Best GPS Units

Global positioning system or GPS navigation saves your energy, fuel and time. GPS guides you to find out the shortest possible route to reach your destination. There are various brands of GPS models available in the market, therefore it is difficult to determine which are the best GPS units. Garmin and TomTom are believed to be the biggest manufacturers of GPS devices for cars. Magellan, Mio, Nextar, Papago are some of the leading GPS brands. There is no 'single best GPS unit' as such. You should go through 'Garmin vs TomTom' reviews, and decide the price range and features for the unit you want. The following information may be helpful in choosing the best GPS for your car.

GPS Devices

With portable GPS navigation systems, it is quite easy to find out an unknown destination. A GPS unit can even plan your route according to the live traffic information. During rush hours, it may suggest an alternative route and during emergencies, it can provide information on local police, fire services and hospitals too. But you need to choose the right GPS device according to your budget and needs. With the advancement of technology, more and more features are being added to GPS models. For example, wider screen, touchscreen displays, travel alarms, options for mounting (dashboard or windshield), currency converters, anti-glare screens, bluetooth, 2D and 3D views, MP3 player, audio book player, picture album, lane assist, spoken street names (you can choose the voice you like), real time traffic reports, POI (point of interest), reversing camera, USB ports, information essential for tourists, maps of various countries, and so on.....TomTom's information is based on Tele Atlas data while information provided by Garmin or Magellan is based on NAVTEQ mapping data. So buyers are always confused while selecting GPS units. Refer to TomTom vs Garmin vs Magellan reviews to know about these GPS units. Your choice actually depends on your own requirement, for what you require the GPS. You can use a GPS while walking, hiking, driving a car, truck or bus, geocaching, etc.

Checklist for Buying Best GPS Units

• Tele Atlas or NAVTEQ: Which map technology is used by the brand and how accurate one is from the other?
• User-Friendly: Do you want a GPS unit that has an easy-to-use interface, or are you ready to learn and memorize?
• Add-ons: Do you really need an easy access to new POIs, new text-to-speech voices, and more?
• Latest Accessories: Do you need extra wide screen? Do you want cigarette lighter adapter, MP3 player, USB port, security digital card, reverse camera, etc?
• Product Reviews: Have you gone through the product reviews? Or have you asked your friends who have used the unit, about its performance? Has anybody experienced 'No signal error' or a 'system crash'?
• Map Updates: Which brand offers more affordable short-term and long-term updates and is it easy to update? Does the brand offer you easy options for making your own updates/modifications in the included maps?
• Modular Units: Which unit is easy to install, mount, or dismount? Do you need heavy duty extension mount? Is the screen easier to press? Does the model provide any memory expansion option? How much free memory it has? Does the unit provide 'preview facility'?
• Information and Presentation: Would you like to have a unit that provides you with loads of information? Perhaps, it might take more time to sift through. Or would you select a model that provides comparatively less information, provided in such a way that you can find what you're looking for within a fraction of seconds?
• Channels: Best GPS for geocaching needs to have 12 parallel channels, if you want to receive continuous guidance through dense trees, windshield of your car or through your clothes or sac (when it is safe inside your pocket or travel pack). Do you want a geocaching GPS to be WAAS-enabled? Do you want an altimeter included in it? Do you want it waterproof, lightweight? Do you need long-lasting battery (it might make the unit heavier) and a solar charger? Is the unit tough enough to bear knocks and falls?

The market for GPS units has grown in the last several years. New devices are being launched and new features are being developed. Reviews of the best GPS units are available on various sites on the Internet. In today's modern world, GPS unit has indeed become a personal assistant.