You've decided that you want a new GPS, but aren't sure which manufacturer to go with? Garmin and Tomtom are two of the most well known GPS companies, and many people want to know which is ultimately the better brand.
Introduction
Garmin and Tomtom are probably two of the first names that come to mind when you think of GPS. Both are well established and have solid product lines with a variety of different classes of GPS units, from handheld software to vehicle navigation devices. It's hard, if not impossible to compare the two brands directly, without getting into individual GPS unit comparisons, but there are some general points where one company holds a slight edge over the other.
Features
If you plan on getting a dedicated GPS for walking or hiking, Garmin is the way to go, simply because Tomtom doesn't offer stand-alone units in this class. They do however offer GPS software for smartphones, but, of course, that requires you already have a smartphone available.
In terms of navigation GPS units, Garmin and Tomtom have a similar feature set, with various models including a selection of pre-installed maps and POIs, supporting bluetooth or wireless updates, and even extras like mp3 players and picture viewers. It really depends on the specific models being compared to determine whether the Garmin or Tomtom unit is better. Some people prefer the POI system used in most Garmin devices, claiming that it is more user-friendly than the Tomtom system.
Map Coverage
In general, both Tomtom and Garmin offer great coverage, and their maps will cover most, if not all popular areas. However, both companies use different map providers, resulting in some slight differences. Tomtom purchased Tele Atlas back in 2007, and now exclusively use Tele Atlas maps, while Garmin uses the Nokia-owned Navteq as their map provider. Many claim that Navteq has slightly better coverage in the US, whereas Tele Atlas has better European coverage, but you should check to make sure your location is covered well by either provider.
One problem common to both map providers is that sometimes one-way streets are improperly marked, and as a result the navigation GPS unit may try to lead you down the wrong way. Tomtom's Mapshare feature allows users to report and share map errors and updates with each other, which can be useful in instances such as this.
Conclusion
In the end, neither brand has a clear cut advantage over the other. In certain cases, a Tomtom GPS will be better than a Garmin, and in other situations, the opposite may hold true. The best thing to do is to compare the individual units within your price range, based on features important to you, and use reviews of each unit to make your final decision.
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