Garmin nuvi 1390T Review (GPSmagazine.com)

17. Pros

Enhanced pedestrian mode lets you navigate cities like a pro. When paired with cityXplorer maps, you'll even know which bus or rail lines to take
Fast, Responsive. You can navigate menus as quickly as your fingers can move. No annoying delays or lagging between menus
Easy to use, well designed, user interface
Best looking 3-D lane guidance of any GPS to date
Speed limit information displayed on the map
Improved traffic reporting options now include traffic map, traffic search, and traffic on route
Ability to customize the data field on the map to show distance, remaining time, direction of travel, elevation, or time of day
Fast frame rate makes for ultra smooth scrolling map when navigating
Automatic map zooming adjusts the map zoom level based on your speed and the current maneuver
Rubber-like protective coating around the plastic case offers some protection against scratches and scuff marks
Easy Bluetooth pairing process & solid Bluetooth functionality
When using hands-free calling while navigating to a destination, nuvi suppresses all audio navigation prompts
Good text-to-speech quality
Good routing engine
Good customer support

18. Cons

No way to exclude a specific transportation type (i.e. Bus, or Train) when navigating in pedestrian mode in a city for which you have purchased cityXplorer maps. For example, you can't set the GPS to only use bus routes, and exclude using the subway
Traffic receiver not as sensitive as other Garmin nuvi models
No multi-destination routing (trips with multiple stops)
Internal speaker could be louder
Detour feature doesn't let you specify specific road(s) to avoid
CityXplorer maps cost extra ($10 - $15 per city)

19. Conclusion

Sporting a new, 25% thinner design, the nuvi 1390T continues to evolve Garmin's highly successful nuvi product line.

Equipped with free lifetime traffic, lane assist with junction view, Bluetooth, text-to-speech (it speaks actual street names), and a 4.3-inch widescreen display, the nuvi 1390T offers many of the same features found on Garmin's other nuvi models, including the higher-end 7x5 models.

However, unlike other nuvis, the 1390T fully supports Garmin's cityXplorer maps, and can provide enhanced pedestrian navigation. For example, when walking around New York City in Pedestrian mode, the nuvi 1390T is able to include bus and subway stops when calculating the route to a destination. CityXplorer maps cost between $10 and $15, and available for most major cities in North America and Europe.

One of the first things you notice when using the 1390T is the overall responsiveness. Menu screens zoom by, and you can enter text as quickly as your fingers will allow. Map scrolling is also smooth.

The 1390T also benefits from an overall User Interface update that makes the 1390T even easier to use than previous nuvis.

I did notice that traffic receiver sensitivity wasn't as strong on the nuvi 1390T as on other Garmin nuvis, such as the 765T, and also wished the 1390T used a powered windshield mount instead of the passive mount that's included in the box.

Also disappointing is the inability to exclude a specific road from the planned route -- a feature long overdue that should be included on all future Garmin units.

The nuvi 1390T is an excellent navigator that continues Garmin's best of breed navigation capabilities and unmatched ease of use. If you need to tackle the complexities of public mass transit in unfamiliar cities, you won't find a better travel companion than the nuvi 1390T. You'll be navigating the local bus and subway lines like a native in no time.

However, given the 1390T's current pricing, unless you're specifically interested in the enhanced pedestrian capabilities unique to the nuvi 1200, 1300, and 1400 models, the nuvi 765T is a better bargain at the moment, offering more vehicle-centric features for less money.


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June 19, 2009