Pod 3 VS Garmin Astro 320
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Garmin Astro 320 and Pod 3 may seem quite similar at first glance, but they are actually more different than you may initially assume. This Garmin Astro 320 VS Pod 3 comparison is designed to show you exactly what each of these two pet trackers offers, highlight their main strong and weak points, and reveal which one of them may be a more reliable tracking solution.
VS
Highlights
Garmin Astro 320 is an advanced GPS dog tracker that offers more useful features than virtually any pet tracker available. It is highly accurate, fast, and most importantly, perfectly reliable.
- Accurate within 12 feet, location updated every 5 seconds
- Communication range of up to 9 miles in open, flat spaces
- Incredible range of advanced and special tracking features
- Price: $449.99
- Shipping: $$5 to $28 *
*Shipping does not come free of charge and significantly varies depending on location
Pod 3 is a GPS pet tracker that uses GPS, cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth technologies for outdoor and indoor tracking. It works in 175+ world countries and has a virtually unlimited communication range.
- Waterproof & shockproof tracking unit weighing just 1.1 oz.
- Minimum location update interval of just 10 seconds
- Activity and movement monitoring and adventure recording
- Price: $129.00
- Shipping: $0 *
*free shipping in the US, the UK, and Australia, other countries qualify for flat rate shipping of up to $15.35
Compare Features
Highlights
Garmin Astro 320 is a fee-free premium GPS dog tracking system that boasts a communication range of up to 9 miles, offers 5-second location updates and high accuracy, works in every part of the US, and provides an abundance of special tracking features.
Type
GPS Pet Tracker
Design
Garmin Astro 320 bundle includes the Garmin Astro 320 handheld locator and the T5 or T5 mini tracking unit with a collar included. The black-orange handheld locator measures 6.3’’ x 2.4’’ x 1.4’’ (HWD). It possesses a transreflective 65-K color TFT display that measures 2.15’’ x 1.42’’ (2.6’’ diagonal), with a resolution of 160 x 240 pixels. It features a stainless steel radio antenna and a top-mounted GPS antenna, with both standard and long-range antennas included in the package.
The T5 and T5 mini tracking units come with orange collar straps. The T5 tracking unit measures 1.74’’ x 3.5’’ x 1.85’’ (HWD) and comes with a 1’’ collar strap. The T5 mini measures 1.8’’ x 3.1’’ x 1.4’’ (HWD) and comes with a 0.75'' collar strap. Both tracking units come with GPS and radio antennas, but only T5 comes with both standard and long-range antennas.
Available Sizes
The Garmin Astro 320 handheld locator only comes in 1 size. The tracking units come in 2 sizes, including T5, which comes with a 1'' collar strap, and T5 mini, which comes with a 0.75'' collar strap. The 1'' strap fits neck circumferences of 9.5'' and more while the 0.75'' strap can be suitable for neck circumferences under 9.5''.
Suitable For Cats
Durability
All elements of Garmin Astro 320 are waterproof, resistant to dust and dirt, and made of strong materials. The system does not have a limited lifespan and may last for many years with proper use.
Key Tracking Features
Garmin Astro 320 offers a vast range of tracking features, including:
- Near-real-time tracking with location updates every 5 seconds, accuracy within 12 feet, and 10,000 points of information per dog;
- Customizable dog display, showing the dog’s name, direction, distance, and status along with a map;
- Advanced mapping, with multiple map options, including BirdsEye Satellite Imagery, TOPO maps, City Navigator NT map data for turn-by-turn routing on roads, and custom maps;
- Trip planning with BaseCamp, which lets you easily organize maps, waypoints, routes, and tracks and create adventures that can be shared with friends;
- Different tracking profiles, such as hunting, recreational, automotive, marine, geocaching, and fitness;
- Tracking via computer, using BaseStation software;
- 3-axis electronic compass;
- Multiple dashboards available on any page for added functionality.
Pet Activity Monitoring
Garmin Astro 320 does not provide health and activity monitoring features.
Training Assistance
Garmin Astro 320 does not provide training assistance.
Additional Features
Extra features available with Garmin Astro 320 include:
- Wireless sharing with compatible devices;
- Rescue mode, which reduces the location update rate when the battery level drops below 25% in order to extend battery life by 4-8 hours;
- Convey counter, which allows you to create special waypoints with information on the location, time of day, and elevation where the dog found the prey, alongside other waypoints including locations like truck, lodge, food plots, and tree stands;
- Calendar for keeping track of your adventures;
- Hunt and fish calendar;
- Sun and moon information.
Communication Range
4 miles with T5 mini, 9 miles with T5
Weight
T5 mini: 7 oz. with collar; T5: 9.3 oz. with collar
Shockproof
Waterproof
Night Mode
Battery Life
16-40 hours
Smartphone App
Garmin Astro 320 does not come with a smartphone app.
