Any major benefits to newer models?

The biggest benefit of the Drive 52 is its superior traffic support compared to the 1450. With the 1450 you needed a GTM25 (?) receiver cable and were at the mercy of the FM gods. If you had no reception you had no traffic. With the Drive 52 you connect your smartphone to it using the Garmin Smartphone Link app. The smartphone uses its cellular data and beams traffic information to the Drive 52 using Bluetooth.

Other than that feature, you do have or should have both FourSquare and TripAdvisor on the Drive 52, which expands on Garmin's address database. When you step up to the DriveSmart series you do get some other niceties such as 3D buildings and Alexa integration. but they aren't absolutely necessary.

that's really going back in time. They can be so slow booting up compared to a contemporary model.

The one "new" feature that really impresses me is the WIFI connectivity when updating maps. It is blazing fast to download a map update and super-simple.

The newer units have far more categorizing abilities and the way you can group stuff to your liking. That's nice and some will find it useful. As Stephon notes, the traffic functionality is superior now. There's the Smartphone link on the newer units, that's kind of nice. Then there are apps like TripAdvisor and Foursquare, should you need them. The huge display on something like the DS61 will be much appreciated by someone with tired, old eyes...like me!

One of the features I like on some newer GPS models is the powered magnetic mount. Makes it a snap to mount & dismount the unit, or even move it between vehicles. No plugging & unplugging necessary.

Unfortunately, the Drive 52 lacks this feature.

Thanks everyone, I suppose most of the major features involve Internet connectivity which is one of the things I'm trying to avoid by having a standalone Garmin unit (as opposed to using a smartphone, etc.)

Which one?

The only ones I know that supported that was the driveluxe 50 and 51. Which are from the 2015's or so.

The RV890 I have is a newer model with a powered mag mount:

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/705997#specs

It comes in 6.5, 8 and 10" sizes. It's designed for RV use but works fine for cars as well.

Other models are listed here:

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/695708#devices

Some are discontinued but still available.

Since they are designed for truck or RV use, they are a bit more expensive but you may be able to save $$ if you look for refurbs or used units on eBay.

All new Garmin units connect to your smartphone for various features. Basic navigation is not one of them. Just don't use the app if all you want is basic navigation.

Oh, and before I forget the Foursquare and TripAdvisor databases do not require a data connection. Garmin updates them when the maps are updated.

Bravo and gotta agreed with ya!

Trust me new units more features but data needed is ONLY downhill of it's functions.

I do have lot of Garmin since decade and so up to last 76.

All new units have some features but less functional under my view of points

Such as traffic, my old unit still be functional without data needed while new unit such 65 or 76 need data via phone.

My old Garmin don't need data to see the temperature and other digital traffic in my area, just plug and go, but new unit need to have data to show them. It's very frustrating at first time when I got it.

Imaging old Garmin can have traffic and temperature information just plugin cable when you're at nowhere without Internet or Phone reception, then with new unit, it's like a stone without Internet reception.

Foursquare and Tripadvisor, trust me, it's just a mimic option, not really helpful at all. At first, love it then I found out Foursquare no more or less update; maybe they don't get money from it anymore because lot of POI in the past with Foursquare still open the store but the new update did remove them; then I need to re-import POI again and again.

Tripadvisor is a nice features but it tends to push you to the place they like, not we like. Many restaurants or hotels we love they finally don't pick them, that's frustrated at first for sure if you are people like me. Then it won't help you most of it. Of course it will help some newbies on the route but for people loving freedom on the route, then it's another stories to tell.

Same as the price of gas, I did test new features with data from phone and real life, not all you think about, just another stories to tell.

In general, all new features are nice but in real life for us, not really to bring this or changing our life a lot.

Just one small feature that Garmin never did such as capturing the speed or stop then displaying on the GPS directly, without updating POI Safety, such as new car has this function now, that's a missing function list to me.

Lot of things but I hope I do have more time to reconsider it or not!

Have a good time folks!

This info is very helpful.

I have trouble sometimes understanding what you are attempting to convey. For example what you've written about "capturing the speed or stop from displaying on the GPS directly."

Either I'm misunderstanding what you are trying to convey or ??? because my nuvi 2689 does display speed and speed limit.

I might add that my 2022 vehicle, as you point out displays the same information but it is less reliable than the GPS. That is because I live near Pennsylvania state route 100 so it reads the route sign and then displays the speed limit as 100. When I travel a few miles away and get onto PA Route 30, it again reads the speed limit as 30 even though in most sections it is 35 or 45 mph.

All electronic devices have limitations, many of which are part of the design process. Those limitations are a key factor in setting the price point. But that is why the user has to pick and chose among the offered choices and hopefully comes close to what is desired.

John, thinking about it a bit it looks as if he wants a way to capture the speed at a specific point in time, like one would take a screenshot on a PC. However, I too find myself glossing over a lot of what he says simply because I don't agree with what he's saying.

Off topic, but the best reason to use a GPS to date is when I lent out my DriveSmart 65 to neighbors. The reason they wanted it? Because their phones overheat in the Georgia sun and their father's GPS was too old and slow. When I get my DS65 back from them on Thursday I'm giving them a nuvi 57LM refurb that I found complete - and once again not updated - at Savers.

I actually feel that the "Newer"model are actually LESS loaded with features.

Particularly, the "Old" model used to display a LOT more detail on the maps. Lake Names, River Names, Park Names etc.

I really miss those displays.

I have the same question. I have an old Nuvi 3597LMTHD. I love it although it is not as touch receptive as before and the battery doesnt hold a charge. If there are newer models with the same features plus additonal benefits, I may think ou upgrading.

See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeF95hjCDck. On the screen, give it a good cleaning with a very slightly damp microfiber cloth.