Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Reviews
Garmin nüvi 260W 4.3-Inch Widescreen Portable GPS Navigator Reviews
Other products by Garmin Ratting 4.5 Out of 5.0 Special Offer Total New 20 Total Use 11
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Garmin's nüvi 260W combines the thinprofile and attractive price point of other nüvi 200-series GPS with directions in real street names and a wide screen that lets you see more of what's around you as you drive. Garmin's line on the device is that, "the nüvi 260W gives consumers the most sought-after navigation features, while eliminating many of the premium add-ons. The result is a PND that simply gets you from point A to point B – reliably, efficiently, and with style." As with all nüvis, you get Garmin reliability, the fast satellite lock of a high-sensitivity integrated receiver, a slim, pocket-sized navigator with a gorgeous display, detailed NAVTEQ maps that lets you search by name for more than 6 million points of interest like stores, restaurants or hospitals, and an easy, intuitive interface.
| Wider screen lets you see more of what's around. Compare these actual size views:
3-inch (diagonal) screen
4.3-inch (diagonal) widescreen |
 The nüvi 260W comes preloaded with maps for U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, and features an ultra-slim design. |
The text-to-speech feature of the nüvi 260W means that device automatically calls out street names (saying "turn right on Main Street" instead of "turn right in 200 feet."). This feature lets drivers keep their eyes on the road while navigating through busy traffic and tricky roadways.
See More of What's Around
The 4.3-inch backlit widescreen touchscreen on the nüvi 260W gives you 70% more actual screen area than a 3.5-inch screen. Primarily this translates into a better view of the area through which you are driving. This is especially useful in showing you what parks, restaurants, ATM, gas stations, etc. are nearby, or in letting you know whether a detour is a good idea. Also, the device itself is larger, meaning controls on the screen are more widely spaced and somewhat easier to push.
Smart, Powerful Design
The nüvi 260W is built with a high-sensitivity GPS receiver for extreme accuracy, as well as an SD card slot for storing your media and additional navigation tools, and a USB interface for loading data.The nüvi display is touchscreen-enabled, making it a cinch to control the device with your fingertips. A rechargeable lithium-ion battery provides up to five hours of battery life depending on use.
Garmin Lock
Garmin's patent pending theft prevention system that disables the unit from performing any functions until the user types in a specific 4-digit PIN or takes the unit to a predetermined secure location
First Rate Map Data
The nüvi 260W comes preloaded with City Navigator NT North America--road coverage for the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and nearly 6 million points of interest. City Navigator North America NT gives you everything you need to travel North America. Powered by NAVTEQ, a world leader in premium-quality digital map data, City Navigator brings you the most detailed street maps available so you can navigate with exact, turn-by-turn directions to any address or intersection.
Easy To Use Interface
Garmin's interface is a key to their success and one of the things that makes their devices such a pleasure to use. Simple controls and sub-screens make it easy to enter or search for destinations and get data about your trip.
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Beyond Navigation
 Browse your stored pictures with an easy-to-use JPEG viewer. |  nüvi 260W accepts custom points of interest (POIs). View larger. |
Navigation is just the beginning. nüvi 260W features travel tools including JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more. It also comes with Garmin Lock, an anti-theft feature, and configurable vehicle icons that let you select car-shaped graphics to show your location on the map.
This device is compatible with optional content plug-ins available via SD card, such as the Garmin Travel Guides and Garmin SaversGuide provide detailed data for attractions and information on nearby merchants offering discounts, so you can customize nüvi for your travel needs.
Garmin has also added the ability for customers to add custom points of interest (POI’s) from third parties such as school zones and safety cameras.
Trick Your GPS Ride
 Custom vehicle icons let you ride in style, at least inside your GPS. See more icon option | Like all nüvis, the 260W supports configurable vehicle icons. These fun, customized car-shaped icons come in a variety of colors to add a personal touch to your vehicle's position on the map. |
What's in the Box
nüvi 260W, preloaded City Navigator NT for North America, vehicle suction cup mount, vehicle power cable, dashboard disk, and quick start manual.
Visit Garmin.com to get the latest firmware updates for your nüvi to keep it current and performing at its best.
Note: Like most USB Mass Storage Devices, the nüvi is not compatible with Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me.Which nüvi is Best for You?
Note: All nüvis come with detailed NAVTEQ maps containing more than 6 million pre-loaded point of interest locations.
| Device | Screen Size inches (W x H) | Included Maps | Text-to-Speech (Directions in Real Street Names) | Traffic | Bluetooth | Media | FM Transmitter (audio through car stereo system) | Multi-Point Routing | Battery life (hours) | ||
| Cont. U.S., Hawaii, and Puerto Rico | AK and Canada | Europe | |||||||||
| nüvi 260 | 2.8 x 2.1 |  | | | | | Photos | | | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 205 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 205w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 255 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 255w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 260w | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | | Photos | | | up to 5 | |
| nüvi 265T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 265WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 275T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 285WT | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 465T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 755T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 760 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 |
| nüvi 765T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 775T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 780 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 5 |
| nüvi 785T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 850 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 855 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 885T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (receiver included; 9 months free); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos, MP3s | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1200 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1250 | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1260T | 2.8 x 2.1 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1300 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1350 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (with optional receiver) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1350T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1370T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1390T | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1490T | 4.4 x 2.5 | | | | | MSN-enhanced (with optional receiver); FM (receiver included; Lifetime Traffic) | | Photos | | | up to 4 |
| nüvi 1690 | 3.81 x 2.25 | | | | | NAVTEQ Traffic, 2 years free (Garmin nüLink! service) | | Photos | | | up to 3 |
Technical Details
- GPS system preloaded with City Navigator North America NT- 4.3-inch touchscreen display with 2D/3D mapping perspective
- Turn-by-turn directions with voice guidance and text to speech
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes it convenient for navigation by car or foot
- Includes JPEG picture viewer, world travel clock with time zones, currency converter, measurement converter, calculator and more
See more technical details
By SBlaster
Last year, I used a GARMIN Nuvi 255w for a 1200 mile roundtrip to NY. This one seems to work about the same, but this is less expensive. Don't use that MS traffic stuff, so this basic GPS is just fine.
