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Buying Guide: The Best GPS Devices
The death of the dedicated GPS device has been exaggerated. Sure, today's mobile devices integrate talented—and a lot of times, free—navigation apps, but not everyone wants to use a phone or a tablet for driving directions. With a standalone GPS, you can just leave it in the car and forget about it, until, of course, you're lost in an unfamiliar place. Or you're on a road trip, it's 1AM, and you're desperately searching for the nearest Taco Bell. Or you want to avoid sitting in hours of turnpike traffic.
With goodies like free traffic reporting, lifetime map updates, and local search now commonplace, today's GPS devices can do a lot more than they ever have, and they've never been more affordable—thanks in part to stiff competition from those aforementioned nav-enabled smartphones and tablets. Also, the GPS market is contracting and dwindling down. There are fewer players, and those companies are making fewer new products. And models from a year or two ago, while not cutting-edge, provide perfectly serviceable results and can be had for lower prices.
If you're searching for the right GPS, the list below includes some of the best devices we've tested along with current street prices, which in most cases are well below list since these are mostly older products.
Need more directions? Check out our GPS buying guide, which steps through the details of what to look for when you're shopping. And if you don't think you need a standalone device, try the best GPS apps for your phone.
Featured GPS Device Reviews:
Pros: Magnetic mount. Glass capacitive display supports multi-touch. Improved voice prompts.
Cons: Expensive. Screen shows reflections in sunlight. Traffic and exact location aren't always accurate enough.
Bottom Line: Garmin has done it again with the n�vi 3597LMTHD, a high-end portable GPS device that continues to set the bar for the genre. The question is whether there's a market for pricey in-car navigation systems these days. Read Review
Pros: Massive, sharp screen. Accurate routing. 3D lane assistance looks great. No ads.
Cons: No Bluetooth hands-free support. No HD Traffic plug-in support.
Bottom Line: The TomTom VIA 1605TM is a top-notch budget GPS device, thanks to its sharp 6-inch screen, solid feature set, and fair price.Read Review
Pros: Accurate navigation. Friendlier voice prompts. Flexible 3D lane assistance views.
Cons: Dated plastic resistive screen. Low screen resolution. Real-time traffic data is limited on secondary roads.
Bottom Line: Garmin's midrange n�vi 2597LMT comes with some useful new features, but it's priced a bit high for what you get.Read Review
Pros: Built-in dash cam. Free lifetime traffic updates.
Cons: Inconsistent navigation in testing. Touch screen isn't very responsive.
Bottom Line: The Magellan RoadMate 6230-LM DashCam Navigator offers generous features including an integrated video camera, but we encountered some navigational issues when testing.Read Review
Pros: Large touch screen. Voice control. Free traffic alerts.
Cons: Traffic alerts require linking to smartphone. Confusing voice prompts.
Bottom Line: With a 6-inch screen and generous features, the TomTom Go 600 goes above and beyond the average standalone GPS device, but it may be overkill for some.Read Review
Pros: Accurate routing that improves over time. Lifetime map and traffic updates. Improved graphics and on-screen fonts. Clear voice prompts. Highly customizable. No ads.
Cons: Stubborn touch screen. Sluggish UI for entering addresses. Some POI organizational issues.
Bottom Line: With free lifetime traffic and map updates, the TomTom VIA 1535TM adopts the company's newest interface conventions, and its routing performance is as accurate as ever.Read Review
