It's a jungle of features out there!
How in the world can you come to grips with the Byzantine structure of features that Garmin assigns to its various Nuvi GPS personal travel assistant devices?
It can be daunting, no question about it. But you have come to the best, clearest Squidoo lens for figuring out what model works for you.
It can be daunting, no question about it. But you have come to the best, clearest Squidoo lens for figuring out what model works for you.
Making sense of Garmin model numbering
Quickly understand the structure that Garmin uses for its Nuvi line
Take 2-3 minutes to learn a few simple points and using this page will be a breeze!
1. There are 20 models scattered over 6 series. The series are: 200, 300, 600, 700, 800 and 5000. (For example, the Nuvi 250W is in the 200-series; the Nuvi 680 is in the 600-series).
2. Each series contains a base set of features, with that series' various models differing in other features.
3. Watch the last two digits of the model number. For example, all x70 models come preloaded with maps of Europe as well as North America. (More specifics in the "Garmin Nuvi Features List" section below.)
1. There are 20 models scattered over 6 series. The series are: 200, 300, 600, 700, 800 and 5000. (For example, the Nuvi 250W is in the 200-series; the Nuvi 680 is in the 600-series).
2. Each series contains a base set of features, with that series' various models differing in other features.
3. Watch the last two digits of the model number. For example, all x70 models come preloaded with maps of Europe as well as North America. (More specifics in the "Garmin Nuvi Features List" section below.)
How to use this page
4 easy steps to getting the info you want quickly and easily
1. Familiarize yourself with the Garmin Nuvi Features List and decide what features are important to you.
2. Go to the series that you want - each series is represented by a different module on this page.
3. Scan down the features of the models and see which one is what you need.
4. Click "Price trends" next to your model number to see live, up-to-the-minute pricing information from dozens of internet vendors.
That's it! One could spend an entire evening or two wading through various information scattered across the internet on Garmin Nuvi specs and features; with this lens you can do it in less than 5 minutes, and get the absolute lowest price info too.
Please let me know how this page works for you in the Feedback section below.
2. Go to the series that you want - each series is represented by a different module on this page.
3. Scan down the features of the models and see which one is what you need.
4. Click "Price trends" next to your model number to see live, up-to-the-minute pricing information from dozens of internet vendors.
That's it! One could spend an entire evening or two wading through various information scattered across the internet on Garmin Nuvi specs and features; with this lens you can do it in less than 5 minutes, and get the absolute lowest price info too.
Please let me know how this page works for you in the Feedback section below.
Garmin Nuvi Features List
Find the features that are important to you
Touch screen
All Nuvis feature a touch screen for going through menus and accessing features.
Maps
All Nuvis come preloaded with maps of the 48 lower U.S. states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Some models add Alaska and Canada; all x70 models (and 880) add Europe too.
Wireless Bluetooth
For hands-free cell phone operation. No x50 models have Bluetooth, nor does the 5000; otherwise, it is found in series 300, 600, 700 and 800.
Speech
All Nuvis have spoken "turn" prompts. All series except 200 also speak specific street names.
Picture viewer
You can plug in an SD card into your Nuvi and see your pictures on the screen. This is available on all Nuvis.
MP3 player
Also via an SD card, you can play MP3s through your GPS. This is unavailable in the 200-series; all other models have it.
Battery life
All series have a specific battery configuration shared by its models. In order they are:
8 hours (300-series)
7 hours (600-series)
5 hours (200- and 700-series)
4 hours (800-series)
* The 5000 has no battery, and relies on an external power source.
FM receiver
Listen to FM audio through your car's speaker system. Featured on all Nuvis with model number 660 or higher.
"Where am I?"
At any time you can use this quick feature to find the nearest hospitals, police offices, gas stations, address, etc. Featured in all Nuvis.
"Where's my car?"
When you park your car and remove the GPS from its dashboard holder, the Nuvi stores info about where you parked, making it easy to find your car in large parking lots. Features in all Nuvis.
