Magellan Maestro 3100
Magellan today release details about the upcoming Maestro 3100. Similar to the 4000 series, the new 3000 series features a slim profile not found on the other Magellan lines. In contrast to the 4 inch screens on the 4000 series, the 3000 series features a standard 3.5 inch display. Expect to shell out about $299 for this device which comes with maps of the 48 contiguous US states. It also comes with a SiRFstarIII chipset and many of the other common Magellan features such as their detour features and quickspell. This device doesn’t come with the AAA features, for that you would need to upgrade to at least the 3140. You should be able to get your hands on one this month. The battery is expected to last about 3 hours and there is a minimal of 750,000 POIs installed.
| Store | Rating | Best Prices |
|---|---|---|
Compare all prices on the Magellan Maestro 3100 Auto GPS ranging from $99.99 to $109.99. | ||
 |  In Stock at RadioShack.com | $99.99 |
 |  In Stock at J&R | $109.99 |
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This Magellan is cheap and an easy way to get into Navigation, but it’s missing a lot of bells and whistles…no TTS, a POI database with far less than most GPS units, a terrible battery life for a portable unit (3 hours on the lowest screen setting), and only 48 states on the maps. Not recommended.
For this price it’s an amazing deal. This model is a great intro model and it’s worked great on my short little test runs so far.
I have had no extensive experience with any GPS unit prior to this one so I am blessed with the ignorance of not understanding what “bells and whistles” aren’t available to me. I agree that the POI database could be a little more robust, I drove through the restaraunt/bar district in Wichita, KS and only about half of my favorite haunts showed up on it. There are a lot of retail services that would be handy to know about that don’t appear on the unit.
This would be my only serious complaint about it thus far. Everything else about it seems to be great. I see myself upgrading sometime in the future, but as an intro model, this thing is awesome!
I picked this up for Mother’s Day due to its low price.
I had been researching other units like the Tom Tom One, etc for some time and I decided I didn’t really need any of the extra features that these devices offer - such as bluetooth, mp3 player, celebrity voices.
I just wanted a decent, small, easy-to-use GPS that would get the job done.
I am pleasantly surprised by the Maestro 3100. It does everything I need and I haven’t had any issues with it whatsoever. I’ve been using it even more than I thought I would.
IMO, this is a GREAT entry-priced GPS.
Bought brand new from [snip] for [snip]. Works great from the box!
I very recently purchased the product. After testing it in my route van, I found that it works fine, however; the display is awful. I have a GPS in my luxury auto, and I guess that I am spoiled by it’s display
Excellent beginner GPS model. Operated with ease right out of the box. Noticed a little lag behind on my actual location. Skimpy on the POI, but if you’re out of town and get an address of a place you want to go, all you need is an address. The price is great and for a starter model I give it an 8 out of 10.
Just bought this the other day and I love it. I had a Tom Tom a couple years ago and except for some extra bells and whistles, I like the Maestro better. It’s basically a toy for me, since I’ll use it for actual trips when I need directions only a couple times a year.
I have wanted to purchase a navigation system for a long time, but could not justify the price. I purchased this unit locally, and literally within 5 minutes I was off and running. This is the best $ I ever spent!
Got my dad one for fathers day…shuts off in the middle of trips and tells us that we are at our location 1000 feet before we get there. Also told us to make a final left turn to a location and we actually needed to turn right. Called Magellan Tech support and was given no information other than they will call us back in a week or two??? Because of lack of support, going to return it to place of purchase and get a Tom Tom One to give it a try.
I just received my 3100 for a graduation present just before going to the Florida Keys for the first time. We drove around Charleston,SC.,then Miami before driving all the way to Key West with no problems at all. I love this thing. I would highly recommend this GPS to anyone. I should also admit that this is my first one.
Listen, I bought this thing on sale at a well known electronics dealer and I love it!! It works great! I can’t imagine a novice owner wanting anything else from this product. Turn it on an BAM! it’s working. It even makes me want to drive more!
When I took mine back we even took the display model and put in a cross country trip and the display even locked up! That is when I decided on the Garmin 350 and it works 100% better with no hangups and over 6 million poi’s instead of the 750,000 in the Magellan. Spend the extra $100-150..you will even love being told the name of the street to turn on instead of just turn right or left. Also has a build in MP3 player and audio book player and picture viewer and many other extras. The reason I did not get the tomtom is that the sales person showed me how to program each and the Garmin was actually easier!
