Using Cell Phone As Your GPS

I try not to leave my phone plugged in "all the time" - this is the #1 killer of cell phones. Doesn't matter how smart the phone, battery, charger, etc is, charging it all the time shortens the batteries life. Charging it to 100% drastically shortens the life. But that's a different subject.

I use a stand alone GPS as my always on GPS, but I use my phone to navigate to "places". The phone has a much larger and up to date database of places. So I want to find an oil change, or a certain restaurant, or whatever, I ask Google for directions. My phone is fairly new and can run the screen for hours before the battery becomes an issue, so if I need to see the map, I just leave it on. Most of the time the turn by turn audio prompts are enough.

When I drive from one city to another, across 100s of miles, I use the stand alone GPS.

The stand alone gps has a battery in it too, but I don't care about that battery. the stand alone gps is usually turned on when a trip starts and left on until the trip ends.

just my opinions

If I use my phone for a GPS the screen will turn off and the Google lady will still tell me when to turn.

GordonThree wrote:
I try not to leave my phone plugged in "all the time" - this is the #1 killer of cell phones.

just my opinions

And in my opinion, totally worthless.

I bet you can't provide a respected source that backs up that outrageous claim.

There is a LOT of bad advice in that post.

YES, use your phone as a GPS and leave it plugged in during the few hours which that might take.....and do not worry one tiny second about ruining anything.

A really LOT of people do it every day and phones are not dying in masses.

You may find yourself where there is no cell coverage but there's always GPS satelite coverage.

I use it now and then locally, but for anything longer I still use a stand-alone GPS. I don't like the battery drain or constant recharging required to use it as a GPS in the daily drivers (which is why we bought them both with integrated GPS), and I don't trust cell networks enough for it to be my only navigation when towing the travel trailer. I need to upgrade the GPS I use for our tow vehicle, but I would do that before I'd rely on cell.

When my Garmin 660 messes up, yes. And that's quite often.

I travel for work. Gone somewhere every week. I used to bring a separate gps. But that is just one thing more to bring. And my phone is more up to date.

I use WAZE. Great app. And has real time traffic reports and will also tell you if there is an accident (or LEO) up ahead.

GordonThree wrote:
I try not to leave my phone plugged in "all the time" - this is the #1 killer of cell phones. Doesn't matter how smart the phone, battery, charger, etc is, charging it all the time shortens the batteries life. Charging it to 100% drastically shortens the life. But that's a different subject.

I use a stand alone GPS as my always on GPS, but I use my phone to navigate to "places". The phone has a much larger and up to date database of places. So I want to find an oil change, or a certain restaurant, or whatever, I ask Google for directions. My phone is fairly new and can run the screen for hours before the battery becomes an issue, so if I need to see the map, I just leave it on. Most of the time the turn by turn audio prompts are enough.

When I drive from one city to another, across 100s of miles, I use the stand alone GPS.

The stand alone gps has a battery in it too, but I don't care about that battery. the stand alone gps is usually turned on when a trip starts and left on until the trip ends.

just my opinions

This whole first paragraph is not correct.
The best thing for your battery is to plugged in at 100%. Phone, laptop and tablet batteries only have so many charge cycles in them. The faster you use those cycles, the faster you use up the battery. Charging from 90% is less of a cycle than charging from 5%.

I use my phone. Truck GPS in terrible. I mainly use Waze. Apple Maps arent very good. Google is pretty decent.
If Im in my vehicles, my phone is charging. To use Carplay I must be plugged in.

Local trips the phone GPS is fine. But for longer multi state trips towing the RV I prefer the stand alone GPS. I have a Garmin 760 RV LMT it is designed for RV use. It's not perfect but when towing the RV it does a better all around job than my phone.
The stand alone keeps me on main roads. Google maps will take me down the smallest street is can find. Google map will also take a short cut down a small rd. The Garmin keeps me on the bigger roads.
I don't mind Google Maps on my phone for daily or local use , but while towing the stand alone keeps me on the better path.
Never trust any GPS 100% always verify via paper map or 2nd source.

If going on a long RV trip I’ll use the Garmin as it has info about the size of the RV. In my car I use my IPhone and Apple Maps. Works well. I don’t use anything Google except for gmail as a backup.