Garmin Nuvi 310 Review

The Garmin Nuvi 310 is a pocket sized GPS wonder. It’s currently sold outside of the US, and comes preloaded with City Navigator NT map for one European country. It’s a very small, compact device, and can be carried easily in a purse or pocket. This makes it very useful for traveling, as you won’t be weighed down with heavier GPS equipment.

What sets it apart is its Bluetooth wireless technology and built-in microphone and speaker, so you can make calls easily while driving. You can also look up numbers from a personalized phone book, or the call history. A downside of this is that sometimes the caller on the other end is hard to hear in the hands free mode. A louder speaker system would be called for.

For navigation, you simply touch the color screen to enter your destination, and get your results in 2D or 3D maps, with turn by turn voice instructions. And if you do lose your way, the recalculation of directions is very quick, and you’ll be back on track within seconds. It accepts custom points of interest, such as school zones and safety cameras, and has a feature that allows you to set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming speed traps, etc. There is an optional traffic receiver and traffic services feature, that will help you to avoid traffic jams and such. Overall, the signal is good, and satellite connection is very reliable, as are the directions that are given. However, the software is a little outdated, and roads that are newer than 2 years may not show up. An upgrade may be in order, for an additional fee. There is a very good pre-warning of approaching turns.
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Some users also found the handle too short to put beside the dashboard, which makes it a must to attach it beside the mirror. However, given the slim design, it’s going to fit practically anywhere without being in the way.

The rechargeable lithium ion battery will last up to 8 hours on a single charge, which makes it great for longer trips. It also comes with an AC charger and a car charger, so you’ll not have to worry about the battery life.

Overall, most users are highly satisfied with the Garmin Nuvi 310, as opposed to other Nuvi units. It’s advanced technology, combined with it’s slim design, makes it a perfect companion for any trip.

Product Description 

Navigator. Translator. Entertainer. Tour guide. Garmin’s nüvi 310 is your pocket-sized personal travel assistant. Sold outside of North America, nüvi 310 comes with hands-free Bluetooth® wireless technology and preloaded map data for a specific European region or country — making it your go-anywhere travel companion.

Make Hands-free Calls

Talk about worry-free driving. nüvi 310 integrates Bluetooth wireless technology with a built-in microphone and speaker, so you can pair it with your compatible Bluetooth phone. Then talk hands-free through the 310 while staying focused on the road. Simply dial numbers with nüvi’s touch screen keypad to make a call. To answer calls, just tap nüvi’s screen and speak directly into its built-in microphone. You can also easily look up and dial numbers from your personalized phone book or from your phone’s call history log. With 1-touch dialing for points of interest (POIs), you can conveniently call ahead for reservations or information.

Navigate With Ease

nüvi 310 comes preloaded with City Navigator® NT map data for one European region or country outside of North America (click versions tab to view all). Simply touch the color sunlight-readable screen to enter a destination, and nüvi takes you there with 2D or 3D maps and turn-by-turn voice directions. In addition, nüvi 310 accepts custom points of interest such as school zones and safety cameras and lets you set proximity alerts to warn you of upcoming POIs. Some versions even include a preloaded safety camera database.

Add Traffic Alerts

Avoid traffic jams with the addition of an optional FM TMC traffic receiver and traffic services. By adding these to your nüvi, you are notified of accidents or road construction ahead on your route. Simply touch the screen to view traffic details or recalculate your route to avoid traffic. Select nüvi 310 models also include an integrated traffic receiver and services (click versions tab to view all).

Take It With You

Like the rest of the nüvi series, nüvi 310 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 310 includes many “must have” entertainment and travel tools including MP3 player, audio book player (subscription to Audible.com required), 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 software on plug-and-play SD cards for language translation, detailed travel guide and savings program allows you to customize nüvi for your travel needs.

Physical & Performance: 
Unit dimensions, WxHxD:3.87″W x 2.91″H x .87″D (9.83 x 7.39 x 2.21 cm)
Display size, WxH:2.8″W x 2.1″H (7.2 x 5.4 cm); 3.5″ diag (8.9 cm)
Display resolution, WxH:320 x 240 pixels
Display type:QVGA color antiglare TFT with white backlight
Weight:5.1 ounces (144.6 g)
Battery:rechargeable lithium-ion
Battery life:up to 8 hours
Waterproof:no
High-sensitivity receiver:yes
RoHS version available:yes
Maps & Memory: 
Basemap:yes
Preloaded maps:yes (regional)
Ability to add maps:yes
Built-in memory:internal solid state
Accepts data cards:SD card (not included)
Waypoints:500
Routes:0
Features: 
Voice prompts (e.g. “Turn right in 500 ft.”):yes (internal speaker)
Speaks street names (e.g. “Turn right ON ELM STREET in 500 ft.”) :no
3D map view:yes
Auto sort multiple destinations (provides most direct route):no
Auto re-route (fast off-route and detour recalculation):yes
Choice of route setup (faster time, shorter distance, off road):yes
Route avoidance (avoid highways, tolls etc.):yes
Custom POIs (ability to add additional points of interest):yes
Hands-free calling with Bluetooth® wireless technology:yes
FM traffic compatible:yes
XM Navtraffic (includes basic weather) & Radio for U.S. compatible:no
MSN® Direct for U.S. compatible:no
MP3 player:yes
Audio book player:yes
Picture viewer:yes
Configurable vehicle icons (select car-shaped icons for map navigation):yes
World travel clock, currency & measurement converter, calculator:yes
Touchscreen:yes
Remote control:no
FM transmitter:no
Headphone jack/audio line-out:yes
Dead reckoning:no
Garmin Lock™ (anti-theft feature):yes
Motorcycle-friendly:no
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 310
  • Preloaded City Navigator® NT data for one European region or country (click versions tab to view all)
  • Vehicle suction cup mount
  • AC charger
  • Vehicle power cable
  • Dashboard disk
  • USB cable
  • Carrying case
  • Quick reference guide
  • Owner’s manual on CD-ROM

Package contents may vary per version. See your local dealer for more information.

This product is sold only through authorized Garmin dealers. Package contents may vary per version. See your local dealer for details.

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