LG LN735 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Review
I recently purchased the LN735 after comparing features with other brands (Garmin, TomTom, etc), and this was the only one I could find that had both U.S. AND Canada maps loaded (at this price) AND spoken street names AND SiRFstar III satellite navigation AND a touchscreen. Admittedly, this is my first GPS, but I am no stranger to computers and consumer electronics. I didn't buy the LN740 only because I really didn't need the larger display, nor the traffic calculation option/service. To be honest, I didn't need the MP3 player or picture viewer either, though I guess they are nice options for people who want them...
Just to address some of the other comments made about this unit, I have not experienced any of the software bugs mentioned in regard to navigation, though I did sync the unit up to my computer when I first got it and I reloaded the maps myself (but I have no idea if that made any kind of a difference). I took this unit from Connecticut to Canada (and back again), and had no problems with it. I lent it to my parents while we were in Canada so they could find a tavern in Toronto they were meeting friends at, and it got them there and back with absolutely no problems. I haven't experienced problems with volume or road noise either. I actually ended up turning the volume down all the way for most of my long trip because I didn't need the spoken directions, but when I did have it on, I could hear the voice commands no problem. I suppose some folks just happen to drive very noisy vehicles.
If there was anything I could change, it might be to add the ability to program in a specific route from origin to destination (which I assume that higher-end GPS's might allow) but the unit does allow you to exclude selected roads from your route, and it also quickly recalculates on-the-fly as you take different roads than those recommended, so its not like such an addition would be necessary, and just to address another comment someone made about how the unit chooses which roads to take, you cna switch between "fastest" route calculation and "shortest" route calculation, so it may have been a matter of simply choosing the other option in that case.
When I do go to Canada, I happen to take the same route every time, but there are a few exits that are easy to miss. Having the GPS made it much easier to determine where I was at any time and what the roads around me were. Knowing that if I take a wrong turn I won't get lost makes the driving much easier. What also helps is the strong SiRFstar III satellite connection. The instructions that come with the GPS recommend having the unit on the windshield or dash, and possibly to get an external antenna if one's heat-blocking windows interfere with the signal. Well, my Acura's heat-blocking windows didn't seem to affect the signal at all, and I also had the unit down in my front cup-holder (not recommended for safety reasons, by the way), and the signal was as strong as I could want it to be. Depending on satellite alignment at any given time, you *might* have to re-acquire a good signal when you first turn the unit on, but that's to be expected, and is no fault of the GPS itself.
I also found the "night mode" for the display extremely helpful, since in regular mode the display can mess with your night vision a bit.
If I had to suggest any "improvements" LG might make, it would be to remember one's display and volume settings, etc, and to skip the disclaimer that comes up whenever the unit is powered on. But these are minor annoyances, and given how much I paid for the unit, it's hard to complain.
Anyway, the touchscreen is easy to use, as are the buttons, the menus are simple enough to figure out and navigate, and its nice to be able to change the size of street names. The information on-screen while driving was complete (complete enough for me, anyway), and the compass heading was handy (but expected). Battery life only really matters when you don't have the unit attached via car lighter adapter to your vehicle's DC power, and most people don't purchase this kind of GPS for extended walking around anyway, so 3 hours' battery life seems adequate to me.
In all, I feel that I got a great deal for the money I paid, and I haven't experienced any of the problems others have complained about--if I had, I would have followed up with the warranty service, or at least tried exchanging the unit for another; ANY product is susceptible to a lemon here or there. So far, I haven't had any problems with any of the LG products I've puchased. So, take that for what it's worth.
LG LN735 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Feature
- 3.5-inch touch-screen LCD color display with 320 x 240 pixels of resolution, selectable 2D/3D maps, and day/night views
- Turn-by-turn voice guidance with 16 different language options and street-name announcements, and complete maps of North America
- Includes millions of POIs, text-to-speech, an MP3 music player, and a photo viewer with slideshow functionality
- Highly-accurate SiRF Star III GPS receiver, internal lithium-ion battery, 1 GB flash memory, and an SD card slot
- Weighs 0.35 pounds, measures 4.3 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches (W x H x D), and is backed by a manufacturer's 1-year warranty
LG LN735 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Overview
3.5" TFT LCD PND, Slim and Compact Design, >3hr Battery Life, Text to Speech, 2GB Built in Flash Memory, 7M POIs, Pre-loaded US & Canada MAP
LG LN735 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator Specifications
Amazon.com Product Description The LG LN735 Portable Navigation Device is the mid-range model in LGsline of automobile navigators. It is highly portable, coming in at less than 0.8 inches wide, but with all the functionality you need to get you where you are going in the best possible fashion, the LN735 not only provides you with accurate GPS navigation, but includes convenience features that make your trip more enjoyable as well.
The LN735's bigger sibling, the LN740, features a lightly larger 4-inch screen and real-time traffic data capability. You can see a comparison of features of all three LG GPS models below.
