10 Best Gps Units 2024 in the US

GPS (=global positioning system) units are something that almost everyone sees when they get into their car nowadays. But at first, GPS was conceived of in the 1970s for military purposes, to help planes, ships, or tanks determine targets and locations accurately. It started being used in civilian flights after the tragic Korean Airlines Flight 007 incident in 1983-- GPS on that flight undisputedly could have saved the lives of the civilians aboard. In the following decades, GPS technology has replaced puzzling over maps and asking people for directions when traveling to an unfamiliar place, allowing people to get to their destination without any hitches along the way. There are now GPS devices in all sorts of shapes: handheld units, GPS for motorcyclists, and even GPS for golfers. And there are GPS units for your car which also show videos and pictures as well.

We’ve composed this buyer’s guide to help you make the right decision when selecting a GPS unit. It'll help you:

• Choose the right type of GPS unit,

• See useful tips about that particular type of GPS unit,

• Read reviews of different GPS units, and what customers are saying,

• Select the right brand of GPS unit, and

• Compare prices and find the best deals.

• Automobile GPS Units: These typically have a wider, 7” display, that you install on your car’s dashboard so that you can consult it easily when traveling. There are also GPS units that give voice navigation, such as the Xgody 886 7” GPS Navigation Sat Nav Unit. It even allows you to select between a man’s or woman’s voice!

Xgody 886 7” GPS Navigation Sat Nav Unit

• Off-road: These are GPS units that function without any Internet connection in the area. This is particularly useful if you’re outdoors, or on a safari, and the GPS device may be your only means of navigation. An example is the Garmin eTrex 20x Handheld GPS.

Garmin eTrex 20x Handheld GPS

• Handheld: These are GPS units that are practically the same size as a cell phone. They have the advantage of being portable, so you can use it in a car, bicycle, boat, or even in a hot-air balloon! An example is the Garmin GPSMAP 64st.

Garmin GPSMAP 64st Handheld Unit

• Golf Course GPS: Even though it might be an unfair advantage, there are golf GPS rangefinders which will tell you the distance to a tee, as well as keep score and save your previous scores. The Garmin Approach is their series of smartwatches that includes GPS tracking for golf courses, with information about golf courses already stored inside.

Garmin Approach S20

• Motorcycle GPS: Motorcyclists don’t have a dashboard to set up a GPS, and can’t pull a handheld out of their pocket while riding. Motorcycle GPS devices are also made to be more rugged since they’re more exposed to the elements. A good example is the Koolertron All-Terrain GPS.

Koolertron All-Terrain GPS

• Battery life: When you’re outdoors, you certainly don’t want your GPS device to die out in the middle. The Garmin GPSMAP 64t has a convenient battery life of 16 hours. On the other hand, if you have a GPS unit installed in your car, it will generally charge up from the 12V cigarette lighter socket, such as in the Xgody 7” Touchscreen GPS Navigator.

• Suitable for geocaching: Geocaching is a hi-tech version of a scavenger hunt game, in which your GPS device can locate containers with logbooks. You sign your name in the logbook, to indicate that you were at this location. Some customers were disappointed when their handheld GPS device didn’t display the locations of where you want to go, only your present location. On the other hand, some Garmin products, such as the Garmin GPSMAP 64t, have 250,000 preloaded caches and allows you to download even more.

• Sunshade visor: If you have a GPS unit in your car or on your motorcycle, it’s common for sunlight to dim the image on the screen. It’s recommended to get a unit with a sunshade visor to block the sunlight so that you can get a better look at the screen.

• Smart route settings: When traveling, you’ll encounter tunnels where there is clearance for vehicles of a certain height or roads where they only allow vehicles under a certain weight. The Xgody 7” Touchscreen 8GB Car GPS Navigator takes your vehicle’s profile (height, length, and weight), and tells you which routes to avoid, as well as what is the fastest route, which roads ahead have tolls, where there are unpaved roads, and much more.

• Other useful information: Garmin’s GPS units give additional information that will make your drive more pleasurable and convenient. They display the location of gas stations, and even tell you the gas prices along the way! Garmin devices have an internal barometer, for two purposes: they can inform you of weather conditions, as well as inform you of your altitude (since air pressure changes with altitude). They will also inform you of hotels in the area, and relevant flight information.

• The advantage of handheld units: A handheld GPS allows you to take it with you wherever you are, whether you’re driving a car or truck, biking, on the bus, in a taxi, or even just walking around. That’s an advantage that you won’t have with GPS unit that you’ve installed in your car or motorcycle.

• Multimedia functions: There are also GPS units with impressive multimedia functions. You can use it so that your passengers can watch a movie or listen to music while traveling. And some of them have an HD-quality screen.

• Expandable: Many GPS units, besides their internal memory, can take an SD card with even more maps and information. For example, On  maps makes microSD chips with maps of different areas of the United States that are especially geared for hunters. It gives detailed information about land ownership and game management, as well as information about the terrain, roads, hiking trails, and more.

XGody is based in Shen Zhen City, China. Their products include cellphones, tablets, Smart TV boxes, and GPS devices. They sell GPS devices with a backup camera as well.

Garmin founded in Lenexa, Kansas in 1989 by Gary Burnell and Min Kao, are famous for their wearable electronics, such as fitness trackers. They also make dash cameras and backup cameras for cars, buses and trucks, as well as GPS devices for vehicles and golf.

OnXmaps, located in Missoula Valley, Montant, makes GPS hunting apps, starting by providing solutions for hunters to navigate their way when trekking through nature. Their GPS devices are able to work even in locations where there is no Internet.

Optimus is located in Houston, Texas, and are makers of GPS trackers to allow you to know where vehicles, possessions, or people are located. They make GPS trackers for cars and trucks, as well as portable GPS trackers.