Review on 📍 Garmin nuvi 265W/265WT 4.3-Inch Widescreen GPS Navigator with Bluetooth and Traffic (Discontinued by Manufacturer) by Shawn Jimenez

After using an older Nuvi 350 for a few years, the faster response and start-up time of the 265WT will be appreciated. Although it's considered part of the Junior Nuvi line, it has features that far surpass the base model (traffic, image browsing, Bluetooth phone connection). Traffic is a nice feature, especially with the ability to reroute (around DC traffic!) during my daily commute between Baltimore, MD and Alexandria, VA, but I've noticed that it doesn't update as fast as I can get it to trouble spot. Also, I often take a detour to avoid an accident only to get caught in another traffic jam that just updates the GPS data HOW I get into traffic (sigh). I can't blame Garmin when the messages get to the folks processing the VHF traffic report. Also note that traffic rerouting seems to happen automatically ONLY the first time you turn on the GPS, or if your current route is just really, really bad. Obviously the very bad threshold can vary depending on driver impatience, but I would like alternative routes to be calculated behind the scenes (for faster detour updates) or dynamically recalculate paths when traffic information is updated in block. As for the rest of the block, it works fine. I think I had a bug in the few months I've been using it, but it seemed to automatically restart and pick up where it left off without me having to re-enter my destination. The updated UI is generally nice, but I do miss the built-in compass direction that I remember using, the 350. The 3D terrain is more of a gimmick in my opinion, as it lowers the map contrast and makes it harder to understand the information displayed see. One thing I found odd was that in destination list mode, if you touch the top of the default screen, you have to use the back button instead of the big center 'show map' button to go back to the default map (back). + hybrid look in the next direction. "View Map" will display an enlarged 3D map of the area with the entered general route due to the previously mentioned overloaded display with poor contrast. It would also be nice if the standard map + directions hybrid view, for example, listed the immediately following destinations directly behind the next route. Take the exit on the right and immediately turn left onto the next 3-lane motorway (so you can turn left at the traffic lights 100 meters after the junction!) to get around. This means that I will rarely use the device's built-in battery and that the battery will likely have a shorter lifespan since it's constantly in charging mode (assuming it behaves like a laptop battery). Unfortunately, the attachment system is very simple (you have to flex the plastic clips to remove it) and not nearly as good as the spring-loaded release mechanism found in more expensive Nuvi models (our old 350 and a very similar looking 750). . This, combined with the fact that the mains/FM transmitter plugs in directly on the back rather than centrally (so slightly unbalanced), makes it almost impossible to remove the GPS with one hand. I miss the way the power connects to our old 350 mount which makes it very easy to take the GPS with us when we get out of the car. I haven't used the Bluetooth feature and have read that the GPS is limited to just acting as a numeric keypad and speaker/mic. It's important to note that according to others it's not possible to access the phonebook through the device, but then again I can't blame Garmin as I think it would be a nightmare to have higher functionality with any Bluetooth enabled phone to support as all seem to have a different OS/interface. Two of my friends bought a nuvi 750 for about the same price I paid for 265wt but I wouldn't swap. If they had the characteristics of the 265WT with the 750 workstand, that would be perfect.