Garmin nuvi 7x0 series vs. 7x5 series...

I can't address your question regarding the 7x5 and 7x0 series directly, but I can say I've never been as disappointed then when I went from my wife's Nuvi 350 she purchased from Amazon for $100 and my Street Pilot 550c to a Nuvi 775T.

The detail was so poor I thought it was broken, after I found it was designed that way I just felt ripped off.

Buying a Garmin requires that the consumer be informed. Absolutely no assumptions regarding price, models, or assumed inclusions or improvements can ever be made.

Garmin makes it their business to confuse and constantly rearrange, remove and fool the consumer. One example is Garmin's pointed refusal to actually offer a flagship model at any price. You can buy "the most expensive model" - but you can never buy the a model that offers all features, "for what one hand giveth, another shall taketh away", so sayeth the Garmin marketing department manipulation artists.

I have a Nuvi 750
Love It!!!
I would think that if you wanted bluetooth you would want the xx5. I think that is the difference, not sure.

All these things you mentioned are just stuff. The unit you want is the one that takes you where you want to go and does what you want it to do.
I want a MP3 player for tour guides, has routes, a place to put photos of my grandkids, and a SD card.

Make a list of what you want and see which one has the most of these. That is what I did when I bought mine and I love it.

I agree in some sense. When the 7X5's came out and i looked at buying one of them, comparing them side by side i noticed the only hardware difference was that 2 of them had blue tooth, one didn't. Price wise there was a huge difference between the 2 bottom ones and the top one. All i saw, is that garmin added Europe maps to the 775t for a whopping 200 bucks more.

I just went from a 750 to the 765T from Costco also and am loving it. I feel there are a considerable amount of improvements over the 7XX series (my opinion). I guess it just depends on what you were previously used to and what you expect from a $250 GPS. I don't find any issues personally with the way it operates. I don't use it every time I am in the car and that may make a difference.

and use it virtually every time I'm in the car, either for routing and/or hands free phone calls, MP3 playback. Don't feel compelled to upgrade yet.

Agreed,,,,have the 760 2 yrs now, super great & useful unit! It never really had any problems that weren't caused and later corrected due to Garmin faulty upgrades. I'm still on 4.80 afraid of the 490 software upgrade thats been a topic.

To clarify a few things:

• The 4.90 software on my 7x0 works just fine!

• Some of the responses here are misinformed:

To Mgarledge & Speed2, bluetooth has nothing to do with 7x0 vs 7x5. If the middle digit is above 5, it has bluetooth: 660, 760, 765, 780, etc. Furthermore, If the middle number is 8 (680, 780, 785, etc.) it means it includes the MSN Direct receiver instead of traffic receiver, and (to Speed2) a middle 7 (670, 670, 675, etc.) means it includes both U.S. and Europe maps. There is a specific methodology to Garmin's model numbers, but the extras it comes with has nothing to do with what it's compatible with, just what you get with the unit (like if it has a "T" at the end it has free lifetime traffic).

• My main beef with the 765T is slightly less detail and one zoom level less close (and the strange issue I mentioned where the map is blank when returning BACK from 2D temporary view), which is likely a software glitch.

...jombl2, I completely agree with your post!

To cagpsfan, I like my 7x0 too, but was wondering if you had experienced any of the 7x5's.

To farrissr, I'm curious; what is it you like about the 7x0 over the 7x5 specifically? The bluetooth is not an issue as that is the middle digit and you happened to by the bluetooth version with a middle 6 in the 7x5 but not in the 7x0.

For what it's worth, I bought both units for $250 so price difference is not the issue (and the lifetime traffic and maps works with the 780 too).

I wanted to update my map ....The lifetime maps would have cost me approximately $90 so I figured for another $150 I would get the lifetime maps, lifetime Traffic, blue-tooth and several other new things on the 765T. I like the setup of the screen much better also. I am a bell and whistle guy and didn't do it originally and I like all the bells and whistles on the 765T. Just tried the blue-tooth out calling home and it works great and sounds pretty darn good.

By the way mine also has the blank screen when returning from 2D although not all the time (sporadic). I very rarely use the 2D screen so it really doesn't bother me. I am going to let Garmin know though.

