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Cheap vs. Quality

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that you can find cheap portable GPS systems that will offer some type of high quality performance. But many companies are now finding that if they keep the quality and simply eliminate some of the features they can sell them at a cheaper price. For example, Garmin has been around for several years selling top-of-the-line systems to willing customers, however many of their units can get into the “pricey” category. But recently that have determined that it is just as profitable to offer less expensive products to a capture a wider market – and it worked! Now they have plenty to offer making them and their customers happy.

What Products Are Available?

There are quite a few cheap portable GPS systems (falling at or below the $250 mark) currently available. Let’s take a look at a few:

Garmin StreetPilot c340 – This unit is priced at around $200 and gives a good name to the cheap portable GPS systems on the market. It definitely does not offer everything the more expensive ones do, but what it does offer is standard navigation features, a beautiful 3D view, an easy to understand touchscreen, and a very long battery life (approximately 8 hours). Some additional features you can look forward to with this unit include a photo sharing option, and some games. So while it’s not the most impressive unit, it gets the job done and even offers a few extras, making it worth its

Cobra Handheld Navigator – This portable navigation unit is great because it can be used on the roads and off, making it a versatile addition to the list of cheap portable GPS systems. It includes maps of the continental United States, as well as some cities, territories, and boundaries in both Canada and Europe. So if you like to travel, and like simplicity, this unit with a $250 price tag is worth investigating further.

Magellan RoadMate 2000 – For about 250 bucks, you can get a lot of features in an attractive package. The Magellan RoadMate 2000 is simple, but very handy. First and foremost, it is a great navigation system that offers turn-by-turn voice and visual instruction that helps you avoid traffic and the highways and major roads. It offers an intuitive touchscreen menu that provides access to advanced applications like multi-destination routing, SmartDetour and QuickSpell. And it also offers access to over 1 million points of interests so that you can avoid looking up the address to every business or public location in your city and beyond – it’s already stored in the device for you!

TomTom One – TomTom, like the other companies on the list, is known for releasing reliable systems that get the job done and then some. This particular model is very simple, which is why it comes with a $200 (and sometimes less) price tag. It is extremely accurate with great mapping directions and a user-friendly touchscreen. In addition, it has preloaded 2D and 3D maps of the entire United States and Canada (including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico). It offers audible turn-by-turn directions in over 30 languages and in over 50 different voices as it announces the streets you are approaching. And it has a great MapShare feature that lets you and others who own TomTom devices improve the maps you all share as you notice changes in your local geography. It doesn’t have the MP3 player and other entertainment features that some other devices offer, but it does give you a great deal of functionality for your money. What more can you ask for?

As you see from this article, cheap portable GPS systems don’t necessary equal lesser quality. In fact, you may find that by purchasing the more expensive units, you are acquiring a lot of features you just don’t need. So the next time you are looking at cheap portable GPS systems, don’t turn your nose up at them. Instead see what they can do for you. You might be surprised at their quality.

About Portable Units

Before you try to find the best portable GPS systems available, it is important that you understand the difference between the portable units and the built-in units. Built-in GPS units are typically those that are found already built into the dashboard of your car. Then there are other devices meant to be used exclusively in your car that are not built-in from the dealership, but are installed later. Both of these types of units are different from those that are portable.

Portable units can also be meant only for the car; however some can also be handheld and meant to take your through areas off of the road, making the portable version more versatile on the whole.

Devices by Price

Now we are ready to help you determine which are the best portable GPS systems on the market for you. There are more and more varieties being produced everyday, but there are a few that are always reliable and trustworthy. We will look at some in three key price ranges: expensive, moderately priced, and cheap.

Expensive

Expensive units (average $600 and up) are often among the devices on the market because of their high quality and multitude of features, however, they probably won’t make the “best buy” list, so keep this in mind when considering one of these pricey, but reputable brands:

Garmin Nuvi 660 – If you’ve been doing your research on devices, then you’ve heard of Garmin. This company is the superstar of positioning systems because it always puts out great, reliable products. In particular, their Nuvi 660, while not skimping on the price, is considered one of the systems available because of its mapping and navigation options, Bluetooth capabilities, voice automation, easy-to-use interface, MP3 player, FM transmitter, and photo viewing options. Its cost is right at $700, but you are guaranteed great quality and accuracy for the price.

Moderately-Priced Devices

My opinion is that the majority of the best portable GPS systems on the market fall into this category. Many companies are creating units that are reasonable in price and pretty heavy on the features. Let’s look at one that is highly rated and affordable.

TomTom GO 720 – Like Garmin, TomTom has a reputable name in the industry because they put out devices that tend to be very accurate. In particular, the 720 is considered a great buy at $450. At this price level, you get a straight mapping system, which has map updates, reroutes, POI directories, a safety option that allows you to seek help without the use of a cell phone, and a USB docking cradle to name a few. 

Cheap

Cheap devices on the market tend to fall below $300. But just because they are inexpensive doesn’t mean they can’t be among the best portable GPS systems. Below is a brand that might be perfect for the price and features.

TomTom One – Priced at about $200, this device is known as the best budget device available. One reason is because it simply does its job with great accuracy – mapping directions for customers. It has a user-friendly touchscreen and clear, color maps – nothing more. So if you want the MP3 player, games and other features, this isn’t for you. But if this is all you need in a system, save your money and get just what you need.

The easiest way to learn which are the best portable GPS systems on the market is by doing plenty of research on not just what companies offer great products, but which devices actually have the functions and features you’re looking for. Everybody wants something different, so you can’t assume that what is best for the reviewer is best for you. The main goal to keep at the forefront is to find high quality products at great prices and with every feature you need. By looking at my list of the best portable GPS systems, there’s a good chance that you’ve found all of that. But don’t stop here; keep looking until you know for sure you’ve found the best one for you!