Handheld GPS Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Handheld GPS. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Handheld GPS, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Handheld GPS. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Handheld GPS prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Handheld GPS Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Handheld GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. GPSMagazine.com	GPS Magazine In-Depth Product Reviews Editors of GPSMagazine.com As of June 2007		This e-zine publishes a huge number of incredibly comprehensive reviews. Every feature is tested and the testing methodology is fully explained. Reviews conclude with long lists of pros and cons and are lavishly illustrated with photographs, screen shots and additional documentation. Each report includes a subjective verdict that makes comparisons easy. One negative is that the emphasis is on car GPS units rather than handheld GPS. The Magellan Crossover GPS gets the nod as the best handheld GPS unit.
2. Infosync World.com	GPS reviews Editors of InfoSyncWorld.com As of June 2007		InfoSyncWorld.com is a prolific reviewer of GPS phones. The reviews are comparative and products are rated. Performance is valued over features and most of the reviews devote a section to GPS performance. The Samsung SCH-A930 3G earns the highest rating in recent reviews, but the Pharos GPS Phone 600 has the "best GPS tracking we've seen on a phone." The LG VX8700 rates lower, but GPS reception is very good, even indoors.

Handheld GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Handheld GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. GPSLodge.com	Holiday GPS Buying Guide - Best GPS Gifts Scott Martin Nov. 15, 2006		Scott Martin recommends the best GPS products in a variety of categories and price ranges. GPS Lodge.com is a weblog that is "dedicated to news and reviews on GPS navigation systems." Although products from a variety of makers snag recommendations in other categories, Garmin sweeps the field among handheld GPS devices. The Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx is the best all-around handheld. The Garmin eTrex Vista Cx is the best pocketable handheld; it's a smaller version of the 60CSx. The best entry-level handheld is the Garmin eTrex Venture Cx. The top GPS for runners is the Garmin Forerunner 305, and the top GPS for bikers is the similar Garmin Edge 305 bundle.
4. GPSLodge.com	GPS Reviews Scott Martin As of June 2007		In addition to the article above, GPSLodge.com features many single- and multiproduct reviews, as well as links to GPS reviews at other sites. Many of the recommendations mirror those of the Buying Guide, but site owner Scott Martin also praises the Garmin Forerunner 205 and the Mio H610, a hybrid device that plays MP3s and has some PDA features.
5. GPS Tracklog	Our GPS Reviews Rich Owings As of June 2007		This unusual blog site is operated as a hobby by Rich Owings, who posts all known information about most major-brand GPS devices, writes reviews of some of them and provides links to reviews written by others. Site users can add their own opinions and occasionally contribute GPS reviews. Owings's recommendations are a little dated at this point, but he picks the Garmin eTrex Legend as the best budget receiver, the Garmin eTrex Legend Cx as the best mid-price unit, and the Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx as the best overall.
6. Infosync World.com	Buyer's guides Editors of InfoSyncWorld.com As of June 2007		In addition to the individual reviews mentioned above, InfoSyncWorld.com periodically publishes buying guides that summarize past reviews and rank products. While some are out of date, the one on GPS phones is still relevant. The Nokia N95, reviewed in April, apparently supersedes the previous best phone, with reviewer Philip Berne saying it's the best in its class.
7. GPSReview.net	Recent Reviews Editors of GPSReview.net As of June 2007		GPSReview.net is exactly what the name implies. The performance-oriented GPS reviews are detailed and comparative. Features for each product are charted. We're concerned that the reviews are anonymous, and the reviews fall short of the best because products aren't rated or ranked. The DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 emerges as a clear favorite among handheld GPS units. It can display aerial photography and satellite imagery, but map displays are slow. The Magellan Crossover GPS is a good idea, but not as good as separate units for field and car.
8. Singletrack.com	GPS Jeff Mudhunny As of June 2007		This blog devoted to mountain biking also covers a surprising number of portable GPS units and GPS/mapping software. The quality of the reviews is uneven, but handheld GPS units are compared. Unfortunately, products are not rated or ranked. The Magellan eXplorist 400 is said to be much better than the Magellan eXplorist 200 for biking. The Garmin Edge 305 is terrific, but the Garmin Edge 205 has 90 percent of the functionality for a much lower price.
9. Gear Digest	GPS Editors of GearDigest.com As of June 2007		Gear Digest is part of the Tom's Hardware Guide family of sites. You'll find lots of coverage of GPS devices throughout, such as a comparison of the Garmin Forerunner 305 and Timex Bodylink. Both are considered good, but reviewer Bruce Gain favors the Garmin because it's easier to use. Two recent helpful articles by Mary Branscombe, "How to Get the Most out of Your Smartphone" and "Choosing a Handheld GPS," mention a number of products, but we aren't sure if they are recommended or just referenced as examples.
10. Outside Online	2006 Buyer's Guide GPS Devices Kevin Arnold 2006		Reviews at Outside Online are short and products aren't directly or indirectly compared, but the writeups are nicely balanced and reflect considerable experience with GPS units. The Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx gets the Gear of the Year award as the best handheld GPS receiver. The Magellan eXplorist 210 earns a Killer Value rating.

