Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

TomTom Start 50 Review - Navigation, New Map Screen and Verdict Review

Sections

TomTom Start 50 – Navigation and New Map Screen

Once the destination has been entered, the navigational experience is somewhat different to the previous generation. The screen resolution is one area where the Start models have usually been economised compared to TomTom’s premium models, and this remains. The Start 50’s 5-inch display has 480 x 272 pixels, although this is the same as the GO 40 we recently reviewed. It’s also a resistive touch screen, where the premium models use the more responsive capacitative alternative.
TomTom Start 50
However, the map has changed quite a bit with the redesign, and is now much simplified in appearance. TomTom claims this makes it easier to read, and we certainly appreciate the lack of clutter. The next turning is detailed in a bar at the top, with name of the road you are currently on at the bottom. But the journey information has moved from the bottom to the right-hand side, which TomTom calls the Route Bar.

The Route Bar began life as the traffic information on TomTom devices with this facility, and then acquired the full range of journey details. The Start 50 doesn’t offer traffic, so the Route Bar merely shows the estimated arrival time and distance to destination, plus icons for any petrol stations along the route and parking near the destination. The Route Bar is also where speed camera information pops up when you are approaching these. The Start 50 comes with a three-month subscription to updates, after which updates will cost £19.99 a year.

TomTom Start 50GPS navigation device displaying map on car dashboard.

Overall, the navigational experience is clear and easy to follow, with spoken information that adds useful prompts when turnings are approaching. There is also full-screen Advanced Lane Guidance at complicated junctions, which shows you clearly which lane to be in and the signs to look out for. This has been a common sat-nav feature for some years now.

The GO 50 can also contribute to and receive minor updates from TomTom’s user-generated Map Share, but only when you synchronise the unit for updates using a PC or Mac.

Should I buy the TomTom Start 50?

The Start 50 is a capable entry-level sat-nav. It’s easy to use and with the lifetime map updates could be all you need if you only make occasional journeys. However the TomTom Start 50 has the same £139.99 recommended retail price as the higher-end GO 40. Although the latter has a smaller screen, it also has the excellent TomTom Traffic service, which is not an option for the Start range. So we reckon the £119.99 Start 40 is the sweet spot for budget users, making the 5-inch Start 50 look relatively overpriced.

Verdict

The TomTom Start 50 is a capable entry-level sat-nav, although the 4.3-inch GO 40 trumps it for sheer value.

Next, read our TomTom GO 40 review

Trusted Score

rating-star rating-star rating-star rating-star rating-star

Score in detail

  • Battery Life 8
  • Value 7
  • Features 7
  • Performance 9
  • Design 8
  • Usability 8

Why trust our journalism?

Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.

Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.

author icon

Editorial independence

Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.

author icon

Professional conduct

We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.

Trusted Reviews Logo

Sign up and get the best deals straight to your phone

Skip the hunt - get the latest discounts delivered directly to WhatsApp by signing up to the Trusted deals Whatsapp Channel.

Get Access