Tried about 5 times to attach the suction cup mount cradle to the Garmin shell and it just wouldn't fit ... got some quality problems here. It's a tough fit and pushing it too much would probably crack the shell so I didn't bother. I'm not using the mount anyway as it's a dead giveaway that you have a GPS in your car.
Turned on quickly and easily found satellites.
Used a mini-USB cable that I had from a camera to connect to the PC ... works fine. No need to buy the GARMIN USB cable.
Upgrading the software (installing the GARMIN converter program) on the PC gave me fits, but got through OK. When you get on the GARMIN web site to register and then download, encountered a problem with IE8 Active X program install (it restarts and tries over again and again). Then tried Firefox, got through the registration but then Firefox 'faulted' too and then restarted. Fussed around and also disabled Norton360 for a while and that seemed to work ... A couple of reboots in between too, so you can never be sure of what the fix was and what was really the problem. Windows with multiple browsers is really a downer and program installs in any browser is so error prone that it's a miracle that it even works!
Download for the new maps.
CAME WITH: City Navigator North America NT 2010.10 Limited, Deluxe All Regions, Apr 09
UPGRADED TO:City Navigator North America NT 2010.40, US & Canada - Limited, Jan 10
The download is 2.06GB!
Not only that, but after downloading it goes through an 'integrity check'. No progress bar (there's a message on the message box that says ...' you have to be patient and wait ... after the download there's an integrity check that may take 10-20 more minutes and the extract should occur thereafter'). Yea, right! (Wrong!). So after 40 minutes everything hung ... Windows became unstable, couldn't click the 'exe' that was downloaded (the window requester finally updated to 'finished' and then everything became unresponsive), it was Windows reboot time. After a few reboots, I finally got on the GARMIN site and invoked the download restarter ... it said I already had the download and to then 'double-click' the exe. That finally worked, plug in the GARMIN to the PC and after 90 minutes of updates to the 260W, it was complete.
All in all, a 'typical' windows install :(.
Easily added 20 or so "favorite places" without any problem.
I intend to add updates later when I start to use it on the road.
By Rosemberg M. Correia (BEAVERTON, OREGON, US)
Garmin is the best choice of GPS for Brazilian drivers, since there is a Tracksource project in Brazil that provides an additional set of maps for those who drives off-road.
Everything in this nuvi unit is good: the size, batery, view and voice. And it is also easy to use.
By B. Madden (Texas City, TX USA)
I dont like this one as much as my last one which I had for about 3 years that cost me abt. $350.00 or so. I cant remember the model no. but it was a little bulkier but that was not a problem. This Garmin Nuvi is slim but seems to have less features or I have not fount out how to use them. Llike the volume. There is no volume control on the outside of the unit. I am sure there is a way to control it but I havent found it yet so to me that is more trouble. But this new one can get me lost just as easy as the last one. Once you miss your destination in either Garmin. The unit really doesnt know how to get you back on track.
My 2 cents
By R. Momin (Brooklyn, NY)
I'm a touring musician who's had opportunities to try out other models and makes of GPS Navigators, and can say with confidence that this is a great unit for those on a tight budget, but are still looking for reliability and accuracy. This GPS unit picked up signal quickly and calculated routes within seconds. Ofcourse, it doens't generate traffic-reports and other features found in fancier units, but it gets the job done, and got us to all of our venues across the US with not one mistake. Highly recommended!
By Jane M. Thomas (Northern NY State)
I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 260W a couple of weeks ago. I took a trip and brought it along. I love how it has spoken street names. It is so much easier than listening to " turn in 200 feet" or what the case may be. This is a fairly basic model but for the little traveling I do I didnt want to spend alot of money on a more advanced unit. The wide screen is great too, nice and large and easy to read. It comes with the car charger and a suction cup mount for the windshield.
I used it a couple of times traveling to work so I could get used to how it worked. The problem I encountered was that it kept giving me the wrong directions to get to my job. However, there has been alot of construction in and around where I work and some new roads constructed too so maybe that had something to do with it. When I took my trip last weekend I didnt have a problem until I got to my destination and it couldnt find the street but this was in a newer development and lots of new construction too. I'm really not sure that has anything to do with it but I kind of had the feeling it did. Other that that it worked very well. Once I finally got to my destination I marked it in the GPS and now I wont have a problem when I go back to visit again.
I dont think there is any brand of GPS that is always going to be accurate 100% of the time at this price level, but for me it works just fine. It was well worth the money.
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