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In 2018, your phone might not be the best sat navs. We know that’s a big claim, but you don’t have to look any further than this page to find some of the best sat navs on the market. These are GPS devices for your car that will make sure you don’t get lost the next time you’re somewhere new. We’ve put together a list of the best sat nav apps you can buy in 2023.
Since it’s 2023, you could say that it’s less important than ever to buy a dedicated satellite navigation system. Even if your car doesn’t have its own system, you can use a mapping app from Google, Apple, or Waze on your phone to get around. We’ve chosen the best satnavs on the market right now to help you choose the right one.
| Model | Battery Life | Screen Size | Connectivity Technologies | Dimensions (in) | Weight (oz) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin DriveSmart 51 | 1 hour | 5″ | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | 5.5 x 3.3 x 0.8 | 6.1 | $199.99 |
| Garmin DriveSmart 61 | 1 hour | 6.95″ | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | 6.8 x 3.9 x 0.7 | 8.5 | $249.99 |
| Garmin Drive Assist 51 | 30 minutes | 5″ | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | 5.5 x 3.3 x 0.7 | 6.1 | $299.99 |
| Garmin DriveSmart 66 | 1 hour | 6.95″ | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | 6.8 x 3.9 x 0.7 | 8.5 | $299.99 |
| Garmin Drive 52 | 1 hour | 5″ | USB | 5.5 x 3.3 x 0.8 | 6.1 | $149.99 |
| TomTom Go Classic | 1 hour | 5″ | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | 5.4 x 3.1 x 0.6 | 6.4 | $129.99 |
| TomTom GO Discover | 2 hours | 6.95″ | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB | 7.7 x 4.7 x 0.9 | 10.4 | $299.99 |
Garmin DriveSmart 51
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 5.0 inches |
| Maps | Preloaded North America maps |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth for hands-free calling and smart notifications |
| Voice Navigation | Yes, with turn-by-turn directions |
| Traffic Updates | Yes, with built-in traffic receiver |
The Garmin Drive 51 LMT-S is one of the best GPS on the market, in our opinion, if you want a fairly advanced system to help you get from Point A to Point B. It has big buttons and is small enough to fit nicely on your windshield.
Search is usually good, and it’s nice to get directions like “turn left at the light” instead of a specific street name, which you might not know if you’re in a new place. Our biggest complaints are about the old-fashioned interface and voice.
The Good
- A big screen makes it easy to see.
- North American maps that are ready to go
- Bluetooth lets you make calls without holding the phone.
- Voice navigation with directions for each turn
- Real-time information about traffic is built in.
The Bad
- Screen size is smaller than on other models
- Only maps of North America can be bought.
Garmin DriveSmart 61
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.95 inches |
| Maps | Preloaded North America maps |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth for hands-free calling and smart notifications |
| Voice Navigation | Yes, with turn-by-turn directions |
| Traffic Updates | Yes, with built-in traffic receiver |
The Garmin DriveSmart 61 is a sat nav that looks high-end and is full of features you’ll want to use. It has a responsive screen, and the information it gives is clear and to the point. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s one of the best GPS systems on the market. This GPS navigator is easy to use and has a bright 6.95-inch capacitive touch screen.
The resolution of the screen is 1024 by 600 pixels. When you use the free smartphone link app on your compatible phone, you can get real-time services like Live traffic and some Live parking. There are Bluetooth calls, smart notifications, and navigation using your voice. This USB mass storage device works with Windows XP and later versions, as well as Mac OS X 10.4 and later versions.
The Good
- Large 6.95-inch screen makes it easier to see.
- North American maps that are ready to go
- Bluetooth lets you make calls without holding the phone.
- Voice navigation with directions for each turn
- Real-time information about traffic is built in.
The Bad
- The large size might not fit well in all cars.
- Only maps of North America can be bought
Garmin Drive Assist 51
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 5.0 inches |
| Maps | Preloaded North America maps |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth for hands-free calling and smart notifications |
| Voice Navigation | Yes, with turn-by-turn directions |
| Traffic Updates | Yes, with built-in traffic receiver |
| Dash Cam | Yes, with forward collision and lane departure warnings |
The Garmin Drive Assist 51 is a great, high-end alternative to using your phone to get maps. The Drive Assist 51 is a great choice if you want a dedicated sat nav that doesn’t need a phone. It’s great for people who aren’t very tech-savvy because it has a lot of features, is easy to use, and is easy to dock.
It also has a built-in camera that can record video and track things like where you are in the lane and how close you are to the car in front of you. The Garmin Drive Assist 51, on the other hand, is all about navigation, and it does a great job when you’re behind the wheel. It’s hard to say if it’s better than your smartphone because they are so similar, but it’s not worse.
The Good
- Dash cam built in for extra safety features
- North American maps that are ready to go
- Bluetooth lets you make calls without holding the phone.
- Voice navigation with directions for each turn
- Real-time information about traffic is built in.
The Bad
- Screen size is smaller than on other models
- Only maps of North America can be bought.
