The Go Essential is the mid-range sat-nav of TomTom. Accessible either with a 6-inch screen or as a 5-inch model, it offers a wide range of features including Wi-Fi upgrades, lifetime traffic services and lifetime map updates. You even get hands-free help for your mobile. The Go Essential comes with a USB cable, a separate 12v single-port (cigar lighter) adapter, and a screen install.
Check out the latest price for the TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Essential (1PN6.002.10)
Specs:
Accessories: Antenna, Maps
Controls: Touch Screen
Memory Type: MicroSD
Included Memory: 16384 MB
Colour Display: Yes
Display Resolution: 800×480
Display Size (inch): 6.0 inches
Touch Screen: Yes
Benefits:
- You’ll need to set up your sat-nav before heading out. Connect it to a USB charger, and it will turn on, and the GPS will connect you to your wireless network, and then to your smartphone via Bluetooth. If you don’t have a TomTom account, you will be prompted to set up one.
- Incredibly, there are no PC apps to think about. You’ll need to install TomTom’s MyDrive software on your Apple or Android smartphone.
- The app provides some decent functionality, allowing you to check for destinations and send them to your sat-nav in advance. You can use it to schedule routes, set up road trips from the TomTom group, or quickly find the addresses of your contacts.
Downsides:
- Often, the phone and sat-nav seemed reluctant to connect without manual intervention. At other times, despite the Bluetooth link and the data signal on the phone, there is no MyDrive or traffic service availability.
- Although map and speed camera updates are handled via Wi-Fi, Go Essential does not have a built-in SIM card, so it depends on a linked smartphone running MyDrive for traffic updates.
- Traffic depends on your mobile link.
- Smartphone link seemed to be problematic.
Verdict:
TomTom Go Essential is an excellent sat-nav, but if you have a smartphone, why not use the app?
Check out the latest price for the TomTom Car Sat Nav GO Essential (1PN6.002.10)