Best navigation-capable mobile phones

Most new mobile phones are GPS-enabled but not every GPS phone is created equal. We rate the best navigation-capable mobile phones.

Although mobile phones aren't always as reliable as dedicated in-car sat navs for navigation, a GPS-enabled mobile phone has its own advantages — namely they fit in your pocket and you generally carry them with you wherever you go.

Most new smartphones feature built-in GPS capabilities, but a large screen, good mapping software (often optional) and a loud speaker are a few things to look out for if you plan to use your mobile phone as a navigation device in the car.

We've rounded up some of the best navigation-capable mobile phones on the market. Some of these include dedicated GPS software on board for no extra cost, such as Nokia's Maps application that comes standard on all Nokia smartphones or Garmin-Asus' embedded navigation solution. Others, like the Apple iPhone and the range of Google Android smartphones, offer third-party navigation applications that can be purchased separately.

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Item:
7 / 7
Nokia N97 mini

Nokia's N97 mini is an improvement over the highly disappointing original, but this is merely what the original N97 should have been in the first place. There are no real groundbreaking or innovative features, but the mini remains a solid, if unspectacular smartphone.

  • Review Date:
  • Reviewer:
  • Manufacturer:
  • 8th March, 2010
  • Ross Catanzariti
  • Nokia
  • Rating:
  • Price:
  • 3.50
  • $ 749.00
  • Pros:
  • Smaller design is an improvement, solid keyboard, responsive UI, live widgets on home screen, Ovi Maps navigation
  • Cons:
  • No innovative or groundbreaking improvements, no FM transmitter, poorly designed power button, resistive touch screen
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