The Benefits of a Dedicated GPS

It’s a dedicated device – If you have a smartphone, you probably would like to be able to use it as a smartphone. This means every time you want to use it as a GPS, you have to pull it out of your purse/pocket, attach it to its car dock, plug in the charger (you don’t want it running out of batters later), and hope no one text or calls during an important driving instruction. You can leave a dedicated GPS unit in your car, and it will always be ready for you.

A better GPS signal – Smartphones have a lot of hardware stuffed into a small bit of space, and a solid GPS antenna isn’t always a priority. Dedicated GPS units have fewer size constraints and make the GPS antenna a top priority. They offer much more reliable positioning.

No data connection required – Most smartphone GPS apps rely on a data connection for maps and directions, rather than storing all that information on the phone itself. If you’re in an area with no cellular coverage, those apps are fairly useless for navigation. The apps that do store the data on your phone are generally very pricey or involve monthly subscriptions – that money might be better spend on a dedicated unit.

An interface designed for travel – Dedicated GPS units are designed to be mounted to the dashboard. The user interface large buttons and clear text. Smartphones are intended to be used in the palm of your hand and have smaller buttons and text.

The Benefits of a Smartphone GPS

Connectivity – That data connection means you’ll always have up to date maps, traffic conditions, and road information. It also means you have more search options available. Some dedicated GPS units have cellular data connections with the added benefit of the data being free.

More than just a GPS – Smartphones with multitasking can do more than just give directions. Most can be configured to continue to give you directions while playing music or connecting a phone call. Only a small handful of GPS units offer music playback capabilities.

You probably already have a smartphone – If you already have a smartphone (and a lot of people do, these days), its GPS capabilities are probably plenty for the occasional trip; however, if you find yourself using the phone as a GPS often, you might want to consider investing in a dedicated unit.

A Few of the Top Dedicated GPS Units on the Market

If you think a dedicated unit is right for you, here are a few of the top rated GPS units on alaTest.

Garmin nüvi 3590LMT

The nüvi 3590LMT offers a great screen and touch/voice interface as well as free data service for up-to-date traffic information. It’s a bit on the pricey side, but free map updates for life does make up for it.

TomTom GO Live 1005

TomTom’s GO Live GPS units offer the best in information services, including local searches, traffic, weather, and even fuel prices. The service is free for the first year, but costs $59.95 per year after that.

Garmin nüvi 2595LMT

The nüvi 2595LMT offers almost all of the same great features of the 3590LMT but is significantly cheaper. It has the same great interface and free traffic and map updates for life. The only difference is that it does not show 3D landmarks.

2011 will likely be the year that the GPS becomes a fairly standard device to have, whether it’s a dedicated GPS unit, or a Smartphone with GPS built-in. Pretty soon, people will be simply giving you an address, rather than telling you to look for the “House with the green Station Wagon in the driveway.”

So here we have our GPS Roundup; the top GPS units you can find on alaTest.

Top GPS Devices:

Garmin Nuvi 3790T

The Nuvi 3790T is a stylish, feature rich GPS. It has a large, color screen, excellent hands-free voice recognition, and Bluetooth capabilities for phone calls. Built with portability in mind, it’s amazingly thin and has a multi-touch sensitive display for easy zooming in and out. It even includes free real time traffic data.

Garmin Nuvi 1695 NuLink

The Nuvi 1695 is similar to the Nuvi 3790 in that it has most of the same features, such as a large display, Bluetooth, and touch sensitive interface. It doesn’t, however, have the fancy voice recognition. Instead, it makes up for it with Garmin’s NuLink service. Just $5 per month gets you up to date maps and traffic data, as well as instant search capabilities, gas prices, and etc.

Tomtom Go 2505

This is the direct competitor to Garmin’s Nuvi 3790T. The Tomtom Go has Tomtom’s own data link service providing real time traffic data, as well as all of the features of the Nuvi 3790T; however, the Go 2505’s voice recognition isn’t quite as polished as Garmin’s.

Garmin Nuvi 1690

The Nuvi 1690 is a cheaper alternative to the Nuvi 1695. It doesn’t quite perform as well as the more expensive models, but it does include free access to Garmin’s NuLink service (although with the occasional pop-up ad). Even with the ads though, the Nuvi 1690 is easily one of the best buys at its price.

GPS Enabled Smartphones

The line between a dedicated GPS unit and a GPS Enabled Smartphone is becoming quite blurred. While a dedicated GPS unit will be more accurate and reliable than a Smartphone, the multi-functionality and constant data connection of a Smartphone make for a worthy tradeoff. Devices like the iPhone4 have several GPS applications available, and Android devices, such as the Nexus S and Desire HD, make especially good use of Google Maps.

There are, of course, plenty of excellent GPS devices to choose from to best suit your budget and needs. Just browse out GPS Section to find your perfect fit.