Inexpensive unlocked phone with Nav for traveling to Europe?
Jan 5, 2015, 8:15 am
#31
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In late November, I used a dual-sim Moto G model in Ireland with a Vodafone sim (on an H2O Wireless sim in the US) with NavFree maps, which can be downloaded to the phone so no continuing data connection required. The G has limited, unexpandable storage space so it's best to use it solely as nav software for a specific foreign country rather than as the primary nav system no matter where you are (a full set of maps for the US/UK/Ireland and parts of Europe ate up over 5GB of the approximately 8GB available on the phone). Worked well and was very nice not having to carry two phones and remember the idiosyncracies of the operation of each phone.
Jan 5, 2015, 9:16 am
#32
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For a no nonsense, unlocked phone? Either tne Motorola G or the low end Lumias are your best bet. The G comes with Google Maps, which is more dependent on a data connection. Here Maps has the edge for offline usage (especially for turn by turn navigation). My opinion? If you can get by on local SIMs, and if you understand how local pre-paid data works, then go for the G.
Jan 5, 2015, 9:17 am
#33
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I did exactly what you are looking to do. I bought a Nexus 5 on Swappa (32GB) for about $200. I have nothing on the phone but NAV and I downloaded HERE and TomTom to the phone. You can buy a local SIM in-country if you want and activate the Nexus 5 overseas or just use it in airplane mode as an offline navigator.
. Not a bad deal, but did it have a warranty? I already got burned buying a phone second-hand (the aforementioned HD2), so I'd rather get something with fewer features, but also with less of a likelihood of going kaput.
Jan 5, 2015, 9:18 am
#34
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.
Jan 5, 2015, 9:21 am
#35
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if you have a GPS you can get European maps and not have to worry about roaming charges or online/offline issues.
Jan 5, 2015, 9:22 am
#36
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It's thirty bucks and I can probably sell it on eBay and make twenty of them back if I want to.
Jan 5, 2015, 9:25 am
#37
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Maybe I don't understand exactly what offline maps do, but what I want from a navigation system is something that knows exactly where I am now and can find me the quickest route to where I want to be next. To me, something called offline maps sounds no different that printing directions before you leave home, which doesn't take into account detours, making the wrong turn, road construction, etc.
Hm, maybe I should just get an old HTC TyTN II that I went all over Europe in 2008 with... I'm sure I can pick one up for peanuts on eBay - too bad the screen is positively tiny compared to what I've managed to get myself used to since then...
Jan 5, 2015, 9:35 am
#38
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Maybe I don't understand exactly what offline maps do, but what I want from a navigation system is something that knows exactly where I am now and can find me the quickest route to where I want to be next. To me, something called offline maps sounds no different that printing directions before you leave home, which doesn't take into account detours, making the wrong turn, road construction, etc.
Jan 5, 2015, 10:59 am
#39
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In late November, I used a dual-sim Moto G model in Ireland with a Vodafone sim (on an H2O Wireless sim in the US) with NavFree maps, which can be downloaded to the phone so no continuing data connection required. The G has limited, unexpandable storage space so it's best to use it solely as nav software for a specific foreign country rather than as the primary nav system no matter where you are (a full set of maps for the US/UK/Ireland and parts of Europe ate up over 5GB of the approximately 8GB available on the phone). Worked well and was very nice not having to carry two phones and remember the idiosyncracies of the operation of each phone.
The Sony Z3 also comes with the option to download the Garmin Maps, with the option to purchase additional regions. The interesting part about that is they run off of Here Maps. Though there are two unlocked versions of the phone, one supports most of the US bands, and one has European bands, (and there's the T-Mobile one.) Very nice handset though.
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/...oryID.68032000
Jan 5, 2015, 2:01 pm
#40
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If you're going to use the phone while abroad for more than just GPS, I'd go with the '14 Moto G... the Consumer Cellular locked version (they call it the Moto G EXT) can be had from Sears for $130 pretty frequently, and a $3 unlock code will get it fully unlocked.
If you're just going to do offline nav, I'd probably go with one of the prepaid Nokia 635 models that match your current carrier so you can use it as a backup phone (at least if you're on ATT, TMO, or one of their MVNOs). The screen is a bit washed-out (I have a 630 as a backup, same phone but no LTE) and don't expect unlock codes for less than $15-$18.
If you're just going to do offline nav, I'd probably go with one of the prepaid Nokia 635 models that match your current carrier so you can use it as a backup phone (at least if you're on ATT, TMO, or one of their MVNOs). The screen is a bit washed-out (I have a 630 as a backup, same phone but no LTE) and don't expect unlock codes for less than $15-$18.
Jan 6, 2015, 3:40 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,304
BLU just announced their new lineup including a dual sim LTE phone with Lollipop for < $200 or a HSPA+ price conscious Studio G starting at $89
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...300016107.html
The links in the Press Release point to bluproducts.com which redirects to 127.0.0.1. Hope they fix that quickly...
