Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT Reviews

This Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT Review evaluates the functions of Nuvi 1490LMT. It also provides detailed explanation of the features in the latest GPS by Garmin.

Product specifications:
Unit weight: 221.1g (7.8 ounces)
Unit dimesions (WxHxD): 5.4" x 3.4" x.6" (13.7cm x 8.6cm x 1.6cm)
Screen resolution/type: 480 x 272 pixels/WQVGA color TFT, white backlight
battery: Lithium-ion, rechargeable, 3 hours battery life:

Features

Voice prompt
The Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT has an internal voice-prompt/speaker that speaks street names and provides turn-by-turn directions. The voice-prompt can be set to speak foreign language although the street names are only available in English. The speaker prompts the driver to a turn, with timely intervals depending on the speed limit and current speed of the car. It also speaks when doing route recalculation or when it's searching for a lost satellite signal.

However, one convenient feature that is not available in Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT is the voice-activated navigation, which allows voice commands to operate the device. Garmin does allow you to download custom voices if you ever get tired of that robotic speaker.

Lane assist
With the lane assist feature, you are prompted to change lanes when nearing an exit or an intersection. This comes with a junction view so you know how to navigate through foreign intersections. The lane assist also displays accurate road signs that are pretty much identical to the signs you see from your windshield. However, the lane assist is mostly available in major and some particular highways.

Automatic sorting of multiple destinations
Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT reviews all the possible routes for your destination and provides the best route to take to get there at the fastest possible time. This feature proves to be useful when making errands, deliveries, and during emergencies. It also recalculates detour and off-route when you've suddenly met slow traffic flow and needed to take another route. You can also preset your chosen route for faster travel time, e.g. avoid tolls, highways, off road routes, etc.

What's missing in this GPS device is an option to calculate routes according to the predicted traffic flow. It also lacks other high-end features available in high-end Garmin GPS devices like myTrends, which predicts the destination according to the route the driver is taking.

Where Am I?
This feature finds the nearest police, gas, and fire station as well as the closest hospitals, addresses, and intersections. 1490LMT comes with nearly 6 million points of interest or POIs to locate landmarks like malls, restaurants, even BestBuy locations.

LMT
Garmin provide Lifetime Map and Traffic updates for free. Download maps, construction, and traffic updates in Garmin's website. Although maps are not always updated with the latest road change or latest landmark constructions, you are assured that it is at least free of charge and is updated at least every or two years. Users can also add POIs in their Nuvi 1490LMT.

EcoRoute
This feature calculates a more time and fuel-saving route. It gives you an EcoScore that displays if you are wasting gas and when you're driving efficiently. It also provides the number of miles you've covered, the gas you spent, and the cost of the last trip you travelled. The information is recorded in the GPS and can be recovered and logged into your computer.

In a nutshell
If you are quite adept from using a touchscreen while driving then Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT is a nice GPS device. It lacks some high-end features but for the price and the features it offers, it overtakes other GPS devices from other manufacturers.