Magellan Maestro 4050 Review

What the reviewers like:
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.

What the reviewers don't like:
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.

Magellan Maestro 4050 review highlights

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.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

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

1. GPSMagazine.com
Magellan Maestro 4050 Review
Fletch
11-Jul-07

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.

2. PC Magazine
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Magellan Maestro 4050
Craig Ellison
Sept. 7, 2007

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.

3. Amazon.com
Magellan Maestro 4050 Portable Auto GPS System Reviews
Contributors to 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.

4. CNet.com
Magellan Maestro 4050
Bonnie Cha
Apr. 5, 2007

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.

5. Gizmodo
Talking to the Magellan Maestro 4050, the First Portable Navigator With Voice Recognition
Wilson Rothman
5-Jun-07

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.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

Magellan Maestro 4050 Review