Mio C310x vs Mio C220 Comparison
The Mio C220 is the fresh new face on the marketplace for Mio who hopes to capitalize on the successes of the Mio C310x half-generation redesign of the original Mio C310 that had an inferior interface. Mio is firmly locked in a battle among the better-known brands for the share of the quickly expanding GPS market. While you might know them best for value models, they are also coming out with higher end models later this year; they
announced these at CES 2007. I thought that while the Mio C310x is still hanging around the market I would tell you my thoughts on how it compares to the Mio C220, because both are priced roughly the same in some online retailers.
I’ll cut to the chase; I like the Mio C220 better than the Mio C310x. See below for why.
Features I’ll miss from the Mio C310x
I’ll miss some aspects about the overall hardware design. I liked the ruggedized buttons on the side of the Mio C310x that got me a few functions quickly with a very precise and confident button functionality. You got to two specific functions quickly: Main Menu and Volume Control.
Main Menu Button on side – This button got me to the screen where I could flip between the “Cockpit” and “Map” displays. The Cockpit display showed turn indicators and data fields that told you key things when navigating: Distance to next turn, Time to Destination, etc. In fact, I wish I could configure the Mio to automatically give me this view when on a route. I like the map display while driving without a route for the extra screen space on the map.
Volume buttons – This is just a convenience item to have them on the side, but not critical to getting to where you’re going.
Things I like a Lot about the Mio C220
Updated Maps – what’s not to love about the long awaited TeleAtlas updated maps for your GPS? Do I need to say more?
Speed of Satellite acquisition – The Mio C220 is a much faster unit at grabbing the satellite signals and figuring out where you are, especially while driving. The Mio C220 grabbed a satellite signal within a mile of me leaving my house after being shut off for a few days. The C310x waited quite a while longer.
Verdict: Mio C220
A great majority of the functionality is the same, as the interface is basically the same and minor adjustments are not so obvious in light of what I talked about here. So while the hardware buttons from the Mio C310x are missed, I love the fast satellite acquisition and especially the updated maps on the Mio C220, which were a major caveat I always mentioned in buying the Mio C310x in the first place. The C220 does not offer MP3 playback, but that’s not important to me, so I won’t miss it. My money is on the C220 to step up and take over as a solid value GPS unit for the price point around $200.
More on the Mio C310x at GPSLodge
More on the Mio C220 at GPSLodge
Mio C220 at Amazon
Read More in: Automotive GPS | Mio GPS News | Mio GPS Reviews
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Posted by Scott Martin at June 7, 2007 6:49 AM
The C310x does offer two things the C220 doesn't. First the C310x has an MP3 player. Not particularly useful, I know, but nonetheless it is there. However the greatest advantage of the C310x is that it is one of the most hackable devices of any type to hit the market. Once you get down to the Windows CE you can get this device to do just about anything.
I just got a C220 from Staples.com for $179 about 2 weeks ago. My last experience with a mobile gps device was a Pharos 525 PDA. Although I wanted a device that could do it all, mp3, video, wifi and bluetooth, the 525 came with the Ostia gps software and an antiquated built in gps receiver that a very limited number of alternate softwares could interface. On to the C220, took it out of the box turned it and almost immediately hooked a satellite signal (in my office on the 4th floor). The windshield mount and power are very well designed and are not after thoughts. Also, positional arrow tracking the map is very fast and fluid. The C220 is also Windows CE based, version 5.0. I like everything about the C220, but I wish it could just do more, not for functionality but more the novelty. Well, I was able to find C220 hacks that allowed me to change the starting menu and now it can play MP3's and video files. Seems that more hacks are to come for this unit too! Now it is a keeper :)
I just ordered the firmware and map upgrade for the Mio 310x for under $30.
I went onto Ebay and purchased the optional plug in antenna and my signal bars went from 1/3 signal strength to 2/3. That is a fantastic improvement.
It may just be my unit - but even with an amazing signal and the indicator saying it is accurate to within one meter, I can drive thru an intersection and be 75 feet thru it and it will show I am just in the middle of the intersection. I love everything else about it but the actual accuracy of it is annoying.
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