I had a 760 which I loved, bought a 765T From Costco as well, and sold the 760. BAD MOVE. I wish I still had my 760, it was flawless. The 765T has some nice improvements sure, but the bluetooth is unusable, and the screen has a mind of its own, when you press it. I repeatedly enter the wrong password with the Garmin Lock, because of it, and it drives me batty. Those 2 features alone, make me wish I'd kept my old unit. Nothing worse than trying to talk, when no one can hear you, or pressing 1 and 8 pops up on the screen. UGH!

Farrissr, if I understand correctly it is the bluetooth and lifetime maps you like with the 765, but that is available with the 760, etc. Any 750 or 755 does not have bluetooth, so the middle digit of the model number is not a factor. Is there anything with the reliability or operation that you liked better that is specific to the 7x5 over the 7x0?

The blank screen is a little annoying for me, because I do switch to 2D because that is the only way you can control the map to browse around, to quickly glance at areas you are not in or nearby yet at the moment. After starting this post today, I ran errands with both my 780 and 765. The 765 routed me much more sensibly using the custom routes, but it turned off and rebooted by itself a couple times for no obvious reason. Both gave me my traffic cam alerts at the same time (POI Factory) but for some reason, even though I created and copied over the same poi.gpi file to both units, there were no visual or audio alerts for them on the 765, while the 780 alerted all normally. That seems strange.

Fluxuated, I don't use bluetooth on my nuvi for phone calls at the moment nor the Garmin lock feature, so I can't speak to any of those issues. Other than those, you say the screen response is more unreliable? Anything else?

Right now I am torn... I don't want to regret my choice, but seeing as I can get a full refund, I can't afford to keep both. Will need more trial and error (and comparison & contrast) I guess!

I had a nuvi 750 until our car was broken into about a month ago and it was stolen. I replaced it with a 755T and was surprised by the difference. I think the 7x5 series does a MUCH better job locking into satellites and I really like the lane assist (esp for those pesky left-side freeway exits.)

What has been discussed here many times are some of the differences between the XX0 and XX5 models. The major point being naming any upcoming cross street. Due to an infringement lawsuit, Garmin dropped displaying the name of upcoming cross streets in the info bar at the top of the display with units ending in 5. That one change seems to be the biggest complaint from users that have both XX0 and XX5 units.

People keep saying that it was due to an infringing patent, yet there is no corroborating information that I can find . . .

If indeed it was due to that, then recent firmware updates to older units would remove the feature - and the patents in the 'Kenwood sues' reference that most people seem to point to has nothing to do with the feature.

In fact, upcoming cross streets and exits are announced on the XX5 units when travelling on limited access highways.

However the two main points by which the 7x0 beats out the 7x5 are indeed the elimination of the upcoming cross street announcements in the banner and the reduction in maximum screen detail that were both first seen in the Nuvi xx5 releases.

My information is based on a news report which i saw several months ago and can now find no reference to. So corroborating evidence is hard to produce. I believe the story was covering a European patent so it may not show in the US/Canadian files.

Not necessarily, the injunction could be for units produced after a date which grandfather's the older units. My old Nuvi 200 (which my daughter uses) still shows upcoming cross streets while my 885 doesn't.

Upcoming exit information has always been shown, but it is the change to surface street info that is the issue. Driving on Main street used to show the names of the upcoming cross street, now it only shows the name of the street where the next turn is if routing or just the name of the street you are on.

The disappearing map detail is an issue I fight with also. The amount of detail is tied to autozoom so as the unit starts to zoom out, you get less detail. Driving on secondary roads where the speed limits can be above 50 is an issue. You don't see upcoming streets so what appears to be a clear route may actually have hidden cross streets where traffic may be entering.

I guess it is up to each one of us which they like better. Unfortunately there will never be the perfect unit to please everyone. By the way I did forget to mention in my previous posts the acquisition time of locking satellites is twice as fast with the 765.

I really like my 765 but I still have screen touch issues. I am on my third unit and it still exists. I can work with this unit but it would drive my wife crazy. I will keep it – because by now I think that this is the best that Garmin can do!

I also have a 660 that is great.

When comparing yesterday on the road, the 7x0 read "Left on Elm St" in the top banner while the 7x5 just said "Elm St", both signifying my next road. I don't think they show the names of the cross streets in the info bar as you pass them if that's what you mean, just on the map.

But, even holding my 7x0 and 7x5 side-by-side when not driving at home and zooming at the same levels on the same map on each, the 7x0 goes one step closer (80ft) than the 7x5's closest (120ft). Also, the 7x0 has five detail levels you can choose (least, less, normal, more, most) while the 7x5 only has three (low, normal, high). "High" on the 7x5 is equivalent to "More" on the 7x0, but nothing on the 7x5 is as detailed as "Most" on the 7x0. Also, street names and poi's show up one or two zoom levels before they do on the 7x5.

