Mio DigiWalker C230

Free Shipping On All Orders

Mio DigiWalker C230 Makes a Splash in a Big Way

Now if you are new to GPS systems or even been around the block for a while the name of Mio probably does not ring any bells, but the company is working very hard to change that perception that is for sure. Mio's first released was the c220 and was very popular, but it lacked the features that could make it a best seller such as text to speech and a better LCD display. Now here comes the C230 and has it addressed the issues and made Mio a top-level player. Read on and we will see if this company is going to be a major player in the portable GPS arena or not and my guess is they just may.

The design of the C230 is very sleek with smooth curves and a grey and black exterior. It is small which can be something that you like and dislike at the same time. Compact means you will be able to take it everywhere you go, but the drawback is usually the controls are real close together which I am not a big fan of that is for sure. The overall dimensions are 4.2 x 3.2 x 0.9 and with a weight of just 6 ounces, it really is light and compact. This models LCD display is much better than the previous issue and should satisfy that issue that plagued the C220. It has automatic night setting that adjusts the light so you do not have to strain your eyes to see it which is a nice added touch. It has a 3.5-inch screen, which is standard on most compact models such as this. The power button is on top of the device and a locking switch is included which prevents it from accidentally being turned on which will extend your battery life which is very important. This is a feature that more companies are starting to add and is a very good idea.

One thing I did not like is no volume controls. You must access the internal menu system to get to them, which can become a hassle. One thing though to help you as your car goes faster it has an auto volume program that automatically raises the volume so I guess in a way it really is not that bad. Besides that everything else on was excellent and no complaints at all.

As far as features go, it has all the standard ones that you come to know that is for sure. It has a very fast chip which means you will have very fast accurate information. The US version of course features United States and Puerto Rico maps. It has the standard operations such as shortest, fastest, and most economical and a good selection of points of interest. The text to speech feature is something that was not incorporated in the C220 and really took away from it. This model has it in, it works well, and maybe something lower end models from other companies will start to put in. It is a great safety feature that should be standard equipment on every GPS system portable or not.

The performance side of the machine shows some impressive numbers as well. It takes only about 30 seconds for it to get a feed from the satellite, which is excellent considering the low-end price. It retains the signal very well and if it is lost it regains it very quickly which to me was surprising since we are talking about a low-end model. It has a built in rechargeable battery that will last around 3-5 hours which is normal. It also comes with a car charger and an adapter plug in as well. Overall, the performance was what I expected and many times exceeded it for a portable GPS unit.

The Mio DigiWalker C230 is a great little GPS device that has built on the C220 and its minor flaws. Gone are the weaknesses that kept it from being a great model The C230 has everything you need from text to speech to a better LCD screen display and with a low end price this is a model that you will want to consider. This is a great entry-level model and I am sure we will hear more from Mio in the not too distant future. If you’re looking for a good place to start and need a portable GPS model than the C230 should be high on your list of options.