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Binatone Carrera X350 Uk: The All Important Test

part of our review of the Binatone Carrera X350 Uk on Wednesday 18th June 2008

The all important test! This is where we determine the overall score for the Binatone Carrera X350 UK.

The Score Sheet

Appearance

Out of a possible 11, the X350 scored 9. It lost points for the following reasons:

  • The screen size is too small for an advanced user thus limiting the X350 to the entry level market.

The build quality is excellent and the on/off button was nice and large. One point we did notice was the button felt flimsy and and a plastic sound to it when pressed. This doesn't have any effect on the score whatsoever, it's just an observation.

Packaging

Out of a possible 15, the X350 scored 12. There's a USB cable in case you want to install the speed camera database available from Binatone but all the software you'll need has to be downloaded. The box is shipped without a CD or PC dock. A mains charger would be nice as at one stage we had to boot up a computer just to charge the X350. Most users would have the cigarette lighter power adapter to hand but if you are planning an itinerary in your hotel room in the morning, you'll find it tough going trying to charge the system if you need to.

Binatone redeem themselves with a full printed manual, an excellent addition to the box. We wouldn't have expected a full printed manual from an entry level system so thumbs up here.

The screen mount is as long as the box is wide, which is a bad point but it is sturdy and reliable. It's not easy to adjust on the move though.

The box comes without some form of case which is a shame as a carry case or pouch would have been a welcome addition.

PC Software

The system ships without software so it cannot be graded - or penalised. The overall score reflects this.

Support

The X350 scored 5 out of 5 for support. Remember that 'Support' also includes making sure the system is up to date when it is first synced. There appears to be no way to update the maps whatsoever. This is a shame as an estimated 8% to 10% of roads change in the UK every year (i.e. new roads, merged roads, closed roads, etc.).

The ability to upgrade the maps would ensure longevity for the product. As it stands, a frequent user would need to replace the system every 3 to 5 years to ensure the maps are reliable. First time users would not have a problem as by the end of 3 to 5 years, they would typically look for more functionality from a system or one with a larger screen.

Speed camera updates are provided on the website and are free for 6 months. It is unclear how to purchase them after this date though.

The System Itself

Out of 23, the X350 scored 17. It's quick to turn on and has some basic functionality though it lacks advanced features. This in essence is what makes it a budget system but we therefore have to score accordingly.

An option to add traffic capability to the system is welcomed as is the media player and expandable memory.

The bundled stylus deserves a special mention as it demonstrates that Binatone understand and appreciate the limitations of a 3.5 inch screen. They have designed the menus accordingly and the stylus just makes the experience more pleasurable.

The Road Test

Scoring 23 out of 30, the Carrera X350 performed well on the road though there were some issues:

  • Finding Borders was difficult. Even though the packaging boasts full 7 digit navigation, it could only find 5 digits on both our postcode tests, leaving us around 1 mile away from the intended destinations. This could just be that Wales isn't adequately covered by the 7 digit postcode mapping or it could just be that the two postcodes we used were unlucky.
  • When navigating from Borders to Pontypridd railway station, the system didn't take us along the grey roads as expected on our route map. Instead we travelled halfway along the orange road (A473) and then switched to incredibly small lanes. A fun journey but not so much fun when in the middle of nowhere the system stated 'You have reached your destination'. Luckily we managed to navigate our way out of this maze of lanes but had it been an area we were unfamiliar with, we wouldn't have been smiling!
  • The Tesco POI could not be found either as a supermarket or as a petrol station. Luckily there is a car sales garage by the entrance to Tesco and that was in the POI database. However, navigating to this was again tricky. Despite seeing it as we pulled onto the roundabout, it navigated is to the opposite side of the roundabout. Close but not close enough - and had we not known there was a car sales garage there, we wouldn't have been able to get anywhere near.

After these escapades, we we very excited to see that the Carrera X350 navigated us to the entrance of Castell Coch - something no other system has been able to do to date. Not only did we feel proud of the system, this task helped redeem it's poor performance in the other navigation tasks.

Other comments we made were:

  • It was slow on the re-route taking 35 seconds where our target is 15. We were already on the roundabout before it had noticed we had left the motorway.
  • It told us the overall journey would take 50 minutes and 21.6 miles. In reality it took 40 minutes and 21.7 miles. We prefer to see overestimation of time and distance so these results are fantastic.

Would We Recommend It?

We scored the Binatone Carrera X350 UK 9 out of 10. Whilst it didn't handle the mapping too well, it did get us to Castell Coch - the first system we have tested that could do this. Okay, so we couldn't buy a Book at Borders or dinner at Tesco but at least we could see the historic monument that is Castell Coch. Isn't this what the system is designed for? We say yes it is. It's an entry level system ideal for taking on holiday.

It is priced aggressively and often appears as the cheapest sat nav system on Compare Sat Nav.

The system features itinerary planning and a media players (usually seen on more expensive models) as well as a very handy stylus for navigating the menus.

Our rating reflects the overall performance and functionality of the system. Had the screen mount been more discreet and the postcode mapping more precise, we would have given full marks.

The Totals

Given everything that we have discussed, the Binatone Carrera X350 UK was been awarded 78% in our thorough test. It's a budget system with some mid range features. It's been cleverly thought out and is ideal for holiday makers looking to explore the towns and countryside's Britain has to offer.

Additional Binatone Carrera X350 Uk Review Pages

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