One of the biggest challenges every GPS device manufacture faces is convincing GPS device users to upgrade from an older device or a smartphone. People who have invested in reasonably priced GPS devices with both lifetime map updates and traffic monitoring may not see the need to go for something like the devices in the Garmin nuvi 2015 Essential Line. The Garmin nuvi 2589LMT begs to differ by providing plenty of reasons to upgrade and could give similarly priced competitors a run for their money.
Design
The Garmin nuvi 2589LMT has a basic design that resembles a small tablet and it should blend in with any vehicle nicely. The main focus is the 5-inch display with 480×272 resolution. That is way below HD level but you don’t need those extra pixels to view maps and you definitely won’t be watching movies with this. What matters most is that the display is bright and can easily be read during the day.
Features
The Garmin nuvi 2589LMT is part of the 2014 Advanced series and the voice-activated navigation pretty much sums up the extra premium that you will get from this device. Setting up this feature is easy as there is a dedicated Voice Control app in the apps section. From there, you follow the instructions and learn the special command that you can say to bring up the voice control feature any time you like. Once the voice control screen appears, you can either issue the suggested commands or try your own as long as the same meaning is implied. The nuvi 2589LMT does a fantastic job in understanding natural language. Plus, the device understands popular places like “McDonald’s” or you can say something more generic like “airport”. Even if you are not used to talking to a device, it is a great feature to have as it lets you plan routes while keeping both hands on the wheel.
Previous Garmin nuvi devices had voice navigation too but in that apps section lies an app that should be familiar to a lot of smartphone users – Foursquare. The Foursquare interface isn’t as polished as the smartphone app but it works well and you don’t have to be connected to the Internet. You just search for the name of the place or a category and you should get a wealth of results. Foursquare is best for discovering popular places in unknown areas. Unlike Garmin’s recently announced 2015 devices in the Essential Line, you can also use the Smartphone Link feature to log into your Foursquare account and check in an area directly from the Garmin nuvi 2589LMT.
The Smartphone Link feature opens a lot more functionality, too. To unlock these features, you must first download the free Garmin Smartphone Link app to your iOS or Android device. The app establishes a special connection to the nuvi 2589LMT via Bluetooth and provides its own touch-friendly interface. You can search the Foursquare database or you can send contacts and addresses directly to the GPS device. Your mobile device’s active Internet connection can also tap into Garmin Live Services to provide real-time information to the Garmin nuvi 2589LMT including local weather and traffic stats.
If your smartphone doesn’t support the Smartphone Link app or you use a more basic feature phone with Bluetooth functionality, you can still use the nuvi 2589LMT as a hands-free device. A neat thing about this feature is that the calling interface only takes up a third of the screen. This could be useful if you need to engage in an important conversation while still being able to see the map.
Listening to the turn-by-turn instructions issued by the Garmin nuvi 2589LMT can be just as cool as the voice activation. Thanks to the Garmin Real Directions technology, the device knows how to use recognizable landmarks and traffic lights as a reference when a direction is given. This could eliminate those stressful situations that occur when a GPS device utters an unfamiliar street name and you have to look at the map to find it. The nuvi 2589LMT is also powered by Direct Access, which enables the device to pinpoint certain locations in larger places like malls and airports.
The other trademark features that made past Garmin devices great are still present in the Garmin nuvi 2589LMT. This includes the Active Lane Guidance, Bird’s Eye junction view, photoReal Junction View, Up Ahead and free lifetime maps and traffic updates. It is also compatible with the recently released BC 30 Wireless Backup Camera. After installing this rugged $169.99 accessory to your car, you can see nice rear view on the 5-inch display whenever you put your vehicle in reverse.
Bottom Line
The Garmin nuvi 2589LMT is priced at $229.99, which is simply a fantastic deal given all the new improvements. It is even cheaper than the Garmin nuvi 2559LMT which lacks the voice activation. As long as you don’t need any map coverage in Europe, the Garmin nuvi 2589LMT is one of the best GPS navigators priced above $200.
Update: You may also consider these newer models :