The Garmin nüvi 50LM
Related units
- Drop down to the nuvi 40LM and you’ll get the same features, but with a smaller 4.3” screen
- Or keep the 5” screen, but give up lifetime map updates with the nuvi 50
- To see how the nuvi 50LM stacks up against other models, check out my Garmin nuvi comparison chart
Two versions
Two versions of the nuvi 50LM series are available – one with the entire US except for Alaska and Hawaii, and one for all 50 states plus Canada
NOTE: Much of what follows is based on my hands on review of the nuvi 40, a very similar model.
Key features
Generally speaking, all nuvis will get you from point A to point B; when you pay more, you’re primarily doing it to get bells and whistles. Nevertheless, the nuvi Essential series has some nice features. Here’s a look at several:
Speed limit display and warning
As noted above, the nuvi 50LM includes speed limit display. In my testing of the Essentials series, I’ve seen speed limits not just on highways, but on many secondary roads as well.
And if you exceed the speed limit, the current speed field will turn red…
Lane Assist
The next turn icon in the top left corner highlights the proper lane to be in. You’ll primarily see this on freeways and on some surface streets in urban areas. Coverage is fairly extensive.
Junction View
The model I tested was a pre-production unit, and it did not have the Junction View .jcv file installed. Nevertheless, it is a listed feature for the Essential series, and should look something like this…
Customizable data fields/display
If you tap the lower left data field, you can customize what is displayed there. Different choices are offered for whether you are or are not navigating.
Want more info displayed? Go to Settings > Map, press the down arrow icon and select Map Data Layout > More Data, to get the setup shown below, giving you two extra data fields. Tap a data field to change what is displayed.
Trip Log
The trip log allows you to display where you’ve been (which can be a big help navigating mega-mall parking lots, and even in everyday city driving). The trip log is the thin blue line shown below.
There are options to Show or Hide this info, but unfortunately (unlike on other nuvis) there appears to be no way to clear the trip log short of a hard reset! Perhaps this is just an oversight that will be fixed in an upcoming firmware update; I’m certainly hoping Garmin hasn’t decided that privacy features should be limited to higher priced models!
Where am I?
Tapping the car/current location icon on the map brings up the Where Am I? screen, with the options shown below.
What’s missing?
Not much. There is no multi-destination routing (although you can add a single via point to a route) or powered mount, two popular options. The latter means that you’ll need to attach the mini-USB lead for the power cord each time you use the unit. Also, unlike other recent low-end models, you cannot add a traffic receiver. Here is Garmin’s rationale for this:
The nuvi 30, 40, and 50 series devices are not compatible with any traffic receiver or traffic service. Although these devices come with a variety of popular features, other features such as traffic compatibility have been left off so that we can provide our customers with the option of more basic devices at much lower price points.
Garmin nuvi Essential series performance
I noticed no routing irregularities while using the Garmin nuvi Essential series, nor did I notice excessively long waits for satellite acquisition. Except for the missing bells and whistles, it performed as well as my other nuvis. I did have trouble getting it to go into USB mass storage mode when connecting to my computer, but this was solved by ensuring that the unit was on before connecting it. And this issue went away entirely once I updated to firmware version 2.10. The only other item of note is that I found the mount a little awkward to clip the nuvi into at first, but after awhile I got used to how it attaches and rarely had problems with it.
Garmin nuvi 50LM pros
- 5” screen
- Lifetime map updates
- Low cost
- Speed limit display
- Lane assist and junction view
- Customization options
Garmin nuvi 50LM cons
- No powered mount
- Cannot add a traffic receiver
- Can only hide Trip Log; cannot clear it without resorting to a hard reset
- Only includes maps of 48 states (although a version that adds Alaska, Hawaii and Canada is also available)
Conclusion and recommendation
Highly recommended. This is without a doubt the best entry level navigator Garmin has ever released. It has an ultra-wide 5” screen along with features previously restricted to mid-range units. You can’t hardly go wrong with this one.
