Sat-navs tested: over £250 - 6th: Snooper S280 Sapphire Plus

Snooper S280 Sapphire Plus

Best Price £239.00 (Snoopers-r-us.co.uk)
For Tiny size and surprisingly good maps.
Against Small screen, low volume and no cradle.
Verdict Worth a look if you play golf, or want a pocket-sized, multi-purpose sat-nav.

The Snooper isn't strictly an in-car sat-nav system - it doesn't even come with a cradle - but it was the smallest and lightest unit on test by some margin, and got us where we wanted to go in the car or on foot with minimum hassle.

There were some drawbacks, though. First, you'll need to invest in a mobile phone holder (or similar) to use it in the car.

Second, although we found the maps surprisingly detailed and easy to follow, the tiny 2.7-inch screen makes them hard to see from a distance.

We found that clipping the Sapphire to a dash-mounted holder was the best way of bringing it close enough to get a decent view.

The unit's size also compromised the spoken instructions. They were accurate, but the tiny speaker distorted easily, making them difficult to hear on the road.

Golf fans will no doubt forgive the Snooper's shortcomings, though, as the Sapphire comes with Golf Pro Shot Saver, which provides you with distances to holes, bunkers and other hazards on over 2000 golf courses.

• See how all the systems fared by clicking here.

Sat-nav systems under £150
Sat-nav systems £150-£250