TomTom ONE Review

What the reviewers like:
Value is unmatched. Reviewers love the aesthetics and compactness of the TomTom ONE. In fact, easy portability is the main reason reviewers prefer the TomTom ONE to its larger sibling, the TomTom ONE XL (*est. $320). The TomTom ONE uses the SiRFstar III chipset and GPS reception is great. According to reviews, voice quality is clean and sufficiently loud, the user interface is elegant, and the customization options are very good. The TomTom ONE is capable of multi-destination routing, another plus.

What the reviewers don't like:
Reviewers say the TomTom ONE’s major weaknesses are its use of Tele Atlas mapping data and the absence of a text-to-speech feature. The points-of-interest database also draws much criticism: Some reviewers say it’s not up-to-date; others assert it’s just inaccurate. Battery life is well below average. The unit can be slow to respond. The windshield mount receives mixed reviews.

TomTom ONE review highlights

The TomTom ONE was first released a few years ago and has since been revised a couple of times without a name change. (To take advantage of the minor upgrades, try to get a recently manufactured unit.) The TomTom ONE is top-rated by eight reviewers, but not by GPS Magazine, which convincingly demonstrates that the NAVTEQ maps used by other brands are better than the TeleAtlas maps used by TomTom. The TeleAtlas software has since been revised, and some reviews indicate it has become more competitive. In a more recent test, however, GPS Magazine found that Garmin and Magellan GPS units provided more accurate routing than a newer TomTom unit did. Most reviewers think the TomTom ONE is an extraordinary value. It’s devoid of fluffy features, but lacks one key feature: text-to-speech functionality, a feature found in the better reviewed Garmin nüvi 350 (*est. $300).

GPS Magazine.com handily has the best review of the TomTom ONE: Their unparalleled testing reveals a key flaw overlooked in lesser reviews. GPS Lodge and GPS Review.net also have good reviews, and there are numerous other less thorough reviews. We found a healthy number of owner-written review for the TomTom ONE at Amazon.com.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

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

1. GPSMagazine.com
TomTom ONE In-Depth Review
Fletch
Sept. 16, 2006

Every feature and capability of the TomTom ONE is tested and evaluated in this review, which includes copious comparisons and extensive illustrations. Reviewer Fletch calls this auto GPS “almost perfect” for the customer who is interested in navigation without extra functions -- except that it uses Tele Atlas mapping data. In North America, that fault is so significant that he does not recommend this GPS unit.

2. GPSLodge.com
Review: TomTom ONE Review by GPS Lodge
Scott Martin
Oct. 3, 2006

GPS Lodge provides an amply illustrated, comprehensive review of the TomTom ONE. The review professionally evaluates performance, usage, and features, but no other models are compared. In a February 26, 2007 follow-up article, “TomTom: Compare the TomTom ONE vs. GO 510 vs. GO 910,” Scott Martin explains the differences between the three TomTom products, but offers no additional buying guidance. Martin does not rate products, but he identifies the best units in various categories in periodic buying guides.

3. GPSReview.net
TomTom ONE
Tim Flight
17-Aug-06

GPS Review.net provides a detailed and comparative performance-oriented review of the TomTom ONE auto GPS, and more than 150 user comments add to the discussion. Products aren’t rated or ranked, although there is some discussion of features that may influence your buying decision. The review lacks photographs or screen shots.

4. YourNAV.com
TomTom ONE: is this the better GO?
Editors of YourNAV.com
Nov. 2 2005

YourNAV.com is a British enthusiast website dedicated to personal navigation devices. Note that TomTom products fare much better in U.K. reviews than U.S. reviews, because the Tele Atlas maps for Europe are better than the Tele Atlas U.S. maps. This review is organized well, but not easy to read. The review concludes with pros, cons, and ratings, but the thumbs-up rating isn’t tremendously revealing.

5. PC Magazine
>> Details/Subscribe
TomTom ONE
Craig Ellison
Aug. 17, 2006

This review compares the TomTom ONE with many other units, but only in terms of relative features. Reviewer Craig Ellison, a regular contributor to PC Magazine, devotes only one sentence to performance, and performance testing is undocumented.

6. Amazon.com
TomTom ONE Reviews
Contributors to Amazon.com

In over 250 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com, the TomTom ONE gets generally good reviews, though its overall ratings are a bit lower than competing models from Garmin. Ease of use is a highlight in these user reviews.

Also see full report: Auto GPS

TomTom ONE Review