More Garmin nuvi 50LM reviews
- There are consumer-authored Garmin nuvi 50LM reviews
being posted at Amazon
I’ll be posting more hands on GPS reviews as they appear, but in the meantime, here are some…
Other Garmin nuvi 50LM resources
- Want to see how the nuvi 50LM stacks up against other models? Check out this Garmin auto GPS comparison tool or my own Garmin nuvi comparison chart
- There is a dedicated Garmin nuvi message forum at GpsPasSion and another nuvi forum at GPS Review
- The Garmin nuvi 50LM owners manual
- How to access archived nuvi trip logs
- Five more tips for nuvi newbies
- The official Garmin nuvi 50LM web page
Compare prices on the Garmin nuvi 50LM at these merchants:
- Check the current Garmin nüvi 50LM
- Get a great deal on the Garmin nuvi 50LM from GPS City
- Find the Garmin nuvi 50LM US 5.0 GPS Navigation System with Lifetime Maps
at Beach Camera, the folks behind BuyDig.com
About Rich Owings
i recenntly purchased a garmin 50 gps but received no operating manual. was this an oversight and, if not, where do I get one??
It only comes with a quick start manual. You can get the full manual here…
http://support.garmin.com/support/manuals/manuals.htm?partNo=010-00991-01&language=en&country=US
You can order maps to other countries from Garmin on a memory card that you plug slip into the unit jut like on a camera.
I ordered Europe because we are going to Spain and portugal in may.
Trying to decide between garmin 1490 LMT and Garmin 50 LM. Price is not the issue as you can get the 1490 currently for the same price during the holidays. After comparing, the 1490 has more bells and whistles, estimated longer life battery, better pre loaded maps, multiple way points can be added, blue tooth for my phone, etc but I am concerned on reviews of receiving a signal. Seems like ano brainer but when i called Garmin, a tech said the 50 has the latest technology and the 1490 has a lot of things I probably won’t use. ??? I have to order by monday so would like a good opinion.
Thanks
Both are good models. You can’t add a traffic receiver to the 50, so if that’s important, go for the 1490LMT. The 1xxx series had some freeze up issues but that was solved with a recent firmware update. Hope this helps.
Anyone know if the blue tooth for your phone works good on the 1490 LMT?
I don’t think it is as good as it is on the 2xxx models with Bluetooth.
I am getting the 50LM. It is all I need and got a cyber deal for $99 at Walmart today.
Thanks Rich
Just purchased the 50LM at walmart for $99. 12/05/11
Yeah, that deal has been coming and going. Right now it’s gone, but here’s the link if anyone wants to check…
Garmin nuvi 50LM at Walmart.com
The Garmin 50LM was great out of the box. The large screen is crystal clear. I updated the maps easily although it took awhile because of the internet speed I have. The Garmin 50 picks up the signal quickly, easy to see even in my convertible, easy to hear and it does the basics which is really all we need anyway. Turn here, go there etc. There is also still room in the memory so as the maps grow and get more detailed I should not lose any detail. Lifetime maps and it gets me there great and the 5″ screen is great. Watch Wallmart and Best Buy as we get closer to Christmas and you might see the $99 price again.
I just received my 50LM from WalMart.com – it only took them 17 days to deliver it after I placed the order! I see it was made in Taiwan so maybe they shipped it from the factory. I’ll never do anything like that again when Amazon does so much better with their deliveries.
I worked with “BaseCamp” on my laptop to develop a route from St Louis to south Florida with all my stops in between and transferred it up to the nuvi 50. To my amazement, all I was able to find on the nuvi was a list of “Favorites” of the stops I had set. When I tried to add way-points to the trip, I found out I could only get one “via” in the route. Each time a I added a second one, it deleted the first one. I was hoping to be able to plan my whole trip and save it that way or at least manually add all my stops in to the route but I don’t think that’s possible.
Wow, that is slow delivery!
No, the Essentials series doesn’t include multi-destination routing. I don’t tend to use it anyway, as it’s a bit of a hassle, but some folks like it.
