Garmin Rolls Out 7 New PNDs in the 7x5 and 2x5 Series

Looks like Garmin is yet another company that simply loves to offer its customers a wide array of choices by launching a very large number of products on one occasion. And that's because the manufacturer of personal navigation devices has just announced the imminent release of no less than 7 new PNDs, 4 of which are included in a whole new family (the nuvi 755T, 765T, 775T and 785T, which will form the 7x5 series), while the other 3 (265T, 265WT and 275T) are upgrades to the already existing 2x5 line.

First of all, let's see what the 7x5 series has to offer. Building upon the platform of the previous 700 series, the products from this family have been equipped with a 4.3-inch touchscreen that details upcoming maneuvers and specific driving directions and even displays arrows indicating the proper lane for navigation (actually, this Lane Assist feature is touted as one of the major innovations brought about by this new family of Garmin navigators).

Additionally, in certain specific areas, the devices even generate a 3-D transparent view of buildings, thus helping drivers figure out exactly where they're located. For faster satellite prediction, the nuvi 7x5 includes Garmin’s HotFix feature which automatically calculates and stores critical satellite information.

Beside the aforementioned navigation-related features, the nuvi 755T, 765T and 775T will also be equipped (right out of the box) with a traffic receiver that provides lifetime traffic alerts in coverage areas from NAVTEQ Traffic. Even more, the nuvi 765T also sports a Bluetooth module, supporting hands-free calling, while the nuvi 785T features an MSN Direct receiver with trial subscription that includes updated information about traffic conditions, fuel prices, weather reports, movie listings, headline news, stock quotes and local events.

We're not exactly sure when these products are actually going to arrive in stores around the world (in late Q3 or early Q4, most likely), but we do know that they'll be rather expensive, with suggested retail prices of $500 (the 755T), $600 (the 765T), $800 (the 775T) and $700 (the 785T).

And now, for the second announcement of the day from Garmin, namely the one related to the 2x5 series. In order to further enhance this family of entry level, affordable PNDs, the company has thrown in the mix lifetime traffic alerts from NAVTEQ Traffic (available, with no fees, via the built-in traffic receiver). Moreover, thanks to Bluetooth hands-free connectivity, these nuvis make it possible for drivers to make and receive calls using the unit’s built-in microphone and speaker.

Much in the same way as their bigger brothers from the 7x5 family, all the new models from the 2x5 series include Garmin’s new HotFix feature. However, the size of the display differs in the case of these new nuvis, since they're available in 4.3-inch or 3.5-inch versions that display shaded digital elevation mapping.

The new additions to the 2x5 series are more affordable than their 7x5 counterparts, as they have suggested retail prices of $300 (the 265T), $350 (the 265WT) and $400 (the 275T).


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