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Looking for a great deal on a portable GPS navigator? There are many discounts being offered for Black Friday, though some prices are clearly better than others. It can be time consuming to scan sales flyers and determine the true standout deals on good navigators. To speed things along, we've done the homework for you, highlighting the best offers from major retailers.
In scouring the ads, we noticed this year that the focus is on newer devices from top-name brands. It used to be that there were GPS units from smaller companies and electronics giants whose primary focus is not navigation. Plus, many of the units with the most tempting prices were one, two, or even three generations old. This year, the pickings are much better, but shoppers are still facing some tough choices.
As you look through the offers, and our online ratings, it is key to determine your must-have attributes, such as screen size, Bluetooth connectivity, and traffic services. In scanning the ads, we see that models often offer lifetime maps, lifetime traffic, and sometimes even both. It is far more cost effective to purchase these features upfront than add them later. The real pitfall here is that some units without those options are likely to get the real head-turning prices. It is your choice if you think the way you use the device will favor these services (we find them worthwhile), but the important thing is to know what you're buying.
In addition to discounts on portable devices, navigation app providers typically offers discounts for Black Friday and often again in December. If you're a smart phone user looking for some extra guidance, hold out for reduced prices. Navigon just announced a temporary price drop in its latest apps, and the competitors are sure to follow.
To compile the best deals list, we scoured major electronics retailers and deal sites, including many more than featured. Of course, in this competitive market, more attractive deals may be available, but this provides an excellent start. We avoided refurb models, which were the focus for some online electronics retailers. A basic description is provided to help sift through the listing, but we recommend visiting the model pages at ConsumerReports.org for ratings, features, and an explanation of performance. In some cases, multiple listings are included for a popular model, as stores may or may not be available locally, and online retailers may provide free shipping.
Many retailers are offering the same prices online as in the store. Given that there are real risks that an individual store may run out of stock before you can negotiate your way to the shelves, consider buying online. It may better your chances, reduce stress, and potentially avoid sales tax.
Below, we highlight our picks for the best Black Friday deals on GPS devices.
| Make/model | Price | Store | Notes |
| Garmin Dakota 10 | $149.99 | Sports Authority | Doorbuster. Handheld hiking GPS. |
| Garmin Nuvi 40 | $59.99 | HHGregg | Doorbuster |
| Garmin Nuvi 40 | $79.99 | Staples | |
| Garmin Nuvi 40LM | $89.99 | Staples | Doorbuster. Lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi 40LM | $99.99 | Office Max | Lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi 40LM | $99.99 | Sears | Lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi 40LM | $84.99 | Best Buy | Doorbuster. Lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi 40LM | $99.99 | Kmart | Doorbuster. Lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi 40LM | $89.99 | Radio Shack | Lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi 50 | $95.00 | Meijer | Doorbuster. Large 5-inch screen. |
| Garmin Nuvi 50 | $99.99 | Staples | Large 5-inch screen. |
| Garmin Nuvi 50LM | $99.99 | HHGregg | Large 5-inch screen. Lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi 1200 | $69.99 | Sports Authority | Basic navigator |
| Garmin Nuvi 1250 | $69.99 | Sports Authority | Basic navigator with spoken street names. |
| Garmin Nuvi 1350 | $69.99 | Sports Authority | Widescreen basic navigator |
| Garmin Nuvi 1390T | $129.99 | Radio Shack | Lifetime maps and traffic. |
| Garmin 1450 | $119.99 | Office Max | Large 5-inch screen. |
| Garmin 1450LM | $129.99 | Office Max | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps. |
| Garmin Nuvi1450LMT | $129.99 | HHGregg | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic |
| Garmin Nuvi1450LMT | $129.99 | Office Depot | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. |
| Garmin Nuvi1450LMT | $134.99 | Amazon | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. |
| Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT | $149.00 | Sam's Club | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. Bluetooth. |
| Garmin Nuvi 1490LMT | $155.99 | Amazon | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. Bluetooth. |
| Magellan RoadMate 1700 | $129.99 | Sears | Doorbuster. Giant 7-inch screen |
| Magellan RoadMate 2120T-LM | $30 off | Costco | 4.3-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. |
| Magellan RoadMate 2136-LM | $99.99 | Kmart | Lifetime maps and traffic. |
| Magellan RoadMate 2145-LM | $99.99 | BJ's | Lifetime maps and traffic. |
| Magellan RoadMate 3030-LM | $99.99 | Office Depot | Large 4.7-inch screen, lifetime maps |
| Magellan Roadmate 3120 | $69.00 | Walmart | Doorbuster. Large 4.7-inch screen. |
| Magellan RoadMate 5045LTM | $119.99 | Sears | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps. |
| Magellan RoadMate 5045LTM | $119.99 | Amazon | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps. |
| TomTom 550TM | $89.99 | Kmart | Lifetime maps and traffic. |
| TomTom 1505T | $109.99 | Office Max | Large 5-inch screen, traffic |
| TomTom Via 1505M | $89.00 | Target | Doorbuster. Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps. |
| TomTom Via 1505TM | $119.99 | Staples | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. |
| TomTom 1530TM | $55 off | Costco | Large 5-inch screen, traffic. Bluetooth. |
| TomTom Via 1530TM | $119.99 | BJ's | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. |
| TomTom Via 1535TM | <$130 | Amazon | Large 5-inch screen, traffic, voice recognition |
| TomTom Via 1535TM | $119.99 | Best Buy | Large 5-inch screen, traffic, voice recognition. |
| TomTom Go Live 1535M | $179.99 | Best Buy | Large 5-inch screen, HD traffic, connected services. |
| TomTom XL 350M | $85.00 | Meijer | Doorbuster. Lifetime maps. |
| TomTom XL 350M | $89.99 | Office Max | Lifetime maps. |
| TomTom XXL 540S | $89.99 | Amazon | Large 5-inch screen. |
| TomTom XXL 540M | $99.99 | Amazon | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps. |
| TomTom XXL 550T | $89.99 | Office Depot | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime traffic. |
| TomTom XXL 550T | 119.99 | Office Depot | Large 5-inch screen, lifetime maps and traffic. |
| TomTom XXL 550TM | 99.99 | Radio Shack | Doorbuster. Large 5-inch scren, lifetime traffic, maps. |
In addition to the deals highlighted above, ConsumerReports.org has a Price & Shop function tied in with most electronics ratings that allows you to move right from reviewing test results to checking the prices online and even buying the product. This service is offered in partnership with PriceGrabber.com, providing an ad-free user experience. Retailers cannot pay for top placement in our safe-shopping environment, so consumers looking to buy GPS, can be assured that their shopping search results will be listed by price from lowest to highest to ensure a good shopping experience. Featured retailers meet certain customer service standards, and there are retailer ratings to guide you to the best prices from trusted retailers.
—Jeff Bartlett
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