Garmin Sat Nav Questions

[raybarrow]

Hi Folks,
I'm looking to replace my current Sat Nav, a Garmin from 2012, 4.5inch screen, no updates possible.
I'm OK using my phone app but Mrs B prefers a dedicated device, which is fair enough and to be honest it's more convenient on a long journey.

Looking at one with a bigger screen and probably UK and NI for the maps. I'm unlikely to be driving abroad.
What does 'Lifetime updates' actually mean? I presume it's as long as the device is working and supported by Garmin. Could it be about the available space as update maps presumably are bigger in terms of data.
I notice some devices have a port for a Mini/Micro SD card. What is this for?

Cheers,
Ray.

[fisher]

The SD card slot is for map data. There is map data on the machine's built in storage but you can get more capacity on an SD card for bigger maps.

I think you're right about the lifetime updates but I don't know for sure. I recently bought a 2nd hand Garmin on ebay to replace my old one and it came with 2021 maps on an SD card. In fact, the SD card is all I really needed as my old one worked fine - it was just the maps were out of date.

[AF62]

A sat nav without traffic information is almost pointless, particularly on long journeys.

And the issue with the Garmin sat navs seems to be that if you want traffic information then either you have to connect it to your smartphone - but if you are doing that then why not use a navigation app on your phone - or pay an extraordinarily high price for one that operates without that connection.

[88V8]

I have a TomTom Go 6200. Several years now.
Replaced a Garmin that died.

Lifetime updates by plugging into the computer, 6" screen, traffic without a phone.
It does sometimes send us on magical mystery tours, but don't they all...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394056018188

That example has no mount with it... this type is very good, never falls off https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265682729357

V8

[stooz]

I had a TomTom for years with unlimited updates which is all good until they decide the maps no longer for the device so they can't update it which they did to me.

For the cost I've switched to paying for TomTom on my phone and I've upgraded my phone so it's on a dedicated device for all sense of the word