Handheld GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Handheld GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

11. GPSInformation.net	GPS Reviews Editors of GPSInformation.net As of June 2007		This website is an excellent source for lengthy, detailed reviews of handheld GPS, auto GPS and GPS software. However, the site layout makes reviews difficult to find. While the reviews indicate thorough testing, products aren't rated or ranked. Comparisons with competing products are rare enough that readers have no way to distinguish among units. Recent favorable reviews are of the Magellan eXplorist 210/500/600 small geocaching units and the Magellan eXplorist 500 LE (a budget version of the eXplorist 500). In separate reviews, the Garmin GPS-60C and Garmin GPSmap 76C(x) are described as superior products. The GPS-60C has the best screen for outdoor use.
12. The Competitive Runner	Review: Garmin Forerunner 201 Editors of The Competitive Runner Not Dated		The Competitive Runner is an inadequately explained and semi-anonymous e-zine. Nevertheless, the review of the Garmin Forerunner 201 is very good. The site does not offer a full review of another product, but offers alternatives to the Forerunner 201 for readers who are concerned about the unit's weaknesses, including measuring altitude and incline and accuracy on wooded trails and roads. Otherwise, it's said to be a great tool, and accuracy is good on open roads.
13. PC Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	GPS Navigation Editors of PC Magazine As of June 2007		PC Magazine usually does not cover pure handheld GPS units, and the hybrid products reviewed are too disparate to enable much comparison. The Palm GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition with TomTom software is said to be well executed, but the small screen size is a limitation for car GPS use. The Mio DigiWalker H610 is described as a handheld portable GPS and entertainment system.
14. Lordpercy.com	GPS Sat Nav Reviews Editors of Lordpercy.com As of June 2007		Lordpercy.com is an English gadget-review site. The reviews are idiosyncratic, but comparative and filled with first-person details. The vast majority of GPS units reviewed are car units. The only reviewed handheld GPS unit currently available in the U.S. is the Fujitsu Siemens Pocket LOOX N100.
15. Laptop Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	GPS Reviews Editors of Laptop magazine As of June 2007		Laptop magazine regularly reviews GPS devices. Many reviews are just a few paragraphs long and not comparative, but the magazine somewhat offsets that by rating products. The Palm GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition 2 is selected as an Editors' Choice. It's a GPS kit that will essentially enable a smartphone to do double duty as a TomTom One, which is one of the top-rated car GPS units. The 3.9-ounce Mio DigiWalker H610 crossover device is also favorably reviewed. No pure handheld GPS receivers are reviewed.
16. Pocket-Lint.co.uk	Car and GPS Editors of Pocket-lint.co.uk As of June 2007		Pocket-lint.co.uk is a gadget news and reviews site. The reviews are good and include some product comparison, but all the scores are high, making distinctions difficult. The Mio H610 works well, but is expensive. The reviewers also describe that crossover device as being marketed toward women -- an observation that's not echoed by other reviewers or the manufacturer. The BlackBerry 8800 Smartphone and BlackBerry 8300 Curve Smartphone are inadequate for GPS navigation. The HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion is called "the best hybrid device we've used." Not all reviewed products are available in the U.S.
17. Business Week >> Details/Subscribe	Business Week Online: Technology Matt Vella Oct. 9, 2006		BusinessWeek.com's Matt Vella gives the Garmin Forerunner 305 wristwatch GPS unit a rave review. He says of all the GPS units Garmin has produced, the 305 "is by far the most innovative and usable of the bunch."
18. CNet.com	Road warriors: Smart phones with built-in GPS Bonnie Cha Mar. 7, 2007		In this roundup, CNet.com charts four smartphones with built-in GPS that were reviewed in the past year. The reviews devote much more attention to features than performance, and testing is done in San Francisco, a mature city with few new streets and mostly neat crisscross grids. User ratings are also provided.
19. Camping Life Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Garmin GPSmap 60c Stuart Bourdon Not Dated		In this single-product review, the Garmin GPSMAP 60c isn't compared to any other handheld GPS receivers, but at least the review is written from a camping/hiking perspective. The review focuses mainly on features, but it's clear this unit was field tested. In the end, Stuart Bourdon says the Garmin GPSMAP 60c is easy to use, but that its included maps are limited.
20. Amazon.com	Handheld GPS units Contributors to Amazon.com As of June 2007		Amazon.com invites customers to submit reviews of products they've used. While the quality of these reports varies widely, this is still a good place to learn how happy users are with their GPS units. In addition, Amazon.com gets lots of traffic, so some handheld GPS units have well over a hundred reviews.
21. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	GPS Receivers Editors of PC World As of June 2007		PC World occasionally reviews handheld GPS products. Reviews are usually short and not directly comparative, but PC World rates most products. The DeLorme Earthmate GPS PN-20 earns the highest rating among units reviewed in the past year. It works very well, but it's expensive and you have to buy and download maps as you go. The Navigon Pocket LOOX is not rated, but reviewer Tracey Capen says it's okay for multimedia and is compact. However, it doesn't do well as a GPS receiver. The Magellan Crossover GPS is fine for car use, but too bulky for field use.
22. Gadgetell.com	GPS Reviews Editors of Gadgetell.com As of June 2007		Gadgetell.com covers mobile technology. Site operators write reviews and post some from a sister site, TheFinalSprint.com. Unfortunately, the handheld GPS reviews are uneven and all products receive high ratings. The Timex Ironman Bodylink System is very good. The Garmin Forerunner 305 has great features, but battery life is short, coverage can be spotty, and it's expensive.

