Garmin recently announced its Nuvi 3790T GPS system at a price of $450. You’d be forgiven for mistaking it for a smartphone, though, as the 3700 series measures in at just nine millimeters (0.35 inches) thick, about the same as a #2 pencil. Add to that a 4.3-inch 800×480-resolution multitouch display, advanced navigation features, and a weight of just four ounces, and the 3700 series is what Garmin’s Nuviphone should have been.
Alas, this is just an expensive, attractive GPS unit. The battery only lasts up to four hours and there’s no audio functionality aside from being able to act as a Bluetooth speakerphone. As a GPS system, though, you get voice recognition, lane assistance, free traffic alerts, 3D buildings and terrain, and a bunch of other goodies. The screen operates in both horizontal and vertical modes, so you can use it in the car or while walking around.
No other GPS system comes close to the 3700 in terms of style. That may or may not be for a reason, though. At $450, to say it’s expensive would be putting it lightly given that even decked-out GPS systems can be had for well under $200 nowadays. We might be seeing the precursor to the second generation of the Nuviphone, though. A second attempt at a sleek, attractive phone with a major focus on killer GPS functionality may not be far off.
The Nuvi 3790T is listed on Garmin’s site at $450 but doesn’t appear to be available for sale anywhere just yet. There’s a note at the bottom of the page indicating that the device hasn’t cleared the FCC yet, but it should go on sale shortly after it’s been approved.