Uniden TRAX 4310 GPS unit

Uniden is renowned for offering value for money in the GPS market and the Uniden TRAX 4310 GPS unit certainly carries on that tradition. Equipped with a well-rounded features list that includes advanced lane guidance, 3D terrain and landmarks and safety warnings, the TRAX 4310 is an effective navigation tool that is easy to use.

The Uniden TRAX 4310 GPS unit has a flat display with a glossy black bezel surrounding the screen. Uniden describes the display as "high definition" — while it has bright and clear colours and is generally responsive to touch, it isn't a true HD screen. Viewing angles are poor and direct sunlight glare can make the screen hard to see, so it's important to position the TRAX 4310 properly on your windscreen. One downside is the included window mount — it's chunky and its big size doesn't quite match the glossy, chic feel of the TRAX 4310's casing.

Uniden deserves plenty of credit for improvements to its user interface — it's much better than the interface on older models like the TRAX 436. The UI of the TRAX 4310 GPS unit is simple and effective, with bright colours matching each menu ("destination", "my route" and "more") and software that is fast and responsive. The touchscreen is effortless to operate as it doesn’t require a firm press to activate.

The Uniden TRAX 4310's main menu has a simple layout: three large buttons for "destination", "My Route" and "more". Navigating to an address on the Uniden TRAX 4310 is a five-step process (the selection of country, state, city and street name and number) but this all takes place on a single screen. We liked the fact that a single press of the "destination" button shows the last address you navigated to, in addition to the options to search for an address, a place or a saved favourite. When searching, the TRAX 4310's large on-screen keyboard eliminates letters that do not correspond to possible addresses, but unfortunately it can't be changed from the standard ABC layout to a QWERTY one.

The Uniden TRAX 4310's map screen is clear and effective and although it may lack some detail of competing units in suburban areas, this doesn't detract from the overall navigational experience. Street names are clearly displayed on the map and the layout is uncluttered. In city areas, the 3D terrain feature is useful, highlighting bridges and overpasses and giving a clearer idea of surrounding roads on any route. The TRAX 4310 also includes 3D landmarks that show important buildings and areas of interest, though the map screen can become cluttered when driving through the city with this feature switched on. Advanced lane guidance and signpost information are also included. The lane guidance feature is handy for large freeway and motorway exits and intersections. Fixed speed, red-light camera alerts school zone warnings and an over-speed alert are all included, but the last of these isn't adjustable.

The Uniden TRAX 4310 has text-to-speech technology, but only four voices (two American and two UK) out of the 15 available announce street names. (There are two Australian voices available, but these don't announce street names.) Pronunciation of street names is much improved from the TRAX 5000, but volume isn't loud enough even at its highest setting. You can adjust the volume quickly and easily by tapping on the left side of the map screen to display a quick settings menu.

The TRAX 4310 doesn't include Bluetooth hands-free and Uniden has stated no models in the future will come with Bluetooth either — the company claims its customers prefer to use a separate device to handle mobile voice calls in the car and that Bluetooth on GPS units is plagued by poor quality. Judging from our previous experiences with Bluetooth on GPS units, we are inclined to agree.

The Uniden TRAX 4310's battery life is rated at up to three hours, which is about average. We experienced closer to 2.5 hours of battery life before it needed a recharge.

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