Garmin Nüvi 3490LMT with lifetime map update, Europe
4.30"
Product ratings
Pros
Cons
10 reviews
In daily use for a little more than 2 months...
In daily use in the truck for just over 2 months.
Can't understand the negative reviews here at all!
The GPS receiver is scrupulously accurate. It usually even recognises immediately whether you are in the exit lane or further along the motorway. From stand-by, the position is found within 2-5 seconds.
On the subject of "non-reflective display": Absolute nonsense and not even necessary! When I look at where, how and at what angle people position their navigation device in the vehicle, it makes me dizzy! Not once did I have problems recognising everything... even in direct sunlight! So take it upon yourself to position the navigation device correctly and increase the brightness if necessary! This is set very low at the factory.
The TMC receiver works perfectly, often without the supplied antenna cable.
If you switch on all the details, the performance suffers a little. However, it is still within the green range and I do not find it annoying.
What has not been mentioned here, however, is the display's inability to cope with even minimally moistened hands. The hands really have to be "dry as a fart", otherwise the operation becomes an adventure. For this reason, I also deduct one star!
The optional ignoring of driving bans would be desirable, as I often have to and am allowed to ignore them. You have to use your brain, which brings me to the main point of my review:
No navigation device replaces your brain or your eyes, so use these capacities sometimes in between! ;-)
All in all, I am extremely satisfied with the 3490LMT and can recommend it to occasional as well as frequent users!Clear maps, easy to follow in German and English l...
Clear maps, easy to follow in German and English language.
Ease of use of many POI lists;
City centre, airports, ship ports, train stations, Restaurants and many of the usual things someone would want to look for.
Updates of map or additions simply done.
So simple the mother-in-law can use it!
I have advised someone else to buy this as their next navi.
I've had it for a month and I'm very happy with the...
I've had it for a month and I'm very happy with it.
++ High-resolution display (it's not anti-reflective, but I've never had problems reading it when the brightness is set to 60-80%). (Attention: Ex works it's only 20%, I think)
+ Touch operation reacts quite smoothly and precisely
+ Speed (route calculation, screen update, menu)
+ All of Europe with detailed maps and LifetimeUpdate
+ Satellites are found quite quickly (when the device is woken up from standby, but it can take up to a minute when booting up for the first time)
+ Quite flat, fits comfortably in a jacket pocket, like a smartphone, but still big enough to read information comfortably.
Negative:
The first unit was defective - The GUI had no more icons after the firmware upgrade but only coloured rectangles, also the menu was no longer usable with it as most options were not readable. Update via WebUpdate or MyGarmin WebPage did not help.
After telephone consultation, I sent the part to the Garmin agency (Bucher + Walt SA, 032 755 95 10) and received a new device within a week, which again surprised me positively.
Firmware update worked with the WebUpdater tool.
MapUpdate with the Lifetime Updater Tool.I have been using the device for a week and have followed...
Have been using the unit for a week and have noticed the following:
Positive:
+ Very good resolution, clear picture, classic Garmin menu navigation.
+ Starts very quickly compared to 1490 T
+ Finds satellite contact quickly
Negative:
Previously had the 1490T model with 5 inch screen.
- Current size of screen too small, details difficult to see when device is on windscreen.
- The display is really bad, glossy and not anti-reflective. In bright light, the passenger sees nothing and the driver hardly anything.
- This is a huge step backwards and a disadvantage, non-reflective displays in such an exposed place is not possible!
I'm disappointed, I'm looking around for 5 inch screens with anti-reflective coating.
quick to use, small and light. everything in al...
quick to use, small and light. all in all, about the best up to the present day. of course, not yet the yellow of the egg, as the layman would wish.
I've had various navigation systems so far, but ...
I've had various navigation systems so far, but the Nüvi 3490 is by far the best.
Looks very good (Apple design), is extremely fast when switching on and calculating. Super display! All critical traffic situations are proactively supported with real images.
Lifelong updates included in the price.
Garmin does not offer traffic services. This is the well-known disadvantage, but has enormous advantages on the cost side.
All in all, an absolutely top product!
I tested it today on a long route through Zurich and Basel on the way to a major German city. Simply brilliant!My first navigation device ever. In the meantime I am s...
My first navigation device ever. I am now very satisfied with it - but not at all at the beginning.
Updating directly via the browser tools on the Garmin site put two devices in checkmate.
However, it works without problems with WebUpdater and MapInstall, which you can download from the Garmin site. Even the second device, which had failed, could be persuaded to work again without errors using the tools.
Since then, I have not noticed any problems, crashes or anything else negative.
Conclusion: The device is a real pleasure to use and I would buy it again.Had bought a Garmin Nüvi 760s years ago. Since...
Had bought a Garmin Nüvi 760s years ago. The old thing doesn't stand a chance against the 3490LMT.
What I find positive:
- Satellites are found quickly (subjective).
- Very good route guidance, when approaching the navi splits the view, on the left the map and on the right it shows the forks, even with real signs like live. In addition, it zooms in when entering a critical intersection and zooms out when there are kilometres of motorway again.
- Very stable, no crashes.
- Super fast start-up, with the old model it took what felt like an eternity, with the new 1 second (only sleep mode).
- Touchscreen is great
- Holder is better, device is easier to mount (one-handed).
- The traffic receiver is now neatly housed in one cable harness (old model two cables), less cable clutter.
- the whole box is fast, almost no waiting time for any action. Looking ahead at traffic lights is fast, like Googlemaps on an iPad, despite the high resolution.
The device has already cost me a lot of nerves: ...
The device has already cost me a lot of nerves:
- No German voice installed, finding out how to reinstall.
- To install updates, there are various software programmes that you have to clutter up your PC or Mac with. It's all confusing and unintuitive. You have to sign what feels like 8 EULAs.
- The plug for the power supply is about twice the size of the one on my Navigon; on my BMW I always hit the plug when shifting into first gear.
- Voice often says entry instead of exit.
- I am used to different route alternatives from my Navigon. The Garmin does that too, but not by default. For example, not when you want to navigate "home" and also not when you use the voice control.
- Alternative routes sometimes cannot be recognised on the map, no thick coloured markings of the route as with Navigon, but very thin ones that are difficult to recognise.
- Routes sometimes nonsensical, e.g. today the device wanted to take the route through the city with me during rush hour, but the motorway is always faster. That would have cost me an hour.
Positive:
+ Voice input works great
+ you can zoom and scroll very well on the map
+ Displays are clear and concise
Overall, I wouldn't buy the device again, I've had TomTom and 2x Navigon before. All devices have their quirks, but this one feels like beta.
absolutely unusable, besides the below described...
Absolutely unusable, in addition to the shortcomings described below.
miserable map material, e.g. no rivers. Poor handling. No search function, e.g. city centre. Not worth the money
