Top 3 GPS Cell Phones

Do GPS enabled phones make for a better choice than a dedicated handheld and in-car GPS navigator? Despite being a relatively fresh feature in mobile phones, GPS is popping up in most new multimedia phones nowadays. Most of these phones come with a GPS sensor to use different location-based content apps, like emergency location or buddy beacons, rather than compete with in-car GPS navigators.

Still, a few phones out there offer strong GPS sensors and snappy software, which in the long run make them bound to compete with dedicated handheld navigators. Make sure to check out the full reviews of the top 3 GPS cell phones featured below, to get a good feeling of their overall performance.

Nokia N95 - GPS score: 9 out of 10

Though it takes a moment to warm up and find your location, once the GPS sensor on the Nokia N95 is tracking you, it can be tenacious. The sensor and included software are easily the best we've seen on a phone, even with the additional subscription fee for navigation and voice directions.

The map works as a 2D top-down or 3D map, and it tracked our location quickly and accurately, turning with us as we went through intersections. The zooming globe map clearly takes advantage of the graphical firepower of the N95, as visual effects are smooth, and the map zooms better than any map we've seen.

LG VX8700 - GPS score: 8 out of 10

We're not huge fans of VZ Navigator to begin with, though it admittedly works fine in a pinch. Still, the VX8700 had a GPS sensor that was quite sensitive. It had no problem finding us even inside our office, buried in the cubicles, with only a slight view of the window. The phone had a bit of a delay tracking us through turns, but updated quickly. The interface also seemed to be refreshed since the last time we saw VZ Navigator, with cleaner looking icons and a map that had fewer jaggies.


Helio Ocean - GPS score: 8 out of 10

The GPS sensor on the phone was very strong, often able to find us indoors. We're waiting for a second device to really give the Buddy Beacon app a run for its money, but until then, we're still intrigued by the possibilities. Google Maps is still the wrong application for driving directions, as it doesn't handle live turn-by-turn navigation and it won't speak your directions to you, both necessities while driving.

Portable vs. In-Car GPS Systems

Fancy in-car navigation systems have become a must-have option for the rich and the lost, but portable devices equipped with comparable technology for a fraction of the price have emerged as viable alternatives.

A year or two ago, we never would have recommended portable GPS systems," said Tom Mutchler, auto test engineer for Consumer Reports. "But now, in many cases, they make much more sense than the car manufacturer's factory systems."

He said that $500 can buy a very strong aftermarket global positioning satellite system, whereas car buyers spend upwards of $2,000 to add GPS as an option in their new vehicle.

Aside from the cost, other advantages of the portable systems include the ability to use one system for multiple cars and to easily upgrade as new technology becomes available.

Consumer Reports gives the highest marks to the Garmin Nuvi 660 at about $700. The Garmin Nuvi 350, $200 cheaper and with a smaller screen, is a close second. The Best bang for your buck goes to the TomTom One (pictured), the Magellan Roadmate 2000 and the Garmin Street Pilot C330, all for $300 or less.

That's not to say the in-car systems don't have some pretty major advantages of their own. First of all, they come with bigger screens, in general, and they're clearly much more resistant to theft. It's just a matter of whether the added expense is worth it. The one technology that may tip the scale in favor of the factory systems is voice recognition, according to Mutchler.

He said Nissan's Infiniti G35 and Toyota's Lexus LS 460 (pictured) are probably the best examples, with both offering very intuitive touch-screen controls and an easy-to-follow set-up process. But high-end systems don't necessarily mean buyers have to spend high-end dollars on their car, says Mitch McCullough, editor in chief of NewCarTestDrive.com. Top-notch GPS systems are trickling down into lower-cost vehicles, including compact cars like the Honda Civic, Mazda3 and Ford Focus.

McCullough added that Honda's system is hard to beat. Acura, Honda's luxury brand, was the first to offer real-time traffic condition updates in its RL sedan, which has been a big hit with drivers.

All in all, Consumer Reports' Mutchler said the domestics, which are playing catch-up on many fronts, generally compare favorably with the top offerings from the Asian automakers.

Rather, it's Mercedes that lags the competition. "Mercedes Benz just isn't up to snuff," he said. "The older systems in the E-Class lineup don't have touch screens; they use a joystick, and the commands are pretty cryptic. They really lack the intuitiveness and the ease of use."

BMW's iDrive system (pictured), while showing improvement in recent versions, has also been slammed by critics, who've found it too confusing and tech-intensive for the average driver.

Still, major automakers seem to be getting navigation technology right, for the most part. But probably not right enough to justify the massive price gap between their factory systems and the snazzy portable ones available in the after market.

Top 5 GPS Devices

Garmin Nuvi 660
The price tag is a little hefty, but if you can swing it, the Garmin Nuvi 660 delivers a solid-performing and versatile GPS device that offers navigation basics, tools for the world traveler, Bluetooth, and more. If the Nuvi 660 is too much for you, Garmin offers other models in the Nuvi series with the same great performance, so there's sure to be a model to suit your needs.

HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion
For the movers and shakers, the HP iPaq rx5900 Travel Companion delivers a sleek, all-in-one solution that can not only keep you on track during your travels but also with your schedule. This PDA-GPS combo is one of the sleekest we've seen to date.

Magellan Maestro 4250
The Magellan Maestro 4250 is one of the first portable navigation systems we've tested with a voice command feature. While the ability to operate the GPS device with the sound of your voice is cool, we're more impressed with the accuracy and solid performance of this mid-level system

Mio C520 Navigation Receiver
The sleek Mio C520 is a good-value GPS device, packing in advanced navigation features, a large screen, and other extras for an affordable price. It's even sleek enough that we'd use it as a video player. Our only complaint is that we think you can get a slightly better experience and smoother performance from competing systems.

TomTom GO 720
Portable navigation systems are a dime a dozen these days, but the sleek TomTom GO 720 differentiates itself with a new Map Share community tool that gives you access to constant map updates and a useful safety option in case of an emergency.

The Global Positioning System

The Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully functional Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Utilizing a constellation of at least 24 Medium Earth Orbit satellites that transmit precise microwave signals, the system enables a GPS receiver to determine its location, speed, direction, and time. Other similar systems are the Russian GLONASS (incomplete as of 2007), the upcoming European Galileo positioning system, the proposed COMPASS navigation system of China, and IRNSS of India.

Developed by the United States Department of Defense, GPS is officially named NAVSTAR GPS (Contrary to popular belief, NAVSTAR is not an acronym, but simply a name given by Mr. John Walsh, a key decision maker when it came to the budget for the GPS program).[1] The satellite constellation is managed by the United States Air Force 50th Space Wing. The cost of maintaining the system is approximately US$750 million per year,[2] including the replacement of ageing satellites, and research and development.

Following the shootdown of Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983, President Ronald Reagan issued a directive making the system available for free for civilian use as a common good.[3] Since then, GPS has become a widely used aid to navigation worldwide, and a useful tool for map-making, land surveying, commerce, and scientific uses. GPS also provides a precise time reference used in many applications including scientific study of earthquakes, and synchronization of telecommunications networks.