Rich, do you think any of the higher priced models ie, 1390 or 2460 are any better than the 1450 or 50 lm? I really appreciate all your comments in here, thanks so much
Generally speaking, any model will get you from point A to B as well as the next one. Beyond that it’s pretty much bells and whistles.
I was looking at one of your post Rich that you gave us he manual for the 50 LM, was trying to find a manual for the 1490, do you have that link handy also, thanks, Bill
Here’s the link:
nuvi 1490T manual
Rich, thanks so much. I must have read 50 plus reviews today on all of the machines, it seems like on every machine, people have problems, a lot of people have a hard time down loading map updates as they get storage errors of too much data, the 1390 had lots of complaints, the 1490 and even the 50 LM had complaints, I know you can’t please everyone but it seems like when Garmin is telling us we need to update the maps and so many people update maps then they get get storage errors of too much data, one would think Garmin would get this fixed, are any ofthe garmins I mentioned have a better track record of the others of not having enough storage space when down loading maps, thanks for your expertise on all of this. Will go and buy one this week, thanks again
I haven’t come across anything that says some nuvi models have more storage than others, IIRC. More memory costs more money and raises the prices, so its an economic decision they’ve made. There are actually several ways to solve this:
- install the update to a microSD card
- delete unwanted voices, etc., to create more space
- install only a portion of the update (E US, W US, etc.)
Hope this helps.
Which is the cheapest gps for redlight and speed cameras?
Don has posted some good information below. I’m not sure it matters which model. The redlight/speed camera add-on is compatible with all nuvis. There are some third-party apps as well.
This new model nüvi 50LM is alerting me to “safety camera” locations. It came with a trail version installed.
(Free Trial – Not sure if you are interested in a safety camera subscription? A 30-day free trial allows you to test out the service free of charge. Updates can be downloaded to your device throughout the free trial period. One free trial is offered per device and at the end of the trial, a new One-time update or One-year subscription can be purchased. The free trial is not available for all safety camera regions.)
Check the information at the website below. There is a tab for “compatible devices”
http://www.garmin.com/us/extras/services/safetycamera
Compatible Devices:
nüvi® Series
zūmo® Series
dēzl™ Series
StreetPilot® c500 Series
aera™ Series
Cyclops™ Safety Cameras — U.S. & Canada ($25.99)
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=287&pID=69781
The number and locations of speed cameras around the world is ever-changing. Drive aware, alert and assured with updates to the powerful speed camera database inside your device. Safety camera updates for your device are available through a yearly subscription, a 1-time purchase or a free trial. (Learn More About the Options)
Safety camera updates link your device to the Cyclops database, which is maintained daily and contains information about fixed, average speed, mobile, variable, temporary/roadwork, red light and red light speed cameras.
As you approach a camera, your device sounds an alert. Certain models display a speed limit warning. The Cyclops driver safety system is powered by smart GPS software, which recognizes the road and direction of travel to provide route-relevant alerts without false warnings.
With our 1-year subscription, get unlimited updates during the year to help you travel safely and legally while avoiding penalty points, fines and higher premiums. Choose the onetime option for a single update for the region of your choice.
I recently purchased a Nuvi 50LM. i do a lot of Jeeping, is it possible to mark you trails so you can follow them at a later date
You can mark discrete points – the beginning and end of trails, and junctions. And you can record your track (trip log) and download it from the device. But you can’t reload the track/triplog and follow it. You would need a handheld GPS to do that.
Thanks for th ereply Rich. Can i download any type of topo map (from Garmin) on my unit that has offroad trails on it. i live in southern Arizona.
Yes, here is a good source:
http://gpsfiledepot.com/maps/state/az
And a “how to”:
http://gpsfiledepot.com/tutorials/how-to-load-maps-on-my-garmin-gps-unit/
I recently bought the garmin nuvi 50Lm in the US is there anyway to load Australian maps onto it?
Yes. The simplest way to do it and retain the US maps is to buy Garmin City Navigator Australia NT on a micro-SD card. There’s a slot on the side for it.
