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It's no secret smartphones have evolved into digital Swiss Army knives.
Along with serving as a lifeline to friends, family and co-workers, that pocket-sized gadget has become your camera, camcorder, music player, pedometer, portable game player and alarm clock.
In all likelihood, smartphones have also replaced your GPS navigation unit.
In fact, sales of dedicated dashboard devices from the likes of Garmin and TomTom have cooled considerably over the years, just as smartphone adoption has exploded.
While there are benefits to map navigation on a smartphone — free apps, integrated traffic alerts and seamless map updates — you might still consider a standalone GPS unit after all.
Before you scoff, consider these reasons a standalone GPS unit still makes sense for your vehicle:
1. Battery life. Using your smartphone for navigation is convenient. You can easily carry it with you on foot, for instance. But it can prematurely drain the battery since you're using multiple wireless radios simultaneously. When running an app like Google Maps, your smartphone uses A-GPS — "assisted" with cellular signals — for added reliability. Many smartphone users already complain about battery life on their device, and relying on it for directions will drain it even faster.
2. Multitasking an issue. If you get a call on the same smartphone you're using for GPS, it minimizes (or in some cases, pauses) the navigation session until you get off the phone. Sure, you can manually open the mapping app again while talking, but that's not exactly safe while behind the wheel. As a result, some users don't want to take a call in case they miss their exit. This isn't an issue with a standalone GPS unit.
3. Bigger screen, mountable. While smartphone screens are growing in size, many GPS navigation units have even bigger displays — usually measuring 4.3- to 5.0 inches — which makes them easy to glance at while driving. Even if your phone's screen is comparable in size, unless you buy a mounting kit you don't have anywhere safe to prop it up securely in your vehicle. Most dedicated GPS units are bundled with a fitted dashboard or windshield mount, or both.
4. Servicing issues. What happens if something goes wrong with your phone and it needs to be sent in for repairs? Or what if it's lost or stolen? Now you're without both your smartphone and your navigation solution. This is a common problem with any convergence device, as you're relying on one product to do multiple things, but it could be aggravating to find yourself lost because you don't have a backup solution.
5. GPS units are lendable. Let's say your significant other has a business meeting or lunch date in an unfamiliar part of the city. Lend them your GPS nav unit, so they can benefit from the turn-by-turn directions, and they don't have to worry about installing and using an app on their smartphone. Or, if you're traveling out of the country and your phone's wireless radios are turned off to avoid roaming charges, using a non-wireless GPS unit is less of a hassle.
Tempted? Here are some suggested models:
• Garmin nüvi 66LMT ($209.99) is a 6.1-inch GPS with lifetime map and traffic updates. Hear step-by-step directions while navigating to your destination, plus the high-resolution screen (800 x 480 pixels) displays your speed versus the speed limit and estimated arrival time. The nüvi 66LMT includes Lane Assist (with brightly colored arrows to indicate your proper lane), maps of the U.S. and Canada, and millions of nearby points of interest (POIs).
• Similarly, TomTom's VIA 1605TM ($199.99) is a 6-inch GPS unit with lifetime map and traffic updates. IQ Routes technology helps you accurately calculate trip time — based on your route, speed and traffic conditions — for the preloaded base maps of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico . More than 7 million POIs help you find gas stations, restaurants, hotels, bank machines, and more. The unit reads spoken street names aloud, in one of the many preloaded voices or you can download celebrity voices to customize your trip.
• With an average consumer score of 4.0 stars out of 5 (based on more than 200 reviews), the highest-rated Magellan GPS unit is the RoadMate 2230T-LM($129.99), a 4.3-inch GPS, also with lifetime map and traffic updates. Preloaded with maps for the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, plus 7 million POIs, this talking nav unit helps you keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. A "Best Parking" feature suggests nearby parking garage locations, hours and directions, and more.
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