Do you use your smartphone for GPS functions while driving? Yeah, we do, too, and it’s pretty awesome. You know what would make it better, though? Having those apps show up directly on our windshield, so we never have to take our eyes off the road. That’s exactly what the Garmin HUD does.
Yeah, we kind of hate the name for the utter lack of imagination, too, but we definitely don’t harbor the same negative sentiments about the product itself. In fact, it just might be one of the sweetest aftermarket heads-up display solutions we’ve come across.
In a nutshell, the Garmin HUD takes input from your smartphone and projects it onto the windshield. No, it won’t recreate your entire display; instead, it takes data from the smartphone apps and projects a minimalist two-color layout of useful information, such as arrows for turn-by-turn instructions, distance from the next turn, estimated time of arrival, current speed and speed limit, as well as traffic and camera alerts. You can still use the phone as is if you prefer it, but you’ll have the projected HUD available to make things easier. It pairs with the smartphone (works with iOS, Android and Windows Phone) wirelessly over Bluetooth.
To use, you’ll need to attach a strip of transparent film to the part of the windshield where the monitor will be projected, then mount the device onto your dashboard. Once that’s setup, just pair it with your smartphone, run the appropriate apps, and do your usual thing. It measures 4.25 x 3.46 x 0.73 inches (w x h x d).
The Garmin HUD should be available next month, priced at $129.99.