Connectivity
Garmin Astro 320 uses GPS to determine the dog's location and employs radio frequency signals for communication between the handheld locator and the tracking unit.
Coverage
Garmin Astro 320 is only approved for use in the US due to legal regulations. Regulations aside, it could work anywhere as it is independent of cellular networks.
Pricing
Bundle (locator and tracking unit): $599.99; Handheld locator only: $449.99
Shipping and Delivery
The shipping costs within the US range from $5 to $28 per delivery. International shipping is an option, with varying costs, but the device cannot be used outside the US.
Refund Policy
Garmin Astro 320 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You need to return the device in the original condition within 30 days of purchase in order to receive a refund.
Warranty
Garmin Astro 320 comes with a 1-year limited warranty that covers defects in materials and workmanship. Repairs come with a 90-day warranty.
Highlights
Pod 3 is a Bluetooth and WiFi enabled GPS pet tracker that allows for both indoor and outdoor tracking, works in 175+ world countries, has a virtually unlimited communication range, offers location, activity, and movement monitoring features, and boasts a minimum location update interval of just 10 seconds.
Type
GPS Pet Tracker
Design
The Pod 3 tracking unit is black, cylinder-shaped, and measures just 2’’ in length and 0.9’’ in diameter. It is attached to the pet’s collar using a rubber strap suitable for virtually all collars, as well as larger objects like bicycles or drones.
Available Sizes
Pod 3 does not come in different sizes and it fits most collars.
Suitable For Cats
Durability
Pod 3 can last for at least a couple of years with proper use. It is both shockproof and waterproof and it is not prone to damage.
Key Tracking Features
Pod 3 allows you to track your pet’s location with:
- 3 tracking modes, including Standby for battery saving, Safe Zone with instant notifications when the pet leaves the safe zone, and Adventure, with the most frequently updated location information;
- Near-real-time tracking, with location updated every 10 seconds in live tracking adventure mode;
- Multiple safe zones, which you can customize both in terms of location and size;
- Location history, which allows you to view your pet’s past locations for the period of 24 hours;
- Sharing, which allows multiple users to track the location of the same pet at once.
Pet Activity Monitoring
Pod 3 allows you to track your pet’s activity with:
- Constantly refreshed details on rest, walk, and play activity, with time spent walking and playing expressed in minutes and rest time expressed in hours;
- Daily, weekly, and monthly activity overviews;
- Custom-defined daily activity goals.
Training Assistance
Pod 3 does not provide training assistance.
Additional Features
Extra features available with Pod 3 include:
- Movement tracking, with the device constantly monitoring your pet’s movement and identifying unusual and sudden changes in your pet’s activity and behavior;
- Adventure recording, which allows you to record your pet’s walks and revisit them later, with adventures shown on a map and including information on distance walked, time spent walking, area covered, and your pet’s speed.
Communication Range
Pod 3 works over any distance within cellular and WiFi coverage.
Weight
1.1 oz.
Shockproof
Waterproof
Night Mode
Battery Life
Up to 5 days in standby mode, up to 8 hours in Adventure mode (refresh rate of 10 seconds)
Smartphone App
The Pod 3 smartphone app is compatible with Android 5.0+ and iOS 8+. The app can be used for multiple pets. Login details can be shared with friends and family in order to enable multiple users to simultaneously track the same pet via the Pod 3 app.
The app features 2 main screens, including the Pet screen and the Map screen. The Pet screen allows you to view details of your pets, their last known locations and location times, and their 24-hour location history. It further lets you manage safe zone, refresh rate, activity monitoring, and adventure recording settings. The Map screen allows you to manage your account settings, add new pets, view location information for your pets, refresh their locations manually, and access Pod Help.
Connectivity
Pod 3 uses GPS technology for outdoor tracking. It is WiFi and Bluetooth enabled for tracking indoors. It uses 2G and 3G cellular networks to transfer location information to the pet guardian's smartphone.
Coverage
Pod 3 works in 175+ countries on 6 continents
Pricing
Device: $89 Service Plan: $8.95 per month with the monthly subscription; $4.95 with the yearly subscription.
Shipping and Delivery
Pod 3 comes with free shipping for deliveries to the US, the UK, and Australia. For other countries, there is a shipping fee of up to $15.35.
Refund Policy
Pod 3 comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can return the device within 30 days and get a full refund if it is saleable or faulty. If the device is not in a saleable condition, there is a $25 fee. If the device is broken or lost, you do not get a refund but you do get a 50% discount on a new Pod 3.
Warranty
Pod 3 comes with a 12-month warranty. The warranty covers malfunctions that are not caused by improper use.
Compare Ratings
Winner
Garmin Astro 320 is one of the most impressive GPS dog tracking systems currently on the market. Everything from its high accuracy and location update frequency to its amazing set of special features promises to take dog tracking to a whole new level. Read our Garmin Astro 320 review and discover whether this advanced tracker is worth splurging on.