Garmin Smartphone Link 4+

Needs improvement

Update since last review. Have been a long-time user of multiple Garmin GPS units including automotive and aviation, now on my second motorcycle GPS. The application clearly lacks refinement, often losing it’s link with the GPS unit, requiring a restart to enable weather and traffic data link back to the GPS.

Recent application updates have improved stability and connection with the smart phone link and the GPS.

Continue to test with my Sena Bluetooth headset, model SMH10. Stability with Bluetooth connection is not reliable. The GPS will pair however after multiple power cycles the unit falls back into a mode of attempting connection for the audio portion of the control. The audio feed from the GPS when working is distorted, the volume is over driven. The Sena can pair with the GPS in two modes as outlined in the user manual, have tested both. The problem is the GPS has the ability to control phone and audio playback, the controls forces the phone to stream audio through the GPS to the headset rather than allowing the GPS to be a remote control pad and allow the phone to stream audio directly to headset, this appears to be by design. The perfect scenario would be to have the ability to use the control applications on the GPS to manipulate phone and allow all phone audio to stream direct from the phone to the headset, and get some of the audio if desired from the GPS also to the headset.

Developer Response ,

Hello TechConsumer and many thanks for your feedback. We will consider improving those suggested areas.

Edit ; working fine now, 4.5 stars!

Edit; All issues fixed, 4.5 stars on it now! Garmin devices such as dēzl truck gps and automotive units require this app to display real time traffic that’s advertised as free for life along with map updates. Well this app will not communicate with an iPhone XS Max. I’ve been over all the steps repeatedly, uninstalled and reinstalled and made sure everything was set as it should be , also fully updated the Garmin device. Still no live traffic displayed on the device. The app and the device keep saying check to make sure device and phone are in Bluetooth range, what a joke! They are both right here in the truck, close enough? Look at these reviews developers! Fix this crappy app before I sling the Garmin device out of the window of this truck. What good is lifetime traffic I can’t ever use? Seems like false advertising really. Edit: After looking over the other reviews with issues going back as far as 2 years, it’s very obvious Garmin doesn’t care that this app doesn’t function . Very disappointing and I won’t be buying anymore Garmin devices in the future. Gps units, dash cams , I’ve never used anything but Garmin , but if they can let this go on for this long then they obviously care less , so it’s time to move on.....sad really!

Developer Response ,

Hello and many thanks for your feedback. We suggest making sure that the Smartphone Link checkbox from Garmin's connectivity menu is marked as checked. If the problem persists, please don't hesitate to contact us at smartphonelink@garmin.com and we'll gladly assist you on solving it.

Lags device

I wish they’d update this so that it didn’t completely freeze or slow down my Garmin unit. The odd thing is that it works GREAT for traffic and weather updates but while it’s connected you have to consistently deal with HUGE input lag on the Garmin. For example, you press a button and have to wait about 30 seconds for it to register. This only happens when I have the app connected. If I disconnect the app, my Garmin unit works flawlessly and is super responsive. It also can freeze at times and eventually unfreezes. It seems like the Garmin is having trouble receiving constant information from the app and still be able to handle everything else. A shame they probably won’t fix this. I basically pick and choose when I want to deal with the lag depending on my trips and if I want to see traffic updates or not. So sometimes I use this app, most of the time I don’t now.