Nearly all modern vehicles come with the option of adding a GPS navigation system. These are useful, but many people wonder why they should bother upgrading to one if they can just download an app on their smartphone and use it for the same purpose. While both options will deliver the same results, an inbuilt system does come with a number of major advantages over an external smartphone, so it's well worth taking them into account before you make your decision.
1. Unfailing Battery Life
Using your smartphone continuously for any purpose is going to drain the battery much faster than normal, and using the GPS system is really going to eat up the juice. That can be inconvenient if you get to your location only to find that you're on 10%, but it also makes longer journeys far tougher to complete. You might end up halfway to your destination with a dead smartphone, and therefore a dead GPS unit. This isn't a problem with an inbuilt GPS unit.
2. Safety and Security
GPS navigational systems aren't just used for getting drivers to their destinations as quickly as possible. If your car is stolen, the GPS tracking system can be used to help locate it. Even if you didn't remove your smartphone from the car, it can simply be thrown away by a criminal, but that's not the case with an inbuilt unit. Some systems also provide built-in roadside assistance and monitoring services. If an accident occurs, they can alert the nearest emergency operator to your exact location.
3. Ease of Use
Smartphone screens are getting a little bigger, but they're absolutely dwarfed by the screens that you tend to receive within a vehicle. For example, the current Chrysler 300 boasts an 8.4-inch touchscreen. An 8.4-inch screen would be incredibly inconvenient for a smartphone since they need be small enough to fit in your pocket, and they're usually used quite close to your face. That's fine, but a smaller screen size will make it harder to see your route while you're driving. An inbuilt navigation touchscreen, on the other hand, will have been made to use from the driver's seat.
4. Full Integration
Your car's GPS navigation system will be connected up to a string of other vehicle systems, and that comes with several benefits. For example, some units will automatically turn down the volume of your sound system when a direction needs to be given. Additionally, the system will usually be connected to the vehicle's electronics. When you enter a position where there is no satellite signal, they can calculate your current position based on speed information, whereas a smartphone would be blind.
For more information, contact Blue Ribbon Motors or a similar company.