 The LG LN735 features a brilliant 3.5-inch touch-screen, and selectable 2D and 3D maps that are easy to read. View larger. |
 The turn-by-turn voice guidance system is pre-loaded with a map of North America. |
 The navigator includes up to 1.7 million POI's (points of interest). |
Pre-loaded with complete maps of the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Canada, the LN735 comes ready for you to travel throughout North America right out of the box. This navigator even includes millions of POIs (points of interest) so you can quickly find restaurants, gas stations, airports, hotels, ATMs, and other important nearby services, and instantly route to them with a simple tap on the screen, giving you local expertise at your fingertips. And while you are getting there, the LN735 provides you with speed indication, estimated time of arrival, and distance to your destination. This unit also provides you with a multi-stop planner, detour options, fastest and shortest routing options, and an automatic route recalculation, as well as vehicle and pedestrian navigation modes so you can take it with you when you are out of the car and walking the last stretch.
More than just a convenient navigation device, the LN735 has a built-in MP3 music player so you can take all your favorite songs with you to listen to on the road. What's more, this unit includes a photo viewer that allows you to bring you family photos with you, or view your favorite pictures from the trip while you are still on vacation, and even play them as a digital slide-show while travel. The music player accepts both MP3 and WMA digital music formats, while the photo viewer can display either JPEG or BMP digital pictures. And though the controls and menu system are extremely simple and intuitive, if you need a bit of assistance, this unit provides a handy on-screen help system.
The LN735 achieves fast, and highly accurate mapping with a strong signal reception via its SiRF Star III GPS receiver, and provides you with up to four hours of use from its rechargeable, internal lithium-ion battery. The LN735 comes with 2 GB of internal flash memory for storing maps, POIs, MP3s, and photos, as well as including an SD card slot for unlimited memory expansion and a USB port for fast data transfers from your PC. The stylish black-on-black LG LN735 navigation device weighs only 0.35 pounds, measures just 4.3 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches (W x H x D), and is backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
LG LN735 portable navigator, a windshield mount, a dashboard mount disc, a 12-volt car power adapter, a home AC power adapter, a carrying case, a USB cable, a back-up map CD, a back-up installation CD, a quick-start guide, a user's manual CD and warranty information.
Compare all LG Portable GPS Navigators
| Model | LN740 | LN735 | LN730 |
| Screen Size and Type | 4-inch touchscreen LCD | 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD | 3.5-inch touchscreen LCD |
| Preloaded Map Coverage | US/Canada/Puerto Rico | US/Canada/Puerto Rico | US/Canada |
| Preloaded Points of Interest | Millions | Millions | Up to 1.7 Million |
| Traffic Capability | yes, (90 Day Free Trial) | no | no |
| Color | Glossy Black/Black | Glossy Black/Black | Silver/Black |
| Estimated Time of Arrival | · | · | · |
| Distance to Destination | · | · | · |
| Multi-Stop Planner | · | · | · |
| Detour Options | 0.1/0.3/1/2 Mile Detours | 0.1/0.3/1/2 Mile Detours | 0.1/0.3/1/2 Mile Detours |
| Turn-by-Turn Voice Guidance | 16 Language Options | 16 Language Options | 16 Language Options |
| Speed Indicator | · | · | · |
| Fastest Route/Shortest Route Options | · | · | · |
| Auto Route Recalculate | · | · | · |
| Navigation Modes | Vehicle/Pedestrian | Vehicle/Pedestrian | Vehicle/Pedestrian |
| Text-to-Speech Voice Guidance | English/Spanish/French | English/Spanish/French | |
| Memory Type | Internal Flash | Internal Flash | Internal Flash |
| GPS Positioning | SiRFstarIII | SiRFstarIII | SiRFstarIII |
| Memory Capacity | 2GB | 2GB | 1GB |
| Battery Life | Up to 6 Hours | Up to 4 Hours | Up to 4 Hours |
| Battery Type | Internal Li-Ion | Internal Li-Ion | Internal Li-Ion |
| Music Playback | MP3/WMA | MP3/WMA | MP3/WMA |
| Photo Viewer | JPEG/BMP | JPEG/BMP | JPEG/BMP |
| SD Card Slot | · | · | · |
| USB Port | · | · | · |
| FM RDS-TMC Traffic Antenna Jack | · | ||
| Main Unit Dimensions (W x H x D) | 4.5" x 3.5" x 0.7" | 4.3" x 3.2" x 0.7" | 4.3" x 3.2" x 0.7" |
| Main Unit Weight | 0.44 lbs | 0.35 lbs | 0.35 lbs |
| Dimensions w/Packaging (W x H x D) | 8" x 5" x 5" | 8" x 5" x 5" | 8" x 5" x 5" |
| Warranty | 1 Year Parts/90 Days Labor | 1 Year Parts/90 Days Labor | 1 Year Parts/90 Days Labor |
| Day/Night Mode Switching | Manual/Auto | Manual | Manual |
| Speaker Type | Mono | Mono | Mono |
| Screen Resolution | 320 x 240 | 320 x 240 | 320 x 240 |
| Colors | 260K | 260K | 260K |
| Map View Options | 2D/3D/Day/Night | 2D/3D/Day/Night | 2D/3D/Day/Night |
| Auto Zoom | · | · | · |
| On-Screen Help | · | · | · |
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*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 18, 2010 12:48:03
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