TomTom XL 330S Review

Award winning software coupled with an incredibly easy to use interface makes the TomTom XL 330S GPS Navigator a viable choice for travelers driving throughout both the United States and Canada. With spoken aloud door to door and turn by turn directions along with a traffic ready system, the TomTom XL 330S GPS is ready to use right out of the box, making it simple for users to find their way wherever they need to go without worry, regardless of future traffic conditions or surprise detours.

TomTom XL330S
TomTom XL 330S GPS Navigator

Product Overview

The TomTom XL 330S GPS Navigator features a 4.3 inch wide, anti-glare, LCD touchscreen display in full color with a screen resolution of 480 x 272, making it easy for users to see a variety of pertinent details at a glance. The ultra-thin design makes the unit both stylish and sleek as well as easy to store just about anywhere, or slip into any bag or suitcase while not in use. The slim and foldable EasyPort™ mounting system by TomTom also adds to the unit's portability and convenience.

The internal lithium ion battery included with the GPS unit has a run time of up to three hours without access to a power source, such as the included car power adapter. The XL 330S is covered by a twelve months parts and labor warranty through TomTom, and with purchase comes accessories including a USB cable for both charging and connecting to the home computer, an adhesive dashboard mounting disk, as well as the user's manual and documentation.

For multilingual travelers, the TomTom XL 330S GPS Navigator is incredibly diverse as it offers menu displays in a wide variety of languages in addition to the usual English and Spanish including French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, and Swedish, just to name a few.

Actual user review:
• "The interface and software were very user friendly, although I did download a full user's guide before starting. I also downloaded the most current maps...good thing I had a high speed connection, since the files were almost a gig. The unit routed us right through the heart of Chicago without a hitch, and I have to say, it's the first time I've EVER driven the Windy City without white knuckles. Everything on the screen was right there in front of us and it constantly reminded me to change lanes, keep right or left and take exits or make turns when needed. My father was absolutely in a state of awe. " - C.Riness (Wisconsin, USA)

Notable Benefits and Features

A rather useful benefit of the TomTom XL 330S GPS unit, besides its one gigabyte storage capacity, is that never goes out of date with TomTom HOME, the free software included to use with a personal computer that also gives users access to additional helpful features. With purchase of the unit also comes extra peace of mind with TomTom's Latest Map Guarantee feature, which guarantees that if a new map is released within one month of purchase, users may download it for free via the internet and the accompanying software.

TomTom Map Share™ technology allows for instantly modifying the names of streets and highways, along with directions, street turns, speed limits and even known road restrictions for completely personalizing and simplifying the driving experience. The 2D/3D map perspective feature and TMC (Traffic Message Channel) features together give users a bird's eye view of upcoming traffic problems as well as alternate routes, allowing one to outsmart traffic jams and reach their destinations on time.

The TomTom XL 330S GPS Navigator also makes it possible to travel with confidence with the "Help Me!" menu feature that gives one instant access to nearby emergency medical providers such as both police and fire stations as well as hospitals.

Preloaded with several million of points of interest (POI) located throughout both the United States and Canada, including a host of gas stations, restaurants and eateries, airports, hotels and motels, hospitals and many more, users of the TomTom XL 330S are also able to edit existing POIs as well as add their own, making detailed directions to frequent or return trips available with a few touches of the screen's display.

An optional choice available to buyers of the TomTom XL 330S GPS Navigator is the Daily Fuel Prices Service which offers the lowest priced gas along routes with station names and addresses as well as route directions. Another choice includes the optional RDS-TMC traffic receiver accessory which offers instantaneous access to up-to-date traffic changes.

Technical Specifications

Display: Color LCD, 4.3 inch widescreen
Antenna: High sensitivity GPS chipset
Battery: Internal lithium ion
Connectivity: USB cable
Dimensions: 4.7"(W) x 0.9"(D) x 3.2"(H)
Weight : 6.6 oz
Included Accessories: Adhesive mounting disk, car power adapter, USB cable
Included Software: TomTom HOME
Voice Capabilities: Yes, navigation instructions and voice command recognition

Average User Rating :

• "This was a great investment at an excellent price. I am totally right brained and my nickname was "Wrong Way!" Not anymore. My TomTom is simple to use. I especially appreciate the voice prompts because I don't have to take my eyes off the road. The sound is loud enough and clear. When I second guess myself and make a wrong turn, my friend TomTom quickly redirects me and gets me back on track. The unit is shared among four household members and we all love it! " - M.Galinoto (TX, USA)

• "Works great and easy to use. This model says the street names which is a feature I realized is an absolute must! I also like the larger screen size. This model varies greatly in price by depending on where you shop for it. Make sure you don't pay more than you need to." - M. Nelson (CA, USA)