Garmin Nuvi 250 and 250W Review
The Garmin Nuvi 250 and 250W are both great GPS devices if you need a dependable unit, but don’t want to spend a fortune on one. It really is simple navigation without breaking the bank.
The only true difference between the two in the 250 series is that the 250 has a screen size of 3.5-inches, and the 250 W is a widescreen with a screen size of 3.81 by 2.25. The screens on both devices feature QVGA antiglare component, which makes driving, especially in the sunlight much easier.
Both feature an ultra slim design which makes them perfect for traveling. They can fit in a briefcase or suitcase with ease. The slim design also make them perfect for mounting on your windshield, without having them block your view.
Both come ready to go straight from the box, with preloaded City Navigator NT street maps of the US and Europe, and include such points of interest as school zones, safety cameras, hotels, restaurants, basically everything you need when traveling. You can also set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming points of interest, such as speed traps or a favorite coffee shop line.
The slim, sleek design make the Nuvi 250 series perfect even for walking around vacation spots. Other features include JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, and even a currency converter. Perfect for a vacation or business trip abroad.
The 250 series does have a built-in GPS antenna, so connecting to satellites may prove to be a problem when faced with cloudy or overcast skies. This could lead to lower signal strength or lost satellite connection when indoors.
It does come with a full rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and you can count on up to 5 hours of life on a single charge.
Overall, if you’re looking for a slim, personal sized GPS device, that can take you where you need to go dependably, then the 250 series from Nuvi is a definite option. The under 30 destination locator, combined with voice prompted turn-by-turn instructions make it well worth the money. When faced with a wrong turn, the Nuvi 250 series will re-navigate your destination within seconds, getting you back on track quickly.
Whether you need the Garmin Nuvi 250, or the wider Nuvi 250W, Garmin has definitely made searching for a reliable and practical GPS device easier for you. You really can’t go wrong with the 250 series.
Product Description
Simple navigation at an affordable price — that's nüvi 250. This entry-level personal travel assistant comes with preloaded maps for North America or Europe. For added flexibility, choose nüvi 270 with preloaded maps for both continents or save more with nüvi 200 which offers less map coverage at a lower price. Like all nüvi 200-series members, the 250 features an easy-to-use colorful touchscreen and ultra-slim design — perfect for everyday navigation.
Navigate With Ease
nüvi 250 comes ready to go right out of the box with preloaded City Navigator® NT street maps, including a hefty points of interest (POIs) database with hotels, restaurants, fuel, ATMs and more. Simply touch the color screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. In addition, nüvi 250 accepts custom points of interest (POIs), such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs.
Take It With You
Like the rest of the nüvi 200-series, nüvi 250 sports a sleek, slim design and fits comfortably in your pocket or purse. Its rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot.
Go Beyond Navigation
Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 250 includes many travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock™, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map. Optional plug-in SD cards let you add additional features. Purchase Garmin Travel Guides for detailed data on attractions and our SaversGuide for information on nearby merchants offering discounts to customize nüvi for your travel needs.
nüvi 250: Simple navigation at an affordable price.
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Physical & Performance: |
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Unit dimensions, WxHxD: |
3.8"W x 2.8"H x .8"D (9.7 x 7.1 x 2 cm) |
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Display size, WxH: |
2.8"W x 2.1"H (7.2 x 5.4 cm); 3.5" diag (8.9 cm) |
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Display resolution, WxH: |
320 x 240 pixels |
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Display type: |
QVGA color antiglare TFT with white backlight |
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Weight: |
5.2 ounces (147.42 g) |
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Battery: |
rechargeable lithium-ion |
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Battery life: |
up to 5 hours |
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Waterproof: |
no |
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High-sensitivity receiver: |
yes |
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RoHS version available: |
yes |
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Maps & Memory: |
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Basemap: |
yes |
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Preloaded maps: |
yes |
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Ability to add maps: |
yes |
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Built-in memory: |
internal solid state |
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Accepts data cards: |
SD card (not included) |
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Waypoints: |
500 |
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Routes: |
0 |
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Features: |
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Voice prompts (e.g. "Turn right in 500 ft."): |
yes (internal speaker) |
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Speaks street names (e.g. "Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.") : |
no |
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3D map view: |
yes |
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Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route): |
no |
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Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation): |
yes |
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Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road): |
yes |
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Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.): |
yes |
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Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest): |
yes |
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Hands-free calling with Bluetooth® wireless technology: |
no |
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FM traffic compatible: |
no |
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XM Navtraffic (includes basic weather) & Radio for U.S. compatible: |
no |
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MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible: |
no |
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MP3 player: |
no |
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Audio book player: |
no |
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Picture viewer: |
yes |
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Configurable vehicle icons (select car-shaped icons for map navigation): |
yes |
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World travel clock, currency & measurement converter, calculator: |
yes |
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Touchscreen: |
yes |
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Remote control: |
no |
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FM transmitter: |
no |
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Headphone jack/audio line-out: |
no |
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Dead reckoning: |
no |
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Garmin Lock™ (anti-theft feature): |
yes |
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Motorcycle-friendly: |
no |
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Additional: |
This USB Mass Storage device is compatible with Windows® 2000 or later and Mac OS X 10.4 or later. |
What's in the Box:
- nüvi 250
- Preloaded City Navigator® NT for North America or Europe (full coverage)
- Vehicle suction cup mount
- Vehicle power cable
- Dashboard disk
- Set up and go guide
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