Thanks so much
You’re welcome!
Have the new Garmin 50lm and it won’t pick up on my computer so I can update it. I tried different cables, but it just won’t come up on the screen. The program constantly says “searching for device.” Any help would sincerely be appreciated…..
Try installing this…
http://www8.garmin.com/products/communicator/
Also, you’ll need to register it at https://my.garmin.com/ before you can update it.
Once you get those things done, this is the easiest way to update it, IMHO…
http://gpstracklog.com/2011/07/garmin-lifetime-updater.html
Thanks, Rich. I finally got it to recognize the darned thing by turning it on AND booting it up before I plugged it in AND downloading what you recommended. Thanks from Memphis for your trouble.
Glad to help!
Hi, I bought the garmin nuvi 50Lm in the US, i dont need US maps but I need to load Brazilian maps and i dont have memory card, how can i do, thanks
Th easiest way wil be to download them to a microSD card or buy the preloaded on a card:
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=98712
or
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?pID=11163
I have the Brazil map file garmin.rar that is on a microSD card. It is the slot on my GPS, but nothing happens, even when I turn the GPS on and off. It does not recognize the file.
Garmin doesn’t supply them in .rar format and I won’t help with something obtained illegally.
Thanks for the review. I just bought one for $75 from Walmart. It was on clearance.
Nice!
how do i calibrate the screen when i touch the letters its off?
its a 50lm by the way…
From Garmin’s support FAQs:
“To calibrate the touchscreen on a nuvi 30, 40, or 50 series device:
Make sure the nuvi is turned off
Press and hold the top left corner of the touchscreen
Power the device on while continuing to apply light pressure to the screen
Release the touchscreen once the screen displays “Press dot”
Accurately touch the center of the dot that appears on the screen
Continue to touch the center of the dot as it moves around the screen
Once complete, a message will appear that says ‘Calibrate Complete’
The touchscreen is now calibrated. Repeat the steps above as needed.”
bought garmin 50lm.
need to add canada map but not enough space
can i delete maps of othere countries so i cam add more space
What other countries would you delete? If it’s the US only nuvi 50LM, you shouldn’t have to. This procedure should help, even though it was written for another model…
http://forums.gpsreview.net/viewtopic.php?t=23713
I would like to dowmload maps that’s upto date in Texas . My home state. Can you help ?
Do you have a 50LM? If so, this may be the easiest way…
http://gpstracklog.com/2011/07/garmin-lifetime-updater.html
How to recalibrate the screen
I just purchased a new Garmin Nuvi50lm and the screen is off. I press keys and they dont respond. How do I recalibrate the screen?
From Garmin.com support:
“If the touchscreen on a nuvi 30, 40, or 50 series device is off or not responding, it may need to be calibrated. To calibrate the touchscreen on a nuvi 30, 40, or 50 series device:
Start with the device turned off and disconnected from power
Press and hold the top left corner of the touchscreen
Power the device on while continuing to apply light pressure to the screen
Release the touchscreen once the screen displays “Press dot”
Accurately touch the center of the dots that appear on the screen
The dots will change location
A stylus or pencil eraser may be used to accurately touch the dots
Touch OK when “Calibration Complete” appears
The touchscreen is now calibrated. Repeat the steps above as needed.”
Just got a nuvi 50lm. Did all of the updates but cannot change the STATE on the go to address screen. What am I doing wrong or how do I change the state?
Once you tap Where To?, on the next screen at the bottom tap Near.
Thanks Rich — I tried that and yes it took me to city outside my state (CA) but it still will not let me put in an address outside CA. In my old Garmin I would select Where to and I could select the state first then the city. What do I do to put in an address outside my state?
I don’t think you can with the newer models. But you can select Near > Another City (or a saved destination).
Ahhhhh figured it out. If you select any language other than american-english – you cannot change the state. I switched it back to “american-english” ( hey i like the British accent) and now I can select a dif state. Go figure!!!!!
Ah, good catch. Thanks for sharing.