Garmin DriveSmart 66
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.95 inches |
| Maps | Preloaded North America maps |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth for hands-free calling and smart notifications |
| Voice Navigation | Yes, with turn-by-turn directions |
| Traffic Updates | Yes, with built-in traffic receiver |
The name makes it sound like the DriveSmart 66 is meant to replace the DriveSmart 65, but it actually replaces the DriveSmart 55, albeit with a slightly bigger 6in screen. The good news is that it still feels like a high-end satnav, with a slim, smartphone-like design, a bright, responsive 1280 x 720 resolution capacitive display, and a suction-cup windshield mount that comes with the device.
Also, Garmin’s software is as good as ever, with clear voice instructions, good references to buildings and street names, and helpful 3D images that make it easier to deal with tricky intersections. The DriveSmart’s voice control isn’t its best feature. It had trouble recognizing town names and addresses, and you have to look at the screen to make a choice.
The Good
- Large 6.95-inch screen makes it easier to see.
- North American maps that are ready to go
- Bluetooth lets you make calls without holding the phone.
- Voice navigation with directions for each turn
The Bad
- The large size might not fit well in all cars.
- Only maps of North America can be bought.
Garmin Drive 52
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 5.0 inches |
| Maps | Preloaded North America maps |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth for hands-free calling and smart notifications |
| Voice Navigation | Yes, with turn-by-turn directions |
The Garmin Drive 52 isn’t very fancy, but it has everything you need from a satnav: smart routes, clear directions, and a 3D view to help you at intersections. Real Directions from Garmin, which use street names and landmarks, are included, and the directions are clear and given on time.
It has the same points of interest from Tripadvisor and Foursquare as the more expensive DriveSmart models. It also has live traffic alerts, speed camera warnings, and weather forecasts. For live alerts, you will need to connect it via Bluetooth to a smartphone running Garmin’s Drive app.
The Good
- The small 5.0-inch screen makes it easy to install in many car interiors.
- North American maps that are ready to go
- Bluetooth lets you make calls without holding the phone.
The Bad
- Screen size is smaller than on other models
- Only maps of North America can be bought.
TomTom Go Classic
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 6.0 inches |
| Maps | Preloaded worldwide maps |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi for map updates and traffic updates |
| Voice Navigation | Yes, with turn-by-turn directions |
| Traffic Updates | Yes, with real-time traffic information |
| Advanced Lane Guidance | Yes |
| Speed Camera Alerts | Yes |
Garmin’s entry-level satnav is a little cheaper than TomTom’s, but in some ways, TomTom’s is a better buy. Even though the 6in model’s screen is still resistive and a bit slow to respond, at least it’s big, clear, and easy to read. This model, on the other hand, has a surprising number of features, such as connectivity with smartphones, text message alerts, and integration with TomTom’s MyDrive app.
The important thing here is that you still get TomTom’s great maps and directions, but in a device that feels quick and doesn’t make you feel too frustrated every time you look for a destination. It can also be updated over Wi-Fi, and it comes with a good mount for the windshield.
The Good
- Large screen, 6.0 inches, makes it easy to see.
- Preloaded maps of the whole world make navigation easier.
- Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to get updated maps and traffic info
- Voice navigation with turn-by-turn instructions lets you drive without using your hands.
The Bad
- May not have some high-tech features that other models have.
- Only able to get updates through Wi-Fi.
TomTom GO Discover
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 7.0 inches |
| Maps | Preloaded worldwide maps |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi for map updates and traffic updates |
| Voice Navigation | Yes, with turn-by-turn directions |
| Traffic Updates | Yes, with real-time traffic information |
| Advanced Lane Guidance | Yes |
| Speed Camera Alerts | Yes |
| Hands-Free Calling | Yes |
| Music Streaming | Yes |
The TomTom Go Discover is a simple GPS device that doesn’t have any extra features. The most important thing is how well it works, not how cool it looks, and there’s no doubt that TomTom does a great job of that here. This starts with maps that are easy to read and may have the best lane guidance in the industry.
It’s quick and easy to use, which might be the best thing about it. This device is a bit pricey, especially when you think about how much a Live subscription will cost after your one-year trial. But if you just want to find your way without any extras, you can’t go wrong with this TomTom.
The Good
- Large 7.0-inch screen makes it easier to see.
- Preloaded maps of the whole world make navigation easier.
- Wi-Fi connectivity makes it easy to get updated maps and traffic info
- Voice navigation with turn-by-turn instructions lets you drive without using your hands.
The Bad
- A bigger screen might not work well in all cars.
- There may be more advanced features that not all users need.
FAQs
Garmin is better at some things than TomTom, but TomTom is better at other things than Garmin. In all honesty, you probably won’t go too far wrong with any brand you choose. Both TomTom and Garmin make good devices that are not too different from each other.
Many people, especially Android users, use Google Maps as their default navigation app, and it’s still one of the best. The graphics are clear and easy to see at a glance, there is voice guidance, it works with phone mirroring apps, you can add multiple stops, and the live traffic updates are usually accurate.
Google Maps is the best and most-used alternative to Waze. If you have an iPhone, Apple Maps is a great alternative. It shows detailed city maps with 3D views and step-by-step directions for driving, biking, or walking.
Waze. Waze is a popular map app that has a lot of extra features that make it a popular alternative to Google Maps. The speed camera report function has been especially liked by many users.