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The problem with new technology is that it becomes old technology very fast. And then what? We’ve all probably gotten too used to trading in old phones like they’re 1950s cars with last year’s tail fins, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Nothing exemplifies the rapid advance of digital technology like standalone GPS devices. They’ve been made obsolete by smartphones and the proliferation of built-in navigation systems in new cars. Yet if you have an older device from Garmin, it probably still works. And there are some good reasons to keep using it.
As evidenced by a recent post on the r/BuyItForLife subreddit, Garmin doesn’t kid about free lifetime map updates for its GPS devices. One poster said they bought a Garmin Nuvi 1390LMT roughly 15 years ago, and a screenshot shows that it recently received a map update on July 22, 2026. The poster added that the device still works well and is providing accurate directions.
Indeed, Garmin’s website has detailed instructions on how to update maps for existing devices. That’s in part because, as another poster in the thread points out, the maps are as much a product for Garmin as the devices themselves. When automakers choose Garmin navigation systems, for example, the decision is motivated as much by access to the company’s dataset as it is by the hardware being installed in dashboards.
This means that if you have an older car, pulling that GPS device out of the junk drawer might be a viable alternative to suction-cupping your phone to the dashboard. And that could become more relevant as concerns grow over the amount of data smartphones collect, and how that data can be used (and abused) by law enforcement. Plus, it’ll be the perfect period accessory for whatever the 2000s-era followup to Radwood ends up being called.
They mean it, too! Garmin
As my colleague Andrew Collins pointed out, dedicated GPS units are also great for off-roading. Reception isn’t an issue, and this lets you use your phone for other things, or just stash it to stay in the moment. And wherever you drive, you won’t have to worry about an automaker pulling data support for your car and making its navigation system useless.
Stephen has always been passionate about cars, and managed to turn that passion into a career as a freelance automotive journalist. When he’s not handling weekend coverage for The Drive, you can find him looking for a new book to read.
