Garmin nuvi 350

GPS writers say the Garmin nuvi 350 is a breeze to use. From the moment you turn it on and wait briefly for it to boot, the 350 is simple to program and reliable to get you where you need to go. Its only real flaw is time -- several years after its introduction on the market, its features are less-than-exciting compared to newer affordable GPS.

List Price: $190
Key Features
  • 3.5-inch screen
  • MP3 player
  • Text-to-speech
  • Windshield mount
  • More than 6 million POIs
Pros
  • Pristine navigation
  • Easy to operate
  • Quick cold starts
Cons
  • Discontinued
  • Similarly priced navs offer more features
  • Long process to adjust the volume

Garmin nuvi 350 Overall - NA

When the Garmin nuvi 350 was first introduced in 2005, many reviewers praised the extra-features offered even if they didn't appreciate the nearly $1000 price tag. Several years and price cuts later, the nuvi 350's key features, like a large dialect and language library or even its MP3 player, seem hum-drum for the constantly evolving consumer electronics industry. On the bright side, you can now find the Garmin nuvi 350 for approximately $150 in stores.

In recent months, Garmin announced the discontinuation of its nuvi 350 in favor of a younger, sexier crop of nuvis, including the Garmin nuvi 265T, 265WT and 275T. Like the nuvi 350, these soon-to-be-released models should have crisp navigation capabilities and a low learning curve, all for a low price. The 2x5 series will also have Bluetooth wireless technology and free traffic alerts. 

What the Experts Say: 

  • "No bigger than a deck of cards, the Garmin Nuvi 350 is more than just another voice-guided GPS device, packing in travel tools, entertainment features, and good performance." -- CNET
  • "A high performance GPS receiver, bright daylight readable screen, and excellent windshield mount make the nuvi 350 a tough GPS to beat. The unit feels zippy and responds quickly to every command." -- GPSMagazine
  • "It offers what most people are looking for in a first time GPS purchase; a pocketable device which is easy to operate and doesn't have too many advanced features they will likely never use." - GPSReview.net
  • "Its combination of stellar features and impressive performance earn it our Editors' Choice nod." --PCMagazine

  • "We plugged the nuvi 350 in, unsure what to expect, and were surprised to find we were using the navigation features just a few minutes later. ... It accurately told us every street that was coming up and was easy to see from our viewpoint in the driver's seat." - Digital Trends 

Garmin nuvi 350 Performance - NA

Even with newer, brighter nuvis on the market, and a host of competition from other manufacturers, the 350 still earns kudos for top-notch accuracy on the road. As GPSMagazine notes, "Both the Magellan Maestro 4050 and the Garmin nuvi 350 arrive with our destination address on the right side of the street, but only the Garmin actually tells us what side of the street our destination will be on." The Garmin nuvi 350 makes a cold start in an average of 38 seconds and its lithium ion battery can run up to eight hours. 

Garmin nuvi 350 Ease of Use - NA

Even savvy techie reviewers appreciate the Garmin nuvi 350's easy interface. GPSMagazine calls it a "joy to use -- this is a GPS you could load a friend/parent and they could use it without reading the instructions." Reviewers especially like the "Where to?" screen prompt upon starting the nuvi 350. 

Garmin nuvi 350 Design - NA

With a 3.5-inch screen and weighing only 5.1 pounds, most say the trim nuvi 350 is highly portable, with a sturdy windshield mount. CNET says the device "is small and light enough to fit comfortably in your pocket." Characteristic of all Garmin nuvis, the 350 has a lone power switch and no other function buttons. All other operations are programmed using the nuvi 350's 320x240-resolution touchscreen, including volume adjustment. 

Garmin nuvi 350 Features - NA

According to Digital Trends, "This little unit wants to be your personal travel assistant, and has the capability to do so thanks to the availability of add-ons such as foreign language guides, e-books and traffic guides." At the time it was introduced, it was the nuvi 350's Travel Kit feature that made it distinctive among other models. This Kit includes a language guide with French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and English, all of which can be spoken into the 350's text-to-speech interface.

Other GPS Devices to Consider

MSRP: $300 Magellan Maestro 5310

The Magellan Maestro 5310's large and easy-to-read screen is one of its key highlights for the class, but GPS writers contend a similar or better device can be had for a fraction of the 5310's price.

MSRP: $186 Mio Moov 310

The Mio Moov 310 gets a mixed response from reviewers. On one hand, they like that its MSRP is easy on the wallet, but on the other hand, they feel there is better performance to be had among inexpensive GPS devices.

MSRP: $130 Mio Moov 200

Like other Mios, the Moov 200 has a bottom line that's easier to digest than other GPS devices, but you'll have to do without some coveted convenience features -- the Moov's appeal is basic navigation.

MSRP: $300 Garmin nuvi 500

The Garmin nuvi 500 Series gets favorable reviews because it can handle any navigation situation you throw its way -- in the car, on a bike, on a trail, even on a boat.