MSN Direct
Live weather, traffic and news info accessible through your GPS. This requires an MSN Direct receiver. The 700-, 800- and 5000- series all have MSN Direct capability, as does the Nuvi 680. Of these, all x80 models come with the receiver and a free subscription (3 months or 1 year).
Regular and Widescreen
200-series models with a 'W' are widescreen. The 300-series is not widescreen; all 600-, 700-, 800- and 5000-series models are widescreen.
All non-widescreen dimensions are: 320x240 resolution (3.5" diagonal)
All widescreen dimensions are: 480x272 resolution (4.3" diagonal), except the Nuvi 5000, whose widescreen dimensions are: 800x480 resolution (5.2" diagonal)
SD Card
All Nuvis accept SD cards (not included) for adding info to the GPS.
All Nuvis feature a touch screen for going through menus and accessing features.
Maps
All Nuvis come preloaded with maps of the 48 lower U.S. states, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Some models add Alaska and Canada; all x70 models (and 880) add Europe too.
Wireless Bluetooth
For hands-free cell phone operation. No x50 models have Bluetooth, nor does the 5000; otherwise, it is found in series 300, 600, 700 and 800.
Speech
All Nuvis have spoken "turn" prompts. All series except 200 also speak specific street names.
Picture viewer
You can plug in an SD card into your Nuvi and see your pictures on the screen. This is available on all Nuvis.
MP3 player
Also via an SD card, you can play MP3s through your GPS. This is unavailable in the 200-series; all other models have it.
Battery life
All series have a specific battery configuration shared by its models. In order they are:
8 hours (300-series)
7 hours (600-series)
5 hours (200- and 700-series)
4 hours (800-series)
* The 5000 has no battery, and relies on an external power source.
FM receiver
Listen to FM audio through your car's speaker system. Featured on all Nuvis with model number 660 or higher.
"Where am I?"
At any time you can use this quick feature to find the nearest hospitals, police offices, gas stations, address, etc. Featured in all Nuvis.
"Where's my car?"
When you park your car and remove the GPS from its dashboard holder, the Nuvi stores info about where you parked, making it easy to find your car in large parking lots. Features in all Nuvis.
MSN Direct
Live weather, traffic and news info accessible through your GPS. This requires an MSN Direct receiver. The 700-, 800- and 5000- series all have MSN Direct capability, as does the Nuvi 680. Of these, all x80 models come with the receiver and a free subscription (3 months or 1 year).
Regular and Widescreen
200-series models with a 'W' are widescreen. The 300-series is not widescreen; all 600-, 700-, 800- and 5000-series models are widescreen.
All non-widescreen dimensions are: 320x240 resolution (3.5" diagonal)
All widescreen dimensions are: 480x272 resolution (4.3" diagonal), except the Nuvi 5000, whose widescreen dimensions are: 800x480 resolution (5.2" diagonal)
SD Card
All Nuvis accept SD cards (not included) for adding info to the GPS.
Garmin Nuvi 200 series: 200, 200W, 250, 250W, 260, 260W, & 270
Basic models offer great usability at the cheapest prices
All of the Nuvi 200-series models feature:+ Up to 5 hours maximum battery life
+ Voiced turn prompts ("Turn right", "Turn left", etc.)
