TomTom XXL 530S Review

GPS devices are becoming more commonly used as their accuracy continues to grow and their prices start to dip. Entry-level GPS devices should be enough for easy route planning, but more frequent travelers require extra features for safe and reliable navigation. All of the top GPS makers including TomTom have provided the lineup of high-end GPS devices. Now the competition is evolving not only in features, but display sizes as well. Widescreen devices are very common, but now 5-inch models like the TomTom XXL 530S are aiming to make a huge impact in the GPS market.

TomTom XXL 530S GPS Navigator

Design

The overall appearance of the TomTom XXL 530S greatly resembles just about all of the TomTom XL devices with the rounded top. The display measure 5 inches diagonally thus earning the XXL label to separate it from the other XL units that measure 4.3 inches.

Interface

The TomTom 530S takes the same interface of its predecessors and makes it look good on a 480 x 272 display resolution for better readability and touch interaction. It uses the same 3 x 2 icon layout where the bottom right icon always goes to the next page. There are two pages worth of icons to choose from that lead to most common functions as well as change various preferences and make use of the extra features. The interface is designed with the newbie in mind as it works right after it is unboxed allowing first time users to take full advantage of the features without any need of complex configurations.

Navigation

Navigating with the TomTom 530S is as easy as touching the first item in the main menu - "Navigate to..." from there, additional options can be chosen to help the user decide their destination. Planning a route is as easy as keying in a POI using the big onscreen keyboard or by choosing items from the list sorted by POI category. The list can be filtered by choosing the location of the POI beforehand. Alternative routes can easily be selected via the "Find alternative" option. The TomTom 530S excels in providing quick access to help on demand and the ability to add favorites to make navigation to frequently accessed routes easier.

The map view remains the same and looks gorgeous on the 5-inch display with the bottom data a lot easier to see while driving. Even when the screen isn't in focus, the text-to-speech voice prompts can be used to guide the driver to the destination by going to the specifics like what street to make the turn on all using voice. The graphics look impressive on the large display especially when the lane assistance is being used.

Voice navigation should be enough to avoid any wrong turns, but it might be possible to be on the wrong lane at the wrong time when a crucial turn is needed. Advanced lane guidance fixes this problem by highlighting which lane the driver needs to be in so that the destination is reached at the quickest time possible. Using the TomTom IQ Routes technology, travel speeds are calculated within the device rather than relying on the speed limits found on the maps to ensure the best route is determined.

The TomTom XXL 530S is also packed with more points of interest reaching past 3 million. Not only are these points plentiful, but they manage to be up to date thanks to TomTom's MapShare software. All users can report any inaccuracies to TomTom to ensure their maps stay accurate. It manages to stay portable with the antenna built-in and the EasyPort suction-cup mount makes it very simple to install. There is also a nice safety feature called "Help Me" to access roadside assistance during any sudden situation.

Extras

The TomTom 530S has a total capacity of 2 GB allowing other files to be stored on to the device. The space can also be used to store custom voice prompts from TomTom's site including some celebrity voices. It doubles as a traffic updater if the optional RDS-TMC receiver is utilized to gather traffic information.

TomTom effectively provides a nice 5-inch display for a price under $300 which is highly competitive in today's market. The navigation features may be on the basic side, but the graphics clearly makes this one of the attractive devices being offered.

Summary of Product Features

5-inch, full-color, TFT LCD widescreen touch display
Preloaded maps of U.S. and Canada with millions of POIs
IQ Routes Technology gives you the fastest route every time by using actual average speeds of travel on your route to calculate your trip
With TomTom Map Share technology, you can instantly modify street names, street direction, POIs, road speeds, and turn restrictions on your own device
Award-winning Fold and Go EasyPort mount, folds flat against the device, for easy portability

Actual user review:
• "The TomTom XXL530-S works great. The unit comes with a nice wide screen. The program reads out streets, interesections when needed, and has mulitple views. The unit will tell you how far you are from your destination when you are approaching and has a countdown on the unit. Therefore, it will announce you are 100 yards from your destination, then if you look at the display you can see the countdown meter. You do not have to look at your odometer. The unit also has a feature that can detect redlights that take pictures. I do not need this download option, but it is available. The unit has multiple sounds. You can download many voices free and comes preprogrammed with three voices. The loudness of the voice can be regulated. Most of the street names are clear, a few have been slightly distorted due to enunciation, although they are recognizable. The unit gives you advance notice of what lane to be in for an upcoming turn or exit and gives you ample warning to make the turn. I would recommend you download the software that allows you to upload your unit from the company's website as soon as you get the unit so you can download the latest map updates. You have to dowload the latest map software within the first 30 days of buying the unit. Overall the unit works great. The display is a very good size. There is some breaking in time to entering in data to the unit however, the learning curve is fast." - A.Alba (USA)

List Price: $279.95

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