Garmin GPS and Tom Tom App Comparison

I’ve been a Garmin GPS owner for several years and have used it extensively across the United States.  I bought the Tom Tom app and car kit a few months ago for my iPhone. So why purchase the Tom Tom app when I had a perfectly good GPS? Good question. First, I could afford it, second, I wanted it, and third, I’m a geek that way. But seriously…

Why Buy the Tom Tom App?

I’ve spent a great deal of time traveling for the past 15 years and come to realize one universal constant: pack light. Having the Tom Tom app on my iPhone allows me to leave the GPS at home so I have less hardware to carry through airports.

The Tom Tom app by itself is not enough for me to forsake my GPS. The Tom Tom car kit is the thing that sealed the deal for me. Even though the Tom Tom app was $99 and the Tom Tom car kit for iPhone was $119.

The Tom Tom car kit offers:

• Secure docking – EasyPort mount attaches to windshield
• Built-in GPS receiver – improved GPS reception
• Speaker for navigation instructions – volume control
• Bluetooth to pair with iPhone – microphone for hands-free calling
• Charging – the app draws a lot of juice
• Line out for music playback

This combination of features is well worth the price. I wouldn’t have the Tom Tom app without the car kit.

GPS Comparison

When I compare my Garmin Nüvi 650 and the Tom Tom app with car kit for the iPhone, as a functional GPS, they both get you where you want to go. They both announce street names when turning. There are similar methods to find points of interest. The contrast between the two is much more instructive.

Garmin Disadvantages

• Funky keyboard for typing (I’ve never liked this keyboard and loathe would be a better description)
• You can’t access your phone contact list to get an address
• Less information on the drive trip screen
• Screen graphics not that great
• Yearly map updates have to be purchased

Garmin Advantages

• Doesn’t use a mobile data network
• Screen is larger than the iPhone (at least on my Garmin)
• Optional sandbag mount for dashboard

There are several features when using the drive trip screen:

• Next turn is shown with one press
• List of directions is shown with one press
• Destination announced as “on left” or “on right”

Tom Tom App Disadvantages

I have a US data plan. On a recent trip to Canada, AT&T sent a text informing me that data usage would be $15.36 per MB. Hence, no Tom Tom app in Canada.

Tom Tom App Advantages

• Acquires GPS signal faster (in my tests)
• Quicker to re-route trip directions
• More options for alternate routes
• Car kit holder rotates, portrait or landscape
• More accurate drive times (IQ Routes™)
• Earlier notice of next turn
• Easier to enter an address
• iPod controls with one touch
• Can listen to the music over the car speakers while using my Tom Tom app
• I can easily mute the navigation sound
• Can answer phone calls
• Route is resumed when Tom Tom app is re-opened
• Software updates
• Lane arrows highlight when keeping left or right
• Arrows and exit sign shown when exiting the highway

More info on the drive trip screen:

• Actual speed / speed limit (if known)
• Remaining distance of trip
• Navigation instruction for the road ahead (and distance)
• Name of the street you are on
• Remaining trip time and estimated arrival time

The Bottom Line

Garmin is a GPS with no cellular data requirements, which will ensure that I take it with me to Canada. I will also take it along if I feel the data coverage will be spotty. In short, I won’t be selling my Garmin on eBay anytime soon.

I will use the Tom Tom app and car kit for all my future travels in the USA. The car kit makes the app purchase worthwhile. Having GPS functionality on my iPhone with turn-by-turn, spoken directions makes me happy about the purchase.

However there are a couple of new things that you need to be aware of regarding GPS programs. The iPhone app, MotionX GPS Drive, is $2.99 in the iTunes store [iTunes Link] and offers features that rival the Tom Tom app. In the near future I will be getting this app and comparing to Tom Tom’s app. If you have an Android OS phone, there is a FREE alternative, Google Maps Navigation for Android 2.0.

These last two have created downward pressure on the market. The Tom Tom U.S.A app is on sale for $49.99, and the Tom Tom U.S.A & Canada app is on sale for $69.99, both offers are good until until December 28, 2009.

Related posts:

1. The GPS
2. MotionX GPS Drive App Review
3. Defective Tom Tom Car Kit Replaced with Good Service
4. Do Not Remove These Apps From My iPhone
5. MotionX GPS Drive App Revisited

Tagged as: Garmin, GPS, GPS Navigation, iPhone, Tom Tom Car Kit, TomTom GPS