Which is the best Android smartphone with GPS?

There are so many smartphone models available in stores that it might seem like a difficult choice to choose a good one at the right price.

Nevertheless, if you are looking at the right features you’ll get a smartphone that is perfect for GPS navigation. For Apple users the choice is simple – just find a good GPS app for iPhone and you’re ready to go.

What about Android GPS? More and more people give up on old navigation devices and use smartphones instead.

With an Android Gps Smartphone, you can use some of the best truck navigation apps. Even Google Maps can be used as a truck navigation app if you follow the steps in this tutorial.

How do we choose the best GPS navigation smartphone?

Must have GPS and A-GPS for faster localization

These features let a smartphone use satellite connection combined with Wi-Fi or 4G mobile data to speed up the process of getting a goGPS positioning.

A smartphone with these features will show exact Gps position in seconds and will recalculate routes faster.

Using internal chips, a smartphone will connect to one or more satellite networks. There are four major satellite networks: GPS (USA), Glonass (Russia), Galileo (Europe) and Beidou (China). Most smartphones use the GPS network and others can use GPS and also Glonass.

If the smartphone is Glonass compatible (depending on the smartphone chip), it will connect to a larger number of satellites which will result in a fast and accurate positioning.

Glonass is available (besides GPS) on several Samsung, Apple or LG smartphones but also on other brands. That’s why these smartphones seem to connect faster to satellites.

So, you need to check the smartphone’s GPS features to choose the right model. Ask or read in product’s description everything you can about GPS connectivity on the desired smartphone.

For example, the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou and Galileo. This chip is found in smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge.

Another high-end chip – Exynos 7880 – supports GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou. Samsung Galaxy A5 2017 is built with this Gps chip for example.

Newer smartphones are also compatible with most satellite networks but you must make sure of that.

Don’t go for cheapest smartphones as they will often disconnect from satellites and you’ll get a poor navigation experience.

Choose a smartphone with a large size and very bright display

It is very important, because we need to use the on-screen controls and the information shown on the map must be very visible.

GPS navigation software (such as iGO Primo or Google Maps) displays a lot of information in the navigation screen. A small screen smartphone is hard to use as a GPS navigator, so opt for a screen with a minimum of 5 inch diagonal or bigger.

Also, check that the screen is bright enough and anti-reflective. Many smartphones do not have a good enough screen for outside light and would be useless as a GPS navigator.

Some of the best smartphone screens are: Super Amoled and IPS. Newer AMOLED displays are not so bright but provide better battery autonomy.

We find these type of screens on high-end smartphones like iPhone X. Try not to choose an Amoled display – go for IPS instead. Test the brightness in a bright environment.

RAM, storage, and battery life are important for GPS

To run a navigation app quickly, your smartphone needs a good amount of RAM. Minimum 2 Gb RAM or even 3 Gb RAM.

Don’t choose a smartphone with lower Ram because serious GPS apps will not run so smoothly if they don’t have enough memory.

Storage is important ass well. You need  to store maps and other data needed by every gps app. In general, a smartphone with at least 32 Gb of internal memory is preferable.

Of course, you can run navigation apps using a memory card, but you need a very fast one to match internal’s memory speed.

Battery autonomy is also important because GPS and mobile Internet activation are the biggest consumers of a smartphone.

When using your smarphone as a GPS device, it  can consume your battery in 2-4 hours. Before buying a smartphone, check for battery life tests on that smartphone and make a decision.

The top 10 Android Smartphones to buy in 2019

When choosing an Android device in 2019, one could spend hours sifting through the abundance of options available.

The following list is intended to streamline your search and provide a solid rundown of the best phones for various uses.

Whether you like taking breathtaking photos, watching a stunning 4k video, or just want the longest battery life, this list has you covered.

1. Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus

The Galaxy S9 Plus is Samsung’s most powerful phone currently on the market. With the announcement of the S10 line coming later this year, there is no better time to purchase this device.

Retailers will surely be putting on fantastic sales in order to make room for the upcoming successor.

The S9 Plus boasts a 6.2 inch AMOLED display that delivers a stunning visual experience no matter what the user is doing.

From watching videos to pulling up an easy to read map this powerhouse of a phone will delight anyone who decides to make the purchase.

