EmailBest Reviewed
Auto GPS
- Best car GPS receiver for $200 or less Garmin nuvi 265T *Est. $185
- Best GPS navigation device overall Garmin nuvi 765T *Est. $270
- Voice-command car GPS Garmin nuvi 855 *Est. $245
Get info about new reports and updates
- The Magellan Maestro 4050 is loaded with features for the price. Those include text-to-speech functionality, a 4.3-inch touchscreen, quick text entry, multi-segment routing, Bluetooth, and real-time traffic alerts. The user interface is improved compared with previous Magellan units. The AAA data is a terrific asset, and the points-of-interest database is unusually useful. The 4050 uses a SiRFstar III GPS chip for fast and accurate reception. The NAVTEQ maps are up-to-date. Speaker volume can be louder than it can from competing products.
- As much as reviewers like the idea of voice recognition, they say that voice commands are not really useful because they don't control enough functions and only work in a quiet environment. Engine noise, the car radio, driver and passenger conversation, and other noises can confuse the Magellan Maestro 4050. Reviewers complain about slow response in several situations. Many petty complaints add up to the assessment that the software is buggy.
A novel feature in a product usually garners too much attention in reviews, and the Magellan Maestro 4050's voice recognition feature is no exception. Reviewers unanimously agree that it is a great idea that might be workable in future products, but the initial implementation isn't useful. The Maestro 4050 is part of the second generation of Magellan GPS units with AAA (American Automobile Association) Tour Book information, and reviewers think this is a great asset. While the 4050 is a top model from Magellan, reviewers rank it in the middle of the pack among all portable car GPS units.
The Magellan Maestro 4050 is one of the newer car GPS receivers on the market. GPS Magazine.com has the best review by far; it includes everything a prospective buyer might want to know. PC Magazine has a good review that lacks performance comparisons. Amazon.com has detailed user reviews. CNet.com and Gizmodo.com provide partial reviews that confirm some points in the GPS Magazine review.
| Featured Stores | Store Rating | Notes | Total Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  1652 store reviews | In Stock. Get free shipping on orders over $25! | $404.58 | See It |
 |  1176 store reviews | In Stock. New | $199.00 | See It |
 |  169 store reviews | In Stock. Fantastic prices with ease & comfort of Amazon.com! | $389.99 | See It |
| See All Stores | ||||
Our Sources
This exhaustive and objective review tests and evaluates every feature and capability of the Magellan Maestro 4050. Reviewer Fletch provides comparisons, illustrations and long lists of pros and cons. He concludes that the voice recognition and traffic features that distinguish the Maestro 4050 do not work reliably enough to be worth the high price of this model.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4050 Review, Fletch, 11-Jul-07
Although Craig Ellison regularly reviews new GPS units for PC Magazine, he makes direct comparisons only of the performance of a few features in this review. Road testing of the Magellan Maestro 4050 is described briefly. The review leaves readers wondering how the Maestro 4050 ranks in comparison with other top GPS units.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4050, Craig Ellison, Sept. 7, 2007
3. Amazon.com
Amazon.com posts about 50 user reviews of the Magellan Maestro 4050. Most owners are generally happy with the 4050, although several note that Magellan should have worked out the bugs before releasing this product.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4050 Portable Auto GPS System Reviews, Contributors to Amazon.com
4. CNET
In spite of the review title, this is actually a review of the Magellan Maestro 4040. Bonnie Cha mentions two feature advantages of the then not-yet-released 4050, but one of them is voice recognition, which needs to be evaluated. Performance of the 4040 is minimally tested, but is sufficient to raise a couple of concerns for prospective buyers. A revision of this review with some specific coverage of the 4050 is needed.
Review: Magellan Maestro 4050, Bonnie Cha, Apr. 5, 2007
5. Gizmodo
The centerpiece of this review of the Magellan Maestro 4050 is a Flash video that theoretically illustrates the practical use of the voice recognition feature. At the time of our visit, the video had no sound. The supplementary copy falls well short of what's needed in a review.
Review: Talking to the Magellan Maestro 4050, the First Portable Navigator With Voice Recognition, Wilson Rothman, 5-Jun-07
Auto GPS Runners Up:
10 picks including: Amazon.com, Gizmodo…
5 picks including: Amazon.com, PC World…
5 picks including: Amazon.com, PocketGPSWorld.com…
4 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…
4 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSMagazine.com…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSLodge.com…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSLodge.com…
3 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSLodge.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSLodge.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSLodge.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSMagazine.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, Laptop Magazine…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, PC World…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSLodge.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSLodge.com…
2 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, GPSMagazine.com…
2 picks including: Amazon.com, PC World…
TomTom GO 740 Live 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable Live Internet Connected GPS Navigator
 from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review:   |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
TomTom GO 930T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic Receiver
from Amazon.com
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
TomTom GO 930 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator (Factory Refurbished)
from Amazon.com
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 885/885T 4.3-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with MSN Direct
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 205 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 205W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 755/755T 4.3 Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 255 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 500 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 5000 5.2-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Magellan Maestro 4350 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Bluetooth & Integrated Traffic
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
TomTom ONE 125 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: $148.00 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
TomTom ONE 140-S 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
TomTom XL 330-S 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Nextar I4BC 4.3-Inch Portable GPS Navigator with Back-up Camera
from Amazon.com New: $129.99 In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 1490/1490T 5-Inch Widescreen Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator with Traffic
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
Garmin nüvi 1690 4.3-Inch Portable Bluetooth Navigator with nüLink! Services
from Amazon.com New: Too low to display In Stock.
Average Customer Review: |
||
|
|