I hear the comment frequently that ther older 7x0 series show more details on the maps.

Oh okay then... I was indeed using the route feature on both to compare (both gave me very different routes for the exact same destinations!).

I do like what the unlock code does on the nuvi's though, showing the road you are currently traveling on in the center strip at the bottom banner.

What do you mean by unlock code? My 750 does not show the road you are on at the bottom. It showes the road you are on at the top and if following a route it showes the next turn at the top, but nothing at the center bottom.

I now have a list of all the Pros and Cons about both units, and am really trying to decide if I should return it for a refund or not (I don't need and can't afford to keep both). There are some bugs in the 765T software (hard to get it into charging battery mode and when you do it soon starts up again; problems entering text with letters being doubled or wrong letters registering; blank screen sometimes going from 2D temporary view BACK to 3D, etc.)

nuvi 780 Pros:
• No bugs in software as with minor ones mentioned above in 765T (could fix this though)
• Zoomed in roads are not so fat that they bleed into each other as on the 765T, which draws them slightly thicker
• Five levels of detail, including "Most" which is higher than highest of the only three levels on 765T (and slightly better detail on minor streets and street names in general one or two zoom levels earlier than 765T)
• Slightly louder built-in speaker, and no static sound when connecting headset jack to car stereo, as with 765T
• Zooms in one level closer to 80ft. vs. max 120ft. on 765T

nuvi 765T Pros:
• Lane assist with turn rd. & direction shown together, and current speed shown on main screen
• Jct. View & 3D buildings (nice, but more aesthetic and fun than crucial)
• Zooms out 2 levels futher than 780, and shows entire rotatable globe with more realistic topographic detail at farther zoom levels (kind of nice)
• 1000 Favorites capacity instead of 500 (nice but not a big deal)
• Eco-Route (not a big deal I don't think; haven't used it)
• Slightly larger & easier to discern POI icons with "cartoon bubble" pop-ups, which I do like (as a trade-off to save space, labels for your Favorites are no longer shown unless you select them on the map)
• Able to categorize Favorites (not a big deal)
• Able to rotate North and tilt map in 2D view (kind of nice to be able to maneuver in 2D or 3D, now that you can no longer move map around in normal map or 3D view as I believe you could with the 600 series)

I agree with this. My 755T locks much, much fast than the 750 ever did. I do miss the cross streets in the top banner but overall I feel like this is a better unit.

I hear you farrissr, but the software bugs I mentioned in the 765 are nothing to dismiss when the 780 works fine. Also, mine both acquire satellites about the same time, so not sure if what you're referring to is really a model-to-model issue or just an individual & circumstantial one. I basically just need to look at both lists of "Pros" and see which comes out ahead.

According to my comparison list above, which Pros do you guys think sound more favorable? I would appreciate the feedback to help me make my decision, thanks!

would be the deciding factor for me. Although I wish there was better coverage, it is improving with map updates and I would not want to give up that feature.

Well that is a nice extra, but bells & whistles seem secondary to software that is buggy. What is there needs to work correctly before worrying about add-ons. Also, the extra detail is something you're giving up from the to 7x0 to 7x5. The satellite issue is not present in my two units.

I was told today there is a fix coming out shortly to fix some of the issues on the 765T. One to two weeks I was told. Don't know if that helps or not and will have to wait to see the fixes in the update.

Did they thank you when you talked to them, after telling you a fix was coming? It should have been something like this, Thanks for being a Garmin Beta Firmware tester, after reviewing customer complaints we have decided to start work on a fix, we will have it ready soon. Please report any bugs in the fix after we have enough complaints we will begin work on the next one. Again thanks for being a Garmin Beta Firmware tester.

If they can fix the minor bugs then the only thing that bugs me is the detail level on the 765T. Usually you can get to the same detail eventually by zooming in, but there are a lot of views that even close, don't show street names or seem blank, while they are labeled on the 780.

I know exactly what your saying, Who wants to drive at a zoom level of a football field (300ft) and still have a crappy screen. It's been one of my pet peeves that Garmin displays just don't have the resolution to do the job, or give you the option of a sort routine for what we want displayed.

Bluetooth on the Motorola equipped units (xx5) is terrible compared with the extremely stable Parrot chipset used in the xx0 series units.

