Delphi NAV300
Starting at: $101.99
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Reviewed on:
The good: The Delphi NAV300 GPS device adds integrated Bluetooth for hands-free calling and text-to-speech functionality. The compact device also has multimedia features, and Delphi's optional traffic kit includes a lifetime subscription to Clear Channel's traffic service.
The bad: The Bluetooth integration is limited, due to a small number of compatible cell phones, and route recalculations weren't accurate. You can't use the music and navigation features at the same time.
The bottom line: Though the Delphi NAV300 GPS navigator may look appealing with its affordable price tag and integrated Bluetooth and text-to-speech functionality, real-world tests show some pretty ugly results.
Design
The Delphi NAV300 sports a design that's slightly revamped over its predecessor's. The overall shape is the same, but it's slightly more narrow and heavier at 4.6 inches wide by 3.1 inches tall by 1.1 inches deep and 7.6 ounces, compared to NAV200's 5.3 by 3.2 by 1 inches and 6.7 ounces. The system also retains the flip-up patch antenna on the back, rather than integrating the receiver into the device. We much prefer the latter, since it looks neater and you don't have to worry about lifting the antenna every time, but it's certainly not a deal-breaker. The Delphi NAV300 is still a compact and ultraportable unit, so you should have no problems transporting it between vehicles.
On front of the device, you have a 3.5-inch, 320x240-pixel-resolution touch screen. The display has an antiglare coating, but we found that the map colors slightly washed out when viewing in bright sunlight. The touch screen is responsive, but once again, we found the virtual keyboard to be rather cramped. And while Delphi includes a stylus in the box, there is nowhere to stow it in on the device itself--a big pain that guarantees you'll misplace the stylus at some point. The NAV200 had a stylus holder, so we're not sure why the company decided to omit it this time.
Surrounding the display, there are four navigation controls. To the left, there are shortcuts to the main menu and Bluetooth settings page, while on the right, you have zoom-in and -out keys. The left spine of the Delphi NAV300 includes a 3.5mm headphone jack, an external mic port, and the power button. Other design features include a volume dial, a TMS-RDS traffic receiver jack, and the power connector on the right side, and an SD expansion slot on the bottom of the unit.
Delphi packages the NAV300 with a car charger, a vehicle mount (windshield and dash), a stylus, an SD card preloaded with maps, and reference material.
Features
The overall navigation and multimedia features of the Delphi NAV300 remain the same as those of its predecessor, so we won't go into too much detail here (you can read more about the other capabilities in our Delphi NAV200 review). Instead, we'll focus more on the new features that the company has added to the product.
For route guidance, you get Navteq maps of the United States and Canada preloaded on the included SD card; you can get directions by entering a specific street address, an intersection, a point on a map, or a location on your Favorites or Recent Destinations list. The system can create itineraries by the fastest or shortest route; with or without interstates and toll roads; and in vehicle, pedestrian, or bicycle mode. Once you have a trip entered, you can review a list of turn-by-turn directions, and much to our delight, Delphi has added text-to-speech functionality to the NAV300, so you get actual street names with voice prompts.
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Bonnie Cha is chief correspondent for Crave, covering every kind of tech toy imaginable (with a special obsession for robots and Star Wars-related stuff). When she's not scoping out stories, you can find her checking out live music or surfing in the chilly waters of Northern California.
User Reviews
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Showing 3 of 4 reviews
"out of date in less than a year.expensive junk" By lel2j
Pros: no redeeming features
Cons: difficult to use. out of date maps out of date poi. delphi does not even offer upgradeable maps. Hope know one else buys this product
"Turns on. Takes you the long way around sometimes" By brc1959
Pros: does wat is advertised
Cons: Terrible customer service, No planned map updates
Summary: The product does what it is advertised to do, as long as no new streets are built in your city(or where ever you are using the system). I was told (by a very rude Delphi rep) that there will be no more map updates for the NAV300, unlike the ... Expand full review
Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Destination: Automotive
- Audible assistance: Voice command recognition Street name announcement Navigation instructions
- Features: Touch screen Anti-glare
