Best GPS-enabled mobile phones

By Joseph Hanlon | July 26, 2010 | 30

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Joseph Hanlon

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CNET Editor

Joe capitalises on a life-long love of blinking lights and upbeat MIDI soundtracks covering the latest developments in smartphones and tablet computers. When not ruining his eyesight staring at small screens, Joe ruins his eyesight playing video games and watching movies. Twitter: @Joseph_Hanlon

GPS receivers have been a near-ubiquitous element of the modern smartphone since it was popularised by the Nokia N95 back in 2007, but for some strange reason turn-by-turn navigation hasn't followed the receivers into as many handsets.

This trend is changing, however, with Nokia making directions free to owners of certain phones running Nokia Maps 3.0 and with the launch of the first Garmin-Asus smartphone in Australia. These phones include turn-by turn directions in the cost of buying the phone, but there are also options with other smartphones to buy the maps separately via a connected applications store. iPhone users can choose between TomTom, CoPilot Live and Sygic maps, while Android users can purchase a CoPilot app.

Using your phone as your GPS system has a few key benefits. Firstly, the "always on" internet connectivity of your phone means these maps can download updated traffic information, and guides you to the points of interest nearby. Secondly, you get a GPS and hands-free speakerphone in one neat package, plus you have the extra security of dismounting your phone from the car dock and taking it away with you.

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Garmin-Asus Nuvifone A10
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CNET Rating7.5

User Rating7.0

Price:AU$459.00 | Comments:57

Garmin-Asus delivers a good GPS experience and smartphone in one. Both hardware and software are a bit flaky, but it's hard to argue with the value in this package. Full Review »
The Good
- Great GPS experience, Multitasking, Car-kit and windshield mount included, 4GB of memory
The Bad
- Software can be buggy, Soft keys are problematic

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UncleFkr posted a comment 2 years ago

What a crap article! You did not mention the GPS capabilities of the phones. Thank you for wasting 5 minutes of my life.

faizan posted a comment 2 years ago

If a mobile phone doesn't have the GPS, then can we track that phone.

Anand posted a reply 2 years ago

Yes it is possible. Use Google maps for mobile. Positing is correct within 500 m. I am using in my N73. Positioning works great.

Barney posted a comment 3 years ago

Re SS Galaxy S review...
"Bad: Cheap-feeling plastic chassis • iPhone look-alike • Samsung's widgets are mostly ugly"
I'm not a SS product fan at all but a review that states bad points as "plastic" "look-alike" and "ugly widgets" are things that are important to 12 y/o girls.
Try to be a little more realistic fellas!
How about a review of phones with "satellite" navigation with onboard maps. That is what most of us are interested in, not whether the widgets are ugly or not for crying out loud.
Also phones that can go at least 3 days on a charge, phones that dont fail twice a day, etc..
Hey, your reviews are a good source of information and appreciated but knock of the teenagers opinion angle on the results.
Apart from my whinge, keep up the good work!

carey posted a comment 3 years ago

i don't know where these guys were during their high school grammar classes.. their english is not just SUCKY, its beyond comprehension! out of this world !!

Nokia gives the best GPS coz its free and it works off-line, unlike Google. Unfortunately, Nokia has YET to come up with a MODERN smartphone, comparable to the savvy of ANDROID or even iPhone. If you ask me, iPhone's HALCYON days are numbered. GOOGLE is morphing so fast, and maybe one day, Steve Jobs will be applying for a job there.. haha. Seriously,Android is the more SENSIBLE system, coz it has LESS inhibitions than iPhone.

iPhone is a CRIPPLED DUCK. It can't show Flash, it doesn't have external memory (which is critical), it won't get FM Radio (why, is anybody's guess), and it showboats added features instead of actually making them work. The much-hyped multi-tasking is ACTUALLY just BACK-GROUNDING, where apps just float in the back. HILARIOUS. And the apps that do work (aka "multi-task) are those that are MADE to work in the background -- Internet radio.

And I haven't gone through that ANTENNA issue yet. Fact is, APPLE should have recalled the iPhone 4 to FIX the antenna, much like TOSHIBA or TOYOTA recalls over-heating laptops or cars with sticky pedals-- the company OWES it to the consumer to give them a RELIABLE product.

Instead, Steve Jobs tells everybody,"okay, shut up. Here's a FREE bumber guard. Now go play with your iPhone 4."

I can tolerate Steve's NON-SENSE Marketing Shenanigans IF ONLY his ware is just $60. His fuc@ing iPhone 4 IS selling for $500 unlocked. In other countries, it is selling for $1,400 unlocked.

What will really cook your noodles is NOT that the iPhone 4 is so damn expensive-- its that so MANY iFools actually BOUGHT it. I wonder how many $millions Steve Jobs made from his crop of iFools who bought iPhone 4s.

I am SO glad I have a Galaxy S!

Ditto posted a reply 3 years ago

Thanks for pointing out that emperor has no clothes. Iphone buyers have been paying through their nose for a buggy and crap product for too long. Just to add Garmin mobile XT for nokia phones is the best GPS for all conditions. Not sure if they have android version for Galaxy

Sarah posted a comment 3 years ago

WTF? Why has this article not differentiated between GPS receivers and A-GPS. A-GPS like the beloved iphone only works where you have mobile reception.. total joke if you actually want a gps...

zia posted a reply 2 years ago

yes i second you in this regard

WHY posted a comment 3 years ago

this article is titled "Best GPS-enabled mobile phones" but the actual content doesnt' mention anything about GPS testing but cameral quality and look and feel etc???????