Physical Differences

Figure 1: Garmin nüvi 760 vs 765T, Front

Physically, the nüvi 760 and 765T are the same size and weight, and both share the same 4.3-inch WQVGA touchscreen display (40 x 272 pixels). Screen brightness and speaker volume is identical on both units.

However, the nüvi 765T is black, has a rubber-like protective coating around the case, and has dual microphone pickups on the front of the case for improved hands-free speakerphone quality. The extra microphone hole improves sound pickup, and reduces echo.

Figure 2: Garmin nüvi 760 vs 765T, Back

The rear of the nüvi 760 and 765T are virtually identical.

Figure 3: Garmin nüvi 760 vs 765T, Bottom

Both the 760 and 765T have a USB port on the bottom of the unit, used both to charge the device as well as connect to a Mac/PC.

Figure 4: Garmin nüvi 760 vs 765T, Windshield Mount

Windshield mounting hardware is identical between both units. Garmin uses the same suction cup mount and quick-release cradle on both the 760 and 765T. The 12v power adapter connects to the mount rather than the GPS, which makes it easy to quickly dock or undock the GPS without having to hook up the power cable each time.

Figure 5: Garmin nüvi 760 vs 765T, Traffic Receiver

The nüvi 760 and 765T both use the same power adapter with built-in FM traffic receiver, Garmin's GTM 20. However, the 760 requires an annual traffic subscription, while the 765T includes free, albeit ad-sponsored, traffic alerts for the life of the GPS.

Map Screen Changes

Figure 6: Garmin nüvi 760 vs 765T, Map Screen

The most significant differences between the 760 and 765T are the map improvements. First, let's take a look at the map screen displayed when navigating to a destination. Changes from the 760's map are:

• An upcoming turn arrow with lane guidance (when appropriate) has been added to the 765T
• A traffic icon has been added that visually indicates current traffic conditions (green = no traffic, yellow = some traffic, red = major traffic). Tapping the traffic icon displays more detailed traffic information
• Zoom in and out icons have been made slightly smaller and relocated to the right side of the screen
• Speed limit information has been moved to the lower-left corner
• The information bar has been redesigned, made slightly smaller, and can be customized to display arrival time, remaining distance, elevation, and more

Figure 7: nüvi 765T's Information Bar Options

The information bar on the nüvi 760 can only display arrival time and distance to next turn. The 765T's information bar can be customized to display any of the following information:

• Estimated Time of Arrival
• Distance to Destination
• Estimated Time to Destination
• Direction of Travel
• Elevation
• Time of Day

Figure 8: nüvi 765T's Upcoming Turn Arrow with Lane Guidance

The 765T's upcoming turn indicator (top left on the map screen) now displays lane guidance information, when available. Tapping this icon displays the Next Turn page, or Lane Assist page, shown below.

Figure 9: nüvi 760 vs. 765T's Address Confirmation Screen

When entering an address, the nüvi 765T now displays the distance and approximate travel time on the confirmation screen.

3-D Lane Assist

Figure 10: nüvi 765T's 3-D Lane Assist View

New to the nüvi 7x5 models, Garmin's new Lane Assist Page automatically appears (where available) when approaching highway intersections. This view realistically displays road signs and junctions on the route, along with a large arrow that indicates the proper lane for navigation.

3-D Buildings View

Figure 11: nüvi 765T's 3-D Lane Assist View

Also unique to the new nüvi 7x5 models is Garmin's 3-D Building view, shown above.

Leveraging the preloaded digital elevation maps, the nüvi 765T displays the 3-D building view when navigating in some areas. For the most part, 3-D building view is only available in larger urban areas.

3-D Landmarks

Figure 12: nüvi 765T's 3-D Landmarks

Some structures, such as major museums, buildings, and other landmarks, are rendered in additional detail, and have photo-realistic skins mapped to the 3-D building structure.

Favorites

Figure 13: nüvi 765T's Address Book (Favorites)

The nüvi 765T allows you to associate a photo with each saved address in the address book (Favorites). JPG or JPEG files are supported. Once a photo is copied to the nüvi, it can be attached to a saved address. When navigating to a saved address that has a photo attached to it, the photo is displayed on the nüvi 765T's screen upon arrival.

Traffic

Figure 14: nüvi 760 vs 765T's Traffic Alert Icon

Traffic alerts are displayed slightly differently on the 760 and 765T.

Figure 14: nüvi 765T's New Traffic Page

The nüvi 765T's new Traffic menu allows you to view traffic conditions in ways not previously available on the nüvi 760:

• Show Traffic Map - displays traffic conditions on the map. You can manually scroll around and see all traffic incidents on the map
• Traffic Search - lists all traffic delays that have been received, sorted by distance from your current location
• Traffic on Route - displays the traffic incidents along the current planned route

Figure 15: nüvi 765T's Ad-Sponsored Traffic

The nüvi 765T's free traffic service is ad-sponsored, which means ads occasionally appear. The nüvi 760's traffic service is subscription based (yearly or lifetime subscription options are available), and does not display ads.

Bluetooth

Figure 16: nüvi 760 vs. 765T Bluetooth Options

The nüvi 765T adds support for A2DP Bluetooth devices, and can be paired with both a headset and cell phone at the same time.

FM Transmitter

Figure 16: nüvi 760 vs. 765T FM Transmitter

Unfortunately, the nüvi 760 and 765T share the same, underpowered, inadequate FM transmitter, used to re-route audio output through your vehicle's stereo system.

Conclusion

The nüvi 705 series replaces the nüvi 700 series, and offers a number of significant improvements. Compared to the older nüvi 760, the 765T offers:

• Free lifetime traffic
• Lane assist
• 3-D buildings
• Faster route calculations
• HotFix for faster GPS acquisition times
• Faster screen refresh rate that makes map scrolling much smoother

Several new map screen enhancements make the 765T easier to navigate with than it's predecessor, the nüvi 760. The nüvi 765T now displays an upcoming turn indicator on the map screen, and can also show arrival time, remaining drive time, remaining distance, direction of travel, or the current time.

The 765T's new 3-D Lane Assist renders upcoming highway exits in almost photographic detail, and does indeed make complex highway intersections much easier to negotiate.

HotFix technology dramatically reduces the time it takes the nüvi 765T to determine its position, and 765T's GPS chipset is more sensitive than the 760's.

The new map screen refreshes at a much higher rate than any previous Garmin nüvi, and map scrolling is ultra-smooth.

The nüvi 765T's free traffic service is advertising sponsored, which isn't nearly as bad as you're probably thinking. Depending on your own tolerance level for advertising, reactions to the news that the 765T's traffic service is ad-sponsored traffic will range from apathy to outrage. I fully expected to hate yet another intrusion of advertising into my life, but quickly found that the ads are intelligently enough displayed that most users won't mind. You have to manually take some action (tap on the ad) in order to see the full-screen ad.

The release of the new nüvi 765T is driving down the price of the nüvi 760, which, as of this writing, can be had for almost half the price of the nüvi 765T. There's no question that the 765T is a better GPS, but whether it's worth twice the price is another matter. If you can afford it, the 765T is unmatched in terms of ease of use and features. If you're on a tighter budget than the 765T will allow, the nüvi 760 remains an excellent choice -- though buyer's should be aware that Garmin will likely discontinue the 700 series soon.

For more detailed information, check out the full, in-depth reviews of the nüvi 760 and nüvi 765T.