That alone is reason enough to stick with the 'older' series, in my opinion.

However they have almost decent resolution, but while the xx0 does, the xx5 models don't take advantage of it.

Then again, my opinion on screen detail (and displaying upcoming cross streets in the banner box) are already known.

I have a 760 in my car and I will not be upgrading it unless Garmin fixes that. It really bothers me that my Zumo 660 doesn't show me any secondary roads when zoomed out any farther than 500 meters (which shows all of 3 miles of road - useless to a biker in a rural environment). While the 7x0 does show them to 1.2km I'd prefer to be able to go out one step farther, but that'll do for now.

I don't need Lane Assist and I have lifetime traffic without ads because I have a GTM-20 that came from someone who replaced their unit with another and had a spare.

However if it is a quality display you want, then check out the GPSMAP 378c for an example of what they could do if they weanted to.

Sounds to me and from all your posts you should stick to the 780 unit. Why would you want or be interested in an inferior product like the 765T?

The 7x0 series also shows waypoint/favorite names (along with their respective icon) on the moving map screen. The 7x5 series will only show the icon and not the name.

Well, like I said... the things listed under "Pros" for each are favorable or at least added bonuses. I guess it just depends if you like the Pros I listed under the 780 or the 765T more. It is like 50-50 for me right now, as I do like the little extras such as Lane Assist, 3D buildings & Jct. View (was fooling around with them at home looking at famous structures & landmarks), the more discernable POI icons (larger but without the label until you tap it), speed displaying on main screen, ability to rotate and go from ground view to bird's eye view in map maneuver mode, etc. This is a toughy, but I hope I'll figure out something soon that is the deal breaker for me with one or the other.

Right, that's what I said in my Pros & Cons post up on this page: • Slightly larger & easier to discern POI icons with "cartoon bubble" pop-ups, which I do like (as a trade-off to save space, labels for your Favorites are no longer shown unless you select them on the map)

I have pretty much decided to return my new 765T to Costco for a full cash refund and stick with my 780 (I will still have the lifetime maps & traffic either way). The main advantage was mostly graphical improvement: slightly larger & more discernible favorites icons, freeways signs, 3D building renderings, topography at far levels, virtual global Earth at furthest levels and rotating 3D (& switching from 2D) in maneuverable map mode, etc. Those were all nice, but the extra map detail & zoom level, slightly louder volume & lack of static hiss when connecting audio out jack to stereo, and error-free text selection vs. 765T are more important for functionality overall in my opinion. Not to mention, all those enhanced graphical features is the whole reason why there is less map detail provided, especially when zoomed further out.

That's a shame, but it does point to an interesting Garmin phenom, all Garmin models are great units - differences are largely incremental.

Because of this, and the long-term usefulness of its core functionality, upgrading seems to take at least a couple of generations before the benefits seem undeniable or obvious. (note that individually a new feature may be to some the "killer app" that requires an immediate upgrade)

So what next? A test run of one of the newer 4 digit named models?

I want to save this to my recent posts.

Right before returning my 765T Tuesday I noticed that the custom animated vehicle icons do NOT animate on the 7x0 series (hawk wings don't flap, shoes don't walk, balls don't roll, etc.). Again, that is a graphics/cosmetic issue though.

Just personal preference but I have absolutely no need for these animated custom vehicles as I use the default blue arrow which takes up minimal space on the map screen while still serving it's intended purpose

Was just saying I noticed that the 7x0 graphics cannot display animation. I didn't realize it until I installed the new icons I had on my 765T on my 780. But if you use a standard vehicle or arrow, etc. it doesn't matter. I kind of thought the rolling soccer ball and beach ball (and flapping hawk) were fun though.

Yes, I believe the animated vehicles will only be animated on xx5 & 1xxx series units (and above).

We use 750s and 760s on our trucks at work and I have a 765T. I feel the 765T is the better unit (albeit there are some quirks with the 765T that are sometimes irritating: ie- sometimes touch screen issues; poor Bluetooth performance). I have no knowledge of the 780, so I can't speak to that one.

The 780 is the same GPS unit as the 760 except it comes with an MSN Direct receiver (GDB 50) instead of the 760's GTM FM Traffic receiver (GTM 20)

and remember that MSN is out the door on Jan. 1 2012

Aside from the MSN fiasco, the 780s that I purchased (4) have been rock solid with no issues (other than NavTeq maps being BRUTAL).