This is my first device, it works great so far.
It takes from from point “A” to point “B” ithout problems.
It would be great to have a larger number os POI’s.
Affordable and reliable.
I bought this unit on a whim, we have the “Turn by Turn” with OnStar but it only tells you where you are going, I like the idea of also knowing where I am. I know this was an entry level unit but that is what I was after to see if it hada practical use in my life. So far, so good; no problems only positve feedback on this unit. I understand that there are units that can tie my shoes, but that’s not the reason I bought this. If you’re thinking of a basic unit this one is it, for a very good price at most places!
I bought this unit yesterday. I’ve wanted a gps for a year. I finally bought this one. I love it because it was simple, and easy to use. I love it. Wish I had bought it sooner.
I bought this device on 6-5-07, I turned it on Sunday and the battery will not charge. The thing stays on for 30 seconds and turns itself off, you can’t directions to anywhere. I took it back to the Radioshack for a return and they won’t exchange it or refund it. I am not happy with this device so far, guess that is what happens when you buy cheap.
This is my 2nd GPS and I can tell you, this is a great device. For my 1st device I had to watch a 45 minute DVD to learn how to use it. The 3100 I used right out of the box in the store parking lot. There are a couple of negative comments here about lack of features. I believe this is a much more sophisticated device for the money! I mean, at least you did not have to buy the streets CD like I had to for my 1st device.
After reading user reviews from this website and others, I became familiar with the features of the Maestro 3100. I knew the strengths and limitations of the device before I bought it, so I was not disappointed by limited POI’s, questionable battery life, blah, blah. After one week, this unit has exceeded my expectations, and I am very happy with my purchase. Routing is dead-on, the interface is very simple, and I am amazed by the sensitivity of the receiver (picks up 5 strong channels in the downstairs den of my home). I have not run out of battery power, the turn instructions are very explicit (and loud),the windshield mount works just fine and I have no trouble reading the display in bright sunlight while wearing sunglasses. Life is good with the Maestro 3100.
I bought the maestro today a *blank* [snip]. for $[snip]. the only thing i’m disapojnted in is it lacks the real time traffic reports. but other than that everything is great hasn’t failed me.
I bought mine about 2 months ago - have used it pretty much all over. Overall I am pleased with that it is for the money that I spent. Yes, you could probably do better but you will spend more money. Yes, there are times when she will tell you “make a legal U-turn” and there are times when it tells you your destination is on the left instead of the right BUT for the money - you can’t beat it. Heck, I’d pay that much just to have this thing tell me what side of the road the Highway entrance is going to be on - No need to cut anyone off anymore…..
GREAT site. Thanks Tim.
Which GPS system is better? I’m looking to purchase either a Tom Tom One 3rd Edition, Magellan Roadmate 1200 or a Magellan Maestro 3100. They are all basically the same price. I just want a GPS that is really accurate has plenty POI’s and can be updated easily. I also want a GPS that will not easlity run out of memory when updating maps and I’ll still be able to update 2-3 years from now.
I just purchased a TomTom One LE and a Magellan Maestro 3100, both for about the same price. I only want to keep one. Which do you recommend keeping?
In spite of it’s quirks, I am, for the price, very happy with my Magellan 3100. Quirks: sometimes thinks a T-intersection is just a smooth left or right curve and fails to tell me to turn - no problem though as the map clarifys; Sometimes tells me I’ve arrived at destination when up to three houses away; Tells me that a gated service road is passable. My only real disappointment is total lack of documentation on the memory card and USB port features.
Great little unit. Worked great right out of the box. Picks up sats quickly. Gives plenty of warning before turns. Sounds ding at turn. Good volume unless windows are open in noisy traffic. Good display..bright. Works well even sitting in my ashtray (no need for windshield mount).
I have been using the Mag. 3100 and although display and workability out of the box are fine, it is already getting very SLOW as it processes a new address. Its as frustrating as when computers get slow…..I cant wait that long. I have been using it across the country for 3 weeks and it also quits without a battery issue as it is plugged in. The POIs are restricting for what I need but are fine for a straight trip for someone. In the last week I have had it tell me several key times that there are NO POIs for this area while on a major interstate, near major cities.
excellent site and extremely helpful. Still undecided but getting there for a now expense, not fancy, very viewable and excellent battery life gps- magelland, garmin or other?
