Built in vs. Stand-alone GPS?

The advantage of the stand alone unit is the ability to use it in any vehicle, especially if you change vehicles often, you can take it with you, even let it run on battery power and take it with you when you go hiking. A stand alone model, you can bring inside your home (or camper) with you and at your leisure program in destination points and plot out traveling routes.

If you get the built in model, it is confined to only the one vehicle it's equipped in, and any programming you do, you'll have to be inside the vehicle to do it. Now ... do you really want to be doing that inside your vehicle when your favorite ball team is on television and it's only minutes from the game ending and the opposing team is ahead by 1 point?

The only benefit I see is one less thing on the dash. I absolutely love the factory navigation in my Ford but it ultimately does exactly the same thing as my Garmin.

The one big benefit for us with the Garmin is I can use it in any vehicle I am in. I hate to admit it but I have become somewhat dependent on navigation. It has become a bit of a safety blanket.

My 2012 built in Magellan is no longer eligible for updates.
It gets less useful every day.
My Garmin RV770 sits in front of it nicely.

I love the one in my 2018 RAM. It won't fall off the dash, and when your exit is coming up it shows you which lane to be in, plus a display opens up between the gauges when the exit/turn comes up. It goes live to show you backups ahead (lane turns red). The search function has a lot to be desired. Google's way better for that
JK

Another consideration might be a newer system that supports Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Those systems let you use your phone's GPS.

my T/V didn't come with navigation but your phone will work, but after a trip to Alaska and using the phone we were lost all the time. I finally bought a Kenwood indash navigation unit and really like it it does everything.
Jay D.

I've had both (all three really with the cell phone). The in-dash was my least favorite. It was Garmin based and pretty easy to use, but eventually wouldn't accept an update for the maps. It wasn't adjustable as far as viewing angle so the sun would wash it out at times. The cell is good and I use it mainly locally, but the screen is smaller though it is usually the most up-to-date. The stand alone is my favorite. Larger screen than the cell; lifetime maps and so far hasn't refused to update; very easy to use; and I can move it from car to car including rentals if needed. It is a Garmin by the way that I've had about 8 years now. I have to keep it plugged in all the time because the battery is shot, but if I use the cell, I have to keep it plugged in also.

Not sure about the in-dash units, but the big advantage to stand-alones is that the stand-alones (usually) have the maps loaded into the unit itself, rather than having to download from a satellite or internet. Like someone else said, Google, or a cell phone is great, IF you have cell or internet service. If not, it is just a useless hunk of junk. And with most stand-alones, after a bit you can download and install new, up-to-date maps. And, a good, current printed atlas can be a trip-saver! Spend a lot less and get a good 7" unit that is easy to use!

If it was guaranteed to be more accurate than a stand alone I'd do it in a heartbeat. My Garmin is always taking me on needless adventures.

In a few, rare cases, the downloaded maps might be more accurate than a stand-alone, IF the downloaded version happens to show recent road construction and changes. But don't depend on that to be true, because they all use the same map databases that do not get instant changes applied very often. I have heard that there are only one or two actual map databases, and they are shared by all.