Testing how much data Google Maps uses...

jerem0621 wrote:
I have heard this come up recently and was curious myself so I wanted to test it. How much data does Google Maps actually use? We have all heard it described as a data hog... lets see how much water that statement actually holds. ...

I've never heard Google maps described as a data hog. Where did you get that information?

What I think you may have read or heard about Google maps is that it requires a constant data connection in order to retrieve map data. The issue isn't that it requires a lot of data, the issue is that it constantly needs data. If it doesn't have a cellular data connection, Google maps cannot show you where you are on the map. Other apps store their map data on the phone so they don't require a data connection in order to display the map correctly. Google maps chooses to constantly download map data as you drive. This allows it to uses less of your phone's storage while an app that stores it's map data on the phone will use several GB of your phone's storage to save it's map data.

Google maps works great except in those areas with no cellular signal.