Last email correction- that is low expense (not “now”) magellan, garmin or other?
I just got this 3100 for my wife as a christmas gift. It seems to work ok but does a lot of going around different blocks to get where I need to go. Although I have tried the different methods avaiable, shortest, fastest etc., it doesn’t seem to make any difference. I live about 8 blocks from work and it takes me about 3 blocks out of the way to get home. The trip to work is just right??? I looked at the website for a downloadable fix but it doesn’t seem that the problem has been addressed??
I have had this unit since June and have no complaints. For the money it gets me where I need to go with plenty of warning and was easy to use right out of the box. This is my first GPS and it is a great starter unit. At some point when my needs become more sophisticated I will look at something with more bells and whistles.
Just received the 3100 for Christmas. It worked great right out of the box. I checked out the website and found that there is a firmware update. I downloaded and install without a hitch. It lists the fixes on the website. One thing I found is to set it to 2D instead of the default 3D. In 2D mode, it gives way more information, time to destination, miles to destination, or expected arrival time. You change this by tapping that area of the screen. In 2D mode you can also scroll the screen by just touching the screen and dragging you finger. A stylus from a PDA works great for this. So far I love it.
I need to make a correction to my previous review. Since I upgraded the firmware, the 3D mode has the same information available as the 2D mode. Sweet! The more I use this little unit, the better I like it.
Great value but pray nothing goes wrong. Magellan support for this device is horrible!
I also need to update/correct my prior recommendation. While the unit works great, performing the firmware update left me with a temporary GPS brick. Support was less than helpful. I eventually resolved the issue myself. So as long as you do not need support, this is still a good “starter” unit.
I got this for my dad and he is telling me that the language sounds like a Japanese person who can’t speak English well. Has anyone encountered this issue?
DITTO w/ Mike S Sept 28th, but without the sunglasses. Cool tool for the price.
I paid $1,100 for a RoadMate 760 less than two years ago. It broke down less than a year ago and was repaired under an extended warranty. It’s broken again — AND THEY CAN’T FIX IT BECAUSE THEY DON’T MAKE ‘EM ANYMORE!
This is the “help” Magellan offered to me:
If I mail my broken RoadMate to them they’ll sell me a Maestro 4250 (also top of the line, like the 760) for $400. I can by the 4250 at Circuit City for less than that!
Magellan is a con. Never buy anything from these bastards.
I’m getting a Garmin.
So I found this model for [snip, see comment policy]. I’ve never had a GPS, and always said I’d try one out when the decent ones dipped under $100, then upgrade if I liked it. Wondering what you think about this product at that price.
Also wondering (a more generic question) if there are any models that routinely include a “video-in” or backup camera option…that you would recommend.
I’ve had mine for a year now. Went to New York then to Myrtle Beach. Got my daughter and I all over with no problems. Love it. Just want to know when an update is coming out can’t seem to fine the answer to this.
Magellan is estimating the end of September for the next map update you can purchase.
A few months ago the unit was sent in because of an error I encountered when attempting to upgrade the software, resulting in a loss of information.
I’m not entirely sure if my problems are related to that, but I am experiencing very poor navigation choices. These include:
- being routed a mile down a road in order to perform a u-turn in order to get onto a freeway instead of routing me directly onto a freeway entrance which was possible (happened on more than one occasion in two different locations)
- Choosing a route which would was almost 250 miles longer when choosing ‘fastest time’ compared to 344 miles chen choosing ‘shortest distrance. I realize it’s hard to ‘second guess’ every route, but this one was a route from Buffalo MN to Green Bay WI. Using ‘fastest time’, the GPS wanted me to take a route that would have gone south to I-90, then east on I-90 on the way to Green Bay. The shortest route involved almost a straight shot on I94>STH29.
- Incorrect distance to destination which would show a distance hundreds of miles farther than reality, then would recalculate at some point to show a more accurate distance/time.’
My satisfaction level has gone down significantly since sending it in to have the software reloaded. Anyone else have problems like this?
The auto power cord to my Magellan Maestro 3100 is literally disintegrating. I called Magellan and they will not stand behind the product since it was a year old this July. All i wanted was a replacement power cord. This is a known electrical hazard because the Magellan employee said “it’s crumbling” and I said “yes, that’s exactly what it’s doing”. He knew exactly what I meant before it got out of my mouth. I will never buy another Magellan product.