Battery Average Life: 4 Hours
• MP3 player: Y
• Unit dimensions: 4.9″W x 3.1″H x 0.7″D
• Weight: 6.2 oz
• Additional Storage: microSD card slot

Find out more about the Garmin nüvi 885/885T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Speech Recognition at Amazon, today!

What’s so cool about the Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator, and the whole 800 line, is the fact that Garmin’s added speech recognition. Instead of using the touch screen, the Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator can actually recognize your voice and carry out your commands. In addition, the Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator lets you upload photos from a geo-coded phone, or from a photo site. Other than that, it’s got all the features the 7X5 series has. Specifically, It’s got text-to-speech, FM transmission, Bluetooth, and multi-point routing, among other great features. If you’re looking for a top of the line GPS, the Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-inch widescreen portable GPS navigator has got to be on your short list!

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

• Sleek, ultra-slim design fits in a pocket; High-sensitivity GPS receiver for fast satellite lock
• Pre-loaded with City Navigtor NT maps for North America, including more than 6-million name-searchable points of interest
• Speech recognition — speak menu options and keep your eyes on the road
• Multi-destination routing — enter several destinations and get the best route to all of them; “Where am I?” and “Where’s my car?” features
• Full feature set — text to speech for spoken directions with real street names; MP3 player, and Photo viewer

Technical Details

• Brand Name: Garmin
• Model: 010-00577-20
• Receiver Description: 12 channel
• Connectivity Technology: USB
• Display Size: 4.3 inches
• Native Resolution: 480×272
• Battery Average Life: 4 Hours
• MP3 player: Y

Learn more about the Garmin nüvi 850 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator at Amazon, today!

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

• 4.3-Inch Diagonal Touch Screen Color Display
• 480 X 272 Pixels, Wqvga Display With White Backlight
• Preloaded With City Navigator(R) North America Nt Preloaded With City Navigator(R) North America Nt Maps
• Bluetooth(R) Wireless Technology For Hands-Free Calling
• Speed Limit Indicator Displays Speed Limits For Highways & Interstates

Technical Details

• Brand Name: Garmin
• Model: Nuvi 760
• Receiver Description: 12 channel
• Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth
• Display Size: 4.3 inches
• Native Resolution: 480 x 272
• Data Service: SD card
• MP3 player: Y

To learn more about the Garmin nüvi 760 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator, take a look at Amazon, today!

Product Features and Technical Details

Product Features

• Bright 4.3-inch diagonal color WQVGA TFT touchscreen with 480 x 272 pixels and white backlight
• Preloaded with City Navigator North America NT
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver for improved performance and reception
• POI Loader program allows user to set up proximity alerts for school zones, safety cameras, and custom POIs
• NOTE: Model number is 755T; however, the model number on the product itself is 755

Technical Details

• Condition: New
• Type: Automotive
• Waypoints: 6 million
• Display: Color
• Display: TFT
• Display: Backlight
• Screen Size: 4.3″
• Touch Screen: Yes
• Voice: Yes
• Expansion Slots: SD Card
• Battery Type: Rechargeable lithium-ion
• Battery Life: 4 hours
• Special Features: Traffic Ready
• Special Features: Spoken Street Names
• Special Features: 3D Landmarks
• Special Features: Lane Guidance
• Maps Included: United States
• Maps Included: Canada

To learn more about the Garmin nüvi 755/755T 4.3 Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic, check out Amazon, today!