Pseudoswede pointed out the newly announced Asus Zenfone 2 is also under $200
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24108952-post2.html
Hands on http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2015_asus-review-1189.php
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea...300016107.html
The links in the Press Release point to bluproducts.com which redirects to 127.0.0.1. Hope they fix that quickly...
Pseudoswede pointed out the newly announced Asus Zenfone 2 is also under $200
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24108952-post2.html
Hands on http://www.gsmarena.com/ces_2015_asus-review-1189.php
Last edited by freecia; Jan 6, 2015 at 3:53 pm Reason: +Asus Zenfone 2
Jan 6, 2015, 6:40 pm
#42
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T-mo have been getting raved about for their global data of late.
@OP - as for the phone, I have an Android with Sygic and it works well, but there are lots of offline maps in the Play store, typically I prefer the offline ones anyway as I think mobile phones have lulled people into thinking that they actually do have "99% coverage" or something equally dubious before you read the fine print. OSMand maps I used for a while and that did what it said on the tin. If I do have data then Waze is good.
@OP - as for the phone, I have an Android with Sygic and it works well, but there are lots of offline maps in the Play store, typically I prefer the offline ones anyway as I think mobile phones have lulled people into thinking that they actually do have "99% coverage" or something equally dubious before you read the fine print. OSMand maps I used for a while and that did what it said on the tin. If I do have data then Waze is good.
I was thinking the same. Look into a cheap T-Mobile phone, buy it and use the international data. There's no contract (but the phone needs to be paid off). COuld be a cheap solution.
Jan 6, 2015, 7:24 pm
#43
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Or it is a cheap GPS with lifetime worldwide maps!
Jan 10, 2015, 2:04 am
#44
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I'll just chime in here, but I think mostly others have said what I'm going to say, I'm just going to merge reply people's thoughts into one reply-
If you truly just want GPS, why does it matter what is locked/unlocked, just buy the cheaper phone that will do the trick for you, connect to WiFi and download the maps.
That said, I recently switched to a Note 4, but prior I had 4 different Nokia Lumia devices in roughly 3 or so years. I've taken 3 trips over the last couple years to Europe, and in every case I've left my phone in airplane mode the entire trip, meaning no data except when on WiFi. Using the HERE (Nokia) Maps, I've been able to get around driving in multiple countries in Europe with ease. So long as you download the country maps you need before hitting the road, you will have no problems.
I've used the dedicated Garmin GPS, the Google Maps, Nokia Maps and the Garmin app on the phone, and I *think* the Nokia maps are probably my favorite, which are also free.
While you can get the Nokia offline maps on android, I'd be inclined to still pick up a cheap Lumia 520 or similar phone for around $30-50. It seems like it would give you more flexibility if you decided you wanted to get a sim for your iphone, you'd have a separate device that you don't need to worry about it using up data while using the nav features, because it would remain in airplane mode.
One final note, if you do go with a Lumia 520 and probably some of the other low end nokia devices, be warned, you'll likely need a memory card. The amount of storage built into the phone is pretty low, and even while trying to help someone update the OS on their phone, it was attempting to write more than there was storage on the device. Granted, they had some music and other apps on the phone too, but it really doesn't leave you a lot of room for offline maps. MicroSD I believe.
If you truly just want GPS, why does it matter what is locked/unlocked, just buy the cheaper phone that will do the trick for you, connect to WiFi and download the maps.
That said, I recently switched to a Note 4, but prior I had 4 different Nokia Lumia devices in roughly 3 or so years. I've taken 3 trips over the last couple years to Europe, and in every case I've left my phone in airplane mode the entire trip, meaning no data except when on WiFi. Using the HERE (Nokia) Maps, I've been able to get around driving in multiple countries in Europe with ease. So long as you download the country maps you need before hitting the road, you will have no problems.
I've used the dedicated Garmin GPS, the Google Maps, Nokia Maps and the Garmin app on the phone, and I *think* the Nokia maps are probably my favorite, which are also free.
While you can get the Nokia offline maps on android, I'd be inclined to still pick up a cheap Lumia 520 or similar phone for around $30-50. It seems like it would give you more flexibility if you decided you wanted to get a sim for your iphone, you'd have a separate device that you don't need to worry about it using up data while using the nav features, because it would remain in airplane mode.
One final note, if you do go with a Lumia 520 and probably some of the other low end nokia devices, be warned, you'll likely need a memory card. The amount of storage built into the phone is pretty low, and even while trying to help someone update the OS on their phone, it was attempting to write more than there was storage on the device. Granted, they had some music and other apps on the phone too, but it really doesn't leave you a lot of room for offline maps. MicroSD I believe.
Jan 20, 2015, 10:09 am
#45
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Tested Maps.me in California and it couldn't find the simplest of addresses. Next!