Garmin nüvi 650 Review

What the reviewers like:

• Wide screen
• Text-to-speech
• Great ease of use
• Excellent navigation

What the reviewers don't like:

• Tinny speakers and voice distortion at high volume
• No Bluetooth, traffic or FM transmitter

Garmin nüvi 650 review highlights

The top experts have all skipped road testing the Garmin nüvi 650, because it doesn't differ much from the heavily reviewed nüvi 660. GPSLodge.com recommends the nüvi 650 in its buying guide, based on its features and price. Consumer Reports includes the nüvi 650 in its review of the nüvi 660, stating that it expects similar performance from these two similar units. GPSReview.net provides expert insight into the nüvi 650's major features, explaining how useful each is likely to be. The nüvi 650 is one of the best-rated GPS units at Amazon.com, where more than half the reviewers of the unit rate it a perfect five stars. Only a handful of users at Newegg.com have posted reviews for the nüvi 650.

The Garmin nüvi 650 has one extra feature experts find really useful - the ability to speak street names - plus an MP3 player and photo viewer. Navigation and ease of use are excellent, reviews say. The nüvi 650 also boasts a wide screen for not much more money than the small-screen Garmin nüvi 350 (*est. $230). Experts and users who review the nüvi 650 say the wide screen is easy to read and voice prompts are clear, although some users report that the speaker gets tinny and the voice distorted at high volume. However, the step-up nüvi 660 (*est. $345) is much more popular with both groups. The nüvi 660 offers users the option to route the GPS unit's audio through their car stereos, a feature some users find useful when they play MP3s. The nüvi 660 also includes an FM traffic receiver and Bluetooth, unlike the nüvi 650.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

*In order of credibility (see our Ratings Criteria).

1. GPSLodge.com
GPS Holiday Gift Guide - The Best GPS Gifts
Scott Martin
Nov. 11, 2007

The Garmin nüvi 650 is one of Scott Martin's recommended "step up" units in this buying guide at GPSLodge.com. Martin briefly lists the nüvi 650's most important features, distinguishing it from the other recommended units in the category, but there is no link to a full review.

2. Consumer Reports
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Garmin nüvi 650
Editors of Consumer Reports
Apr. 2008

Consumer Reports includes the Garmin nüvi 650 in its review of the nüvi 660, which is identical except for the addition of a few features. Road testing is thorough and unbiased, with 42 GPS units ranked against each other based on test results.

3. Amazon.com
Garmin nüvi 650 Reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

The Garmin nüvi 650 is one of the highest-rated GPS units at Amazon.com, with reviews from more than 180 users when we checked - more than half of them rating the unit a perfect five stars. The reviews provide interesting insight for buyers trying to judge whether they will miss the features omitted on the nüvi 650.

4. GPSReview.net
Garmin nüvi 650 GPS Review
Tim Flight and contributors to GPSReview.net
Mar. 15, 2007

GPSReview.net's review of the Garmin nüvi 650 is brief and not based on testing, but it does offer readers a good idea of whether this unit's features will meet their needs, or whether they need to upgrade to the nüvi 660. The review provides an expert's insight into how useful each feature will probably be. User comments are also posted.

5. Newegg.com
Garmin nüvi 650 Reviews
Contributors to Newegg.com

Newegg.com doesn't attract as many consumer ratings as Amazon.com; only six reviews were posted for the Garmin nüvi 650 when we checked. Still, one advantage over Amazon.com is that Newegg concentrates on technology products, and its users are more technically savvy than most - and are required to rate their own level of tech knowledge as part of the review.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

Garmin nüvi 650 Review