Best Portable GPS

The best portable GPS navigation system will enable you to get directions to any place you want, right from your current location. Moreover, if you are lost somewhere and do not where you are, you can also get information for the same with the help of this device. GPS stands for Global Positioning System, and it is a method of getting geographical locations and directions with the help of several satellites in space.

Usually, a GPS device should get a signal from a minimum of 4 satellites at one time, and this is so that the 4 directions can be ascertained. With the advancement of this technology, it is very simple to get these signals because there are a large number of satellites present. This technology was first introduced by the United States Army, and today anyone can make full use of this wonderful method.

A portable GPS device can be attached to your automobile, and in fact, most manufacturers today supply vehicles with these devices by default. You can also buy a handheld GPS which can be carried around with you wherever you go, and this is perfect for people who like to go camping and carry out other adventurous activities. Even smartphones come attached with a GPS receiver today and they can also be used as portable GPS devices, the most common application used for the same being the highly reliable Google Maps.

Best Portable GPS Brands

Garmin, Magellan and TomTom are the 3 most well-known brands in this market and they offer the best portable GPS devices around. You also get a variety of features on the devices made by them, and you can see all the information on beautifully designed LCD touchscreens. Various other features include pre-planned routes, distress calls, saved routes and many more advanced features.

Garmin is a Swiss company and it is the market leader for the best GPS units, and most of its best products are very useful and satisfying. Magellan is an American company and therefore it is seen in most American vehicles, and TomTom is a Dutch company that also specializes in the development and production of portable GPS devices that are very easy to use. There are other brands like Motorola and Navigon as well, but if you want the best features and guaranteed performance, do not look beyond these 3 brands. Also read TomTom vs Garmin vs Magellan.

Best Portable GPS to Buy

The model that you buy depends totally on your budget and your exact requirements, and this is something that you must be aware of beforehand. Read plenty of best portable GPS reviews before you make a purchase, because these devices do not come cheap. You must ensure that you buy a device that is perfect for you. Here are some of the most popular models that are worth looking at.

GPS Brand	Models	Price
Garmin	Nuvi 205W	$79 - $199
	Nuvi 855	$109
	Nuvi 200	$139
	Nuvi 1390T	$149 - $399
	Nuvi 3790T	$399 - $549
Magellan	Maestro 4370	$119
	RoadMate 1470	$129 - $149
	RoadMate 3030LM	$129
	Maestro 3100	$130
	Maestro 4000	$209
TomTom	XL 340 S	$89 - $169
	GO 630	$109 - $299
	XXL 540TM	$189
	One XL	$239

Other models like the Motorola MotoNav TN765t (for $89 - $169), the Motorola MotoNav TN555 (for $189), the Sony NVU83T (for $450) and the Nokia 500 (for $185) also represent good buys. Before you decide to buy any of these best portable GPS devices though, there are many things that you will need to take into consideration and keep in mind. Consider features like Bluetooth technology, turn-by-turn directions, text-to-speech convertibility, live updates, pre-loaded maps, memory capacity, other portable GPS applications and screen size also. Other things like user interface and finally, portability of the device are also important factors to consider when searching for the best handheld GPS.

The best portable GPS should be ideal for the kind of tasks that you wish to carry out. Using a device that is too big or too small can cause problems, and not having adequate features you need, can also disable your movements. This is a wonderful technology in many different ways, but you need to realize its utility and then find a right fit.