2. Samsung Galaxy Note 9

The Galaxy Note 9 is another testament to Samsung’s penchant for high-end phones that are incredibly easy to use.

It is a bit bulkier than the S9 Plus but offers an even bigger 6.4-inch display for those that want the largest screen they possibly can get.

The internal specs are incredibly similar, but the S pen is an exclusive stylus that gives the phone a unique feel.

3. Huawei P20 Pro

The Huawei P20 Pro is the king of long-lasting battery life. The 4000mah per charge puts it leaps and bounds above most other devices on the market.

If you anticipate not being able to charge your phone for extended periods than the P20 is worth some serious consideration. The only downside is that the display is not in full 4k.

That said if you don’t watch videos on your phone than the incredible battery life is well worth it.

4. Huawei Mate 20 Pro

The Mate 20 Pro is Huawei’s answer to those looking for stunning visual quality on their display. The screen is capable of HDR10 output, so colors will vibrantly pop in apps and videos that support the technology.

The bevy of cameras is also an upgrade over the P20. Of course, these bells and whistles mean the battery won’t last as long.

5. Samsung Galaxy S9

The Galaxy S9 is the smaller and less feature-packed version of its larger Plus counterpart. The display is only 5.8 inches, which is considerably smaller when compared side-by-side.

That said, this version of the phone is much more cost effective and fits in your pocket much more snugly.

This is a fantastic option for those that desire maximum portability.

6. OnePlus 6T

OnePlus’ newest Flagship phone is a huge step up over their previous efforts. The 6.41-inch display and 16-megapixel camera are much closer to their competition than ever before.

The design is also much more sleek for those that want a flashy phone that looks good when out in public.

The best part is that the phone is very affordable compared to the more popular brands without sacrificing quality.

7. Google Pixel 3 XL

The Pixel 3 XL is Google’s solution for anyone that loves to take high-quality photos. Boasting a 12.2MP rear camera and two 8MP front cameras, this phone has all the angles covered.

What really puts it above the rest is the sheer amount of software options available for photo editing.

This is an excellent choice for anyone that doesn’t feel like transferring the photos to a pc. Just about anything you would ever need to edit is easily performed directly on the device itself.

8. Samsung Galaxy Note 8

Despite being the oldest phone on this list, the Galaxy Note 8 still holds its own in many regards.

The 6.3-inch infinity display looks great still to this day and the design is so similar to the Note 8 that very few will even know the difference.

The camera isn’t quite as refined as the newest Note or S9, but still boasts high-quality pictures that will no doubt get the job done.

When searching for a bargain, you could do much worse than choosing this phone.

9. LG G7 ThinQ

Even though this is the only LG to make the list, it would be advised not to sleep on the G7 ThinQ. The phone’s design looks great and will surely catch the eye of anyone who sees it.

If you love listening to tunes wherever you go, the boombox speaker will ensure you can hear your favorite jams no matter the acoustics of your surroundings.

That said, the 3000mah battery is a bit smaller than the other devices on this list.

While this phone is a great option, it is advisable to pair this purchase with a portable charger to keep it from dying too soon.

10. Google Pixel 3

Much like the difference between the S9 and S9 Plus, Google’s Pixel 3 is the smaller sibling device.

This phone also produces some incredibly stunning pictures while sporting a smaller, more portable design. If you have smaller hands, this phone is incredible for taking one-handed photos that look amazing.

Not to mention, the 5.5-inch display still looks great and the screen is easy to read.

While there are a ton of options in the saturated Android market, you can’t go wrong no matter which of the above phones you choose.

Just determine which features are most important to you and make an informed decision. I hope you have enjoyed this guide to the best Android smartphones in 2019!

Conclusion

Smartphones can replace most dedicated navigation devices. Nevertheless, smartphones are no match for top-notch models like the ones we wrote about in this article.

The best truck navigation systems have some features that are missing on most smartphones – bigger screens, no lag, no Android bloatware, no overheating and more.

If a navigation device is a necessity for your job, maybe you should choose a truck navigation device from our list.

If  not, I hope you choose a good smartphone with all the features mentioned in this article, as these features are the most important things to consider if you want to purchase a good smartphone with GPS.