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Garmin U.S.A. (for iPhone) Review

3.5
Good

The Bottom Line

Garmin's GPS app lives up to the company's reputation, but it's a tough sell against the free and worthwhile competition.

MSRP $49.99
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Pros

  • Top-notch driving navigation.
  • Quick and accurate route recalculation.

Cons

  • Pricey, with multiple in-app purchases, including traffic.
  • Limited POI database.
  • No pedestrian navigation.

Garmin has long been the gold standard when it comes to GPS devices, and its mobile app lives up to its name. However, its $49.99 price makes it a hard sell, especially when so many free GPS apps, such as Google Maps and Waze, perform equally well, and include extras such as traffic and pedestrian and public transit navigation. You can get some of these features from Garmin as in-app purchases, but, again, you're paying for something that others give away free. If you use a Garmin GPS device, you may find this app to be a good companion, but everyone else is better off with our Editors' Choice, Google Maps, or other free options, such as Waze or Here.

Interface and Points of Interest
To get started, you must first download the maps you need, which is best done over Wi-Fi. You can either download USA maps, which include all states except Alaska, or choose a region: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, or Southwest. Once you've downloaded the maps, you can start navigating to an address, a point of interest, a saved favorite, or a recent destination. You can even search by intersection, which is handy. You can also plan and save trips with multiple destinations.

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When typing in an address, I like that you start with the house number, which is more intuitive than apps like Navigon and TomTom, which require you to start with the city or zip code, then the street, then the number. 

Garmin (for iPhone) - WelcomeGarmin (for iPhone) - Welcome

I gave Garmin's POI database a test with several nearby businesses, museums, and other destinations. It found nearly everything I searched for, including the St. George Theatre in Staten Island (after a longish wait) and a handful of restaurants and museums. Surprisingly, Garmin doesn't have the Fairway Market in Harlem in its database, which is a well-known grocery store I've been able to find with most of the other GPS apps I've tested (to be fair, MapQuest doesn't have it either.) 

Car Navigation
On my first trip, I entered the address for Fairway Market Harlem, and the app navigated me there accurately, and using the fastest route, besting apps like Apple Maps and a number of others that completely failed.

On another trip, when I intentionally made a few wrong turns, the app quickly recalculated and offered timely voice prompts. On my final trip home, navigation was just about perfect, although the app neglected to alert me to one key turn off the highway, a sort of mini-exit that doesn't have a number, that even many local cab drivers find confusing.

While driving, the screen displays your speed and arrival time under the map, with the next turn (or non-turn) at the top. A button for reporting safety cameras (red lights, speeding, etc.) is on the lower right side of the map. There are also buttons for changing the volume, stopping navigation, and purchasing extras, including traffic alerts and urban guidance (transit directions).

A Solid App for Drivers
Garmin USA is a solid GPS app, but its $50 price tag leads to higher expectations. It would be nice if Garmin offered lower-cost options, such as state-by-state maps, or a free app with in-app purchases, like InRoute does. But with high-quality free apps like Google Maps and Waze offering top-notch navigation, free traffic alerts, and other useful features, it's tough to recommending spending $50 on Garmin.

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About Molly McLaughlin

Molly K. McLaughlin is a New York-based writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering technology. She has tested and reviewed all sorts of software, mobile apps, and gadgets. Before launching her freelance business, Molly was an editor at PC Magazine, covering consumer electronics, followed by a stint at ConsumerSearch.com, a review website. She also contributes to Lifewire.com and other online publications.

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Garmin U.S.A. (for iPhone)