The good: The Garmin Nuvi 50
features a large screen and an easy-to-use and easy-to-understand
interface. Text-to-speech-spoken street names and colorful maps also aid
user friendliness.
The bad: Text and graphics appear pixelated upon closer inspection. The dashboard mounting disc and USB sync cable are not included in the box.
The bottom line: Garmin's formula for entry-level GPS devices doesn't change much with the new Nuvi 50, but small tweaks, a lower price, and a massive screen enhance value.
Garmin's new 2012 line of GPS devices leads off with what the
manufacturer calls its "Essential" series of entry-level navigation
devices. By "Essential," Garmin means everything you need to get from
point Alpha to Bravo. Things that you need include live GPS positioning
with an extremely accurate sensor, turn-by-turn directions with spoken
prompts and text-to-speech spoken street names. Things that you don't
need (and don't get) include Bluetooth calling, traffic data, or
Internet connectivity. If you're looking for a bare-bones navigation
experience that still retains Garmin's level of simplicity, perhaps this
series (which includes the 3.5-inch Nuvi 30 and the 4.3-inch Nuvi 40)
is worth a look. We're taking a look today at the 5-inch Nuvi 50, the
largest model in the series.
The bad: Text and graphics appear pixelated upon closer inspection. The dashboard mounting disc and USB sync cable are not included in the box.
The bottom line: Garmin's formula for entry-level GPS devices doesn't change much with the new Nuvi 50, but small tweaks, a lower price, and a massive screen enhance value.
Design
The Nuvi 50 is built around a 5-inch WQVGA (480x272 pixels) color screen with resistive touch sensitivity.
There's only one physical control to be found on the Nuvi 50's chassis: a lone power button located along the top edge of the unit. Holding this button momentarily toggles the unit's power on and off. Tapping this button when the unit is in use calls up an onscreen menu with screen brightness controls and a virtual button that also depowers the unit.
On the backside, you'll find the USB port, microSD card slot, and loudspeaker.
In the box, you'll find the 12-volt-to-USB charging cable that you'll use to keep your Nuvi juiced while driving. You'll also find the suction cup mount cradle in the box with the Nuvi 50; the design of which hasn't changed much over the years, either. It's still easy to place and remove the Nuvi from the cradle with one hand and the lever-actuated suction cup holds a clean glass surface quite securely and removes effortlessly when the need arises.
In the box, you'll find the Nuvi 50 itself, a suction cup mount, a car charger, and paperwork.
Interface
Garmin's menu structure hasn't changed much in the last decade. Put the Nuvi 50 next to the Nuvi 200 I picked up back in 2007 and you'll notice that most of the buttons and icons are exactly where you expect them to be, for better or worse. As the saying goes, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it." Garmin's simplistic interface has long been one of its strongest assets, and it's definitely working for the 50.
The Garmin Nuvi interface hasn't changed much over the years.