GPS Map Navigation Apps Review

Data & battery consumption of Google Maps and Waze GPS navigation apps.

Review and comparison of Google Maps and Waze navigation and mapping apps.

The contents of this app is for informational purposes only. It presents real-world results of data usage and battery consumption of the most popular GPS navigation apps under standard conditions. Google Maps and Waze are popular apps for Android smartphhones and tablets, and as such were reviewed in this comparitive analysis.

The proliferation of smartphone apps that provide this functionality has allowed the ability to use GPS navigation to route trips. Using media heavy navigation apps over 3G / HSDPA / LTE can incur network carrier costs. The question is how much data do these mapping apps use, as this will determine whether it is feasible to use on a regular basis. Some apps also offer caching of map data for previously travelled routes, thus reducing the data consumption when these routes are used again. Battery consumption of these apps are also significant, as they access the GPS radio, internet data and heavy graphics. The comparative data usage on new and repeat routs, as well as battery consumption for GPS apps is presented here, in order to help users make an informed decision on which apps best suite their requirements.