With any new technological advance, many companies compete with each other and start making similar products. Of course, there are a couple of brands that stand out as the main competitors in the market for each new form of technology. When it comes to GPS systems, most consumers are familiar with the Tom Tom and Garmin brands. However, it is also important to consider lesser-known brands.
When comparing companies that make GPS devices, it’s important to remember that there’s more to consider than price. Ultimately, your search will come down to features rather than price, because price won’t vary much from company to company. Because the market is so competitive, most companies have updated their features to compare with each other. The differences between the brands will only be subtle, and defining the best device is more a matter of preference than anything else.
It’s hard to know which brand you’ll prefer without comparing them to each other directly. You will need to decide which features and details are important to you in making a decision. The bigger brands are basically of the same quality as each other.
You will most likely find that your search is focused more on the right model than on the brands. Of course, you’ll want to research reviews just like you would a cell phone or laptop to make sure the brand you choose has a good reputation for quality, customer service, warranties, and other important factors.
Also consider that many modern cell phone models have built-in GPS devices, so don’t rule them out as options. If you plan to upgrade your phone in the near future, look into the differences between data plan quality and price for a GPS-enabled phone and buying a separate GPS unit.
Along with cell phones, an often overlooked GPS option is OnStar and other navigation services that come built into vehicles. If you buy a newer vehicle, there’s a good chance you won’t need to buy a separate GPS unit. However, you will need to pay for a subscription to the service, and you should also consider and compare the quality and features offered between navigation devices built into a vehicle and those offered on a separate device.
There doesn’t seem to be an overwhelming consensus among consumers as to which brand they prefer. Finding the right GPS unit is more a case of determining your personal preferences and, if possible, getting a chance to try out different models. Look up different brands and their models and make a list of the features you are looking for. Once you’ve decided what’s important to you, you can narrow down your list to a few comparable models from different brands that suit your needs. At this point, go to a store and try one or at least research each of these models in depth to determine which one you prefer. Sometimes it’s just small differences, like keyboard size or icon arrangement, that cause a consumer to prefer one brand over another.