+ Preloaded maps of the lower 48 U.S. states plus Hawaii and Puerto Rico
+ Picture viewer
+ "Where am I?" feature
+ "Where's my car?" feature
None of the Nuvi 200-series models features:
- Wireless Bluetooth
- MP3 player
Additionally, they differ in the following respects:
Nuvi 200 (pictured) (Price trends)
+ 3.5 inch diagonal screen
Nuvi 200W (Price trends)
+ 4.3 inch diagonal screen (widescreen)
Nuvi 250 (Price trends)
+ 3.5 inch diagonal screen
+ Preloaded maps of Alaska and Canada
Nuvi 250W (Price trends)
+ 4.3 inch diagonal screen (widescreen)
+ Preloaded maps of Alaska and Canada
Nuvi 260 (Price trends)
+ 3.5 inch diagonal screen
+ Preloaded maps of Alaska and Canada
+ Voiced street names
Nuvi 260W (Price trends)
+ 4.3 inch diagonal screen (widescreen)
+ Preloaded maps of Alaska and Canada
+ Voiced street names
Nuvi 270 (Price trends)
+ 3.5 inch diagonal screen
+ Preloaded maps of Alaska, Canada and Europe
+ Voiced street names
Garmin Nuvi 300 series: 350, 360 & 370
Voiced street names and longer battery life
All of the Nuvi 300-series models feature:+ Up to 8 hours maximum battery life
+ 3.5 inch diagonal screen
+ Voiced street names
+ Preloaded maps of the 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico
+ MP3 player
+ Picture viewer
+ "Where am I?" feature
+ "Where's my car?" feature
None of the Nuvi 300-series models is available in widescreen.
Additionally, they differ in the following respects:
Nuvi 350 (Price trends)
(No major features besides what's listed above)
Nuvi 360 (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
Nuvi 370 (pictured) (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
+ Preloaded maps of Europe
Garmin Nuvi 600 series: 650, 660, 670 & 680
Widescreen with a long battery life
All of the Nuvi 600-series models feature:+ Up to 7 hours maximum battery life
+ 4.3 inch diagonal screen (widescreen)
+ Voiced street names
+ Preloaded maps of the 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico
+ MP3 player
+ Picture viewer
+ "Where am I?" feature
+ "Where's my car?" feature
Additionally, they differ in the following respects:
Nuvi 650 (Price trends)
(No major features besides what's listed above)
Nuvi 660 (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
Nuvi 670 (pictured) (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
+ Preloaded maps of Europe
Nuvi 680 (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
+ MSN Direct capability
+ 1 year MSN Direct subscription
Garmin Nuvi 700 series: 750, 760, 770 & 780
Sleek widescreen GPS with MSN Direct capability
All of the Nuvi 700-series models feature:+ Up to 5 hours maximum battery life
+ 4.3 inch diagonal screen (widescreen)
+ Voiced street names
+ Preloaded maps of the 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico
+ MP3 player
+ Picture viewer
+ MSN Direct capability
+ "Where am I?" feature
+ "Where's my car?" feature
Additionally, they differ in the following respects:
Nuvi 750 (Price trends)
(No major features besides what's listed above)
Nuvi 760 (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
Nuvi 770 (pictured) (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
+ Preloaded maps of Europe
Nuvi 780 (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
+ MSN Direct receiver
+ 3-month subscription to MSN Direct
Garmin Nuvi 800 series: 850 & 880
Speech recognition for easier and safer operation
Both of the Nuvi 800-series models feature:+ Up to 4 hours maximum battery life
+ 4.3 inch diagonal screen (widescreen)
+ Voiced street names
+ Preloaded maps of the 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico
+ MP3 player
+ Picture viewer
+ MSN Direct capability
+ "Where Am I?" feature
+ "Where's my car?" feature
+ Driver speech recognition
Additionally, they differ in the following respects:
Nuvi 850 (Price trends)
(No major features besides what's listed above)
Nuvi 880 (pictured) (Price trends)
+ Wireless Bluetooth
+ MSN Direct receiver
+ 3-month subscription to MSN Direct
Garmin Nuvi 5000-series: 5000
The widest screen of any Nuvi
(There is only one model in this series, the Nuvi 5000.)The Nuvi 5000 features:
+ External power source (no battery)
+ 5.2 inch diagonal screen (widescreen)
+ Voiced street names
+ Preloaded maps of the 50 U.S. states, Canada, and Puerto Rico
+ MP3 player
+ Picture viewer
+ MSN Direct capability
+ "Where Am I?" feature
+ "Where's my car?" feature
It does not feature:
- Wireless Bluetooth
- Driver speech recognition
- Preloaded maps of Europe
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