Handheld GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Handheld GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

23. CNet.com	City trekkers: Pocket-size GPS devices Bonnie Cha Mar. 22, 2007		In this roundup, CNet.com charts the four devices that it reviewed in the past year. The reviews provide some comparison, but the charted products are targeted to different markets and aren't direct competitors. The reviews devote much more attention to features than performance. Testing of all but the Pharos Traveler GPS 525 is limited to a single test drive in San Francisco, which is not a challenge. The HP iPAQ rx5900 (rx5915) Travel Companion and Mio H610 are also covered.
24. PocketGPSWorld.com	GPS Hardware/Personal Navigation Devices Editors of PocketGPSWorld.com As of June 2007		This UK website has detailed reviews, but GPS units are neither rated nor ranked, and the reviews don't adequately distinguish between products. Some reviews are written by users. The Fujitsu Pocket LOOX N100 is tested as a car unit and MP3 player. Performance is satisfactory, but not equal to that of the best units. Lots of older reviews remain here, making navigation tedious.

Handheld GPS Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Handheld GPS Ratings Comments on Reviews

25. GPSGazette.com	GPS Reviews Editors of GPSGazette.com As of June 2007		Although the articles on this blog are called reviews, there is no testing and no evaluation. However, this is a good news and information site, and many of the articles link to reviews published elsewhere. GPSGazette.com is a good place to find information about new products, but other websites offer at least as much current information and also review products.