I mean...if you didn't like Android and you like Apple...you should get an iPhone. Just have to dial in the model you want based on desired price and capability. It sounds like you aren't super...
I mean...if you didn't like Android and you like Apple...you should get an iPhone. Just have to dial in the model you want based on desired price and capability. It sounds like you aren't super invested in smartphones in general, so I'd probably suggest the iPhone SE (lower quality build, though still decent specs) or looking at used options. If your family have iPhones, you might be able to see if they have any of their previous models, or perhaps offer to help them pay for an upgrade if you can get their old phone.
Pretty much all phones for years have a GPS receiver in them. That android phone you donated almost certainly did. All iPhones that you can currently buy have GPS. To be clear, they also use cell...
Pretty much all phones for years have a GPS receiver in them. That android phone you donated almost certainly did. All iPhones that you can currently buy have GPS.
To be clear, they also use cell tower triangulation and WiFi hotspot triangulation to get more precise location data. But they also use GPS data. (iPhones also use ibeacons in some areas for even more precise location).
You do need to have data service to get directions and start navigation, but you can drive through areas with no cell service just fine.
as @vord said, definitely buy used. hardware in smartphones has reached a point of diminishing returns, and a used ~3ish year old smartphone will work perfectly cromulently for what you need. I...
as @vord said, definitely buy used. hardware in smartphones has reached a point of diminishing returns, and a used ~3ish year old smartphone will work perfectly cromulently for what you need.
I recommend a used iPhone if you want to stay within the Apple ecosystem, or if you wanted to try Android again, either a Google Pixel or OnePlus device. Android has matured a lot in the decade since you used it but one thing that hasn't changed is that quality can be hit-or-miss depending on the manufacturer and their customizations on top of Android. Google's own phones, and OnePlus's (which is what I personally use) are consistently high quality and not riddled with crapware.
you could also get a tablet instead of a smartphone, if you wanted. the larger size might make reading maps easier. as long as you get one with a SIM card slot you can make calls and send texts and check voicemail just like a "real" phone. you might look a little silly holding it up to your ear, of course... (but you could certainly use bluetooth headphones for this instead)
whichever device you get, I would strongly recommend downloading offline maps for the areas you'll be driving through. this means that even if you're in an area with no cell signal, you can always pull up the map and see your location and surroundings. this uses up a fair bit of space, so even if you buy used, you should probably avoid the bottom-of-the-line used devices, because the most common thing they scrimp on is storage space. look for a model with a MicroSD reader if at all possible, because that means the storage is expandable. if it doesn't have an SD card (which AFAIK is true of all iPhones & iPads), I'd recommend getting 32GB storage as the bare minimum, and 64GB or more if possible. maps of multiple states could easily consume 5-10GB on their own.
in that "no service" situation, your GPS will still work (because it uses satellites, not cell towers) and happily tell you "you are here", where here is (latitude, longitude, altitude). and that's it. it won't answer "but where is here?" GPS alone doesn't give you a map, it only gives you a location.
normally, when you're in cell range, those maps get downloaded on the fly from Google or Apple's servers, and then cached on the device to remember local areas you're in frequently. this works great for "normal" usage but not for driving cross-country.
the other benefit of offline maps is that you probably won't spend much time in zero cell service (especially just going up & down the US east coast) but you'll spend plenty of time with mediocre or slow service, and when that happens you won't have to wait on the maps to load.
apparently this offline maps feature isn't offered in Apple Maps, so it sounds like regardless of Apple vs Android, you'll want to use Google Maps or another app (most likely some OpenStreetMap frontend) that does.
are you planning on doing a handsfree mount for the phone/tablet in your vehicle? I would definitely recommend this, it allows you to look at the map while driving, and still keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. the "usual" way of doing this is a suction cup that sticks on to your windshield, but I've had better luck with the type of mount that sticks into one of your air vents.
with the handsfree mount, both iPhone and Android have some very advanced voice recognition, so you can say for example "ok google, navigate to Yankee Stadium" and never need to touch your phone. many states have started to require this with "distracted driving" laws that have a speeding-ticket-like fine if you're holding / touching your phone while driving (in some cases, even while stopped at a red light).
you'll also want a charger for your car that plugs into a 12v socket (aka the "cigarette lighter" socket), I'd recommend Monoprice or Anker for high quality, inexpensive-but-not-cheap charging stuff. the same chargers at your friendly neighborhood cell phone store are probably all lower quality and marked up to a higher price (or, god forbid, that little bucket of USB car chargers sitting next to the cash register at a gas station...)
do you already have a cell phone carrier you're planning on using? if not, I'd recommend an MVNO of some kind. the big 3 carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) will all try to sell you their $$$ "unlimited everything" plans even though you'll be using relatively very little of their network. MVNOs (which don't have any towers of their own, they lease/rent usage of the equipment that the big 3 run) tend to offer less expensive, no-frills plans that would work better for your modest data consumption (especially with offline maps, and assuming you don't wind up wanting to do something like stream music on Spotify during your entire road trip). I've used Ting as an MVNO for years and been happy with them.
I just wanted to supplement this with a quick diagram for clarity on how things work. Everything in yellow is done on your device, so if you get into that regime - downloading map data and using...
I just wanted to supplement this with a quick diagram for clarity on how things work. Everything in yellow is done on your device, so if you get into that regime - downloading map data and using on-device routing algorithms - you should be good to even without a network connection. However, some of those algorithms can be augmented by cloud execution, so you might get better driving directions with a data connection.
I would highly reccomend buying used. This site is great because they insure phone is working. I'd reccomend something like this, which should (in theory) be able to use any carrier sim. Get a...
I would highly reccomend buying used. This site is great because they insure phone is working.
I'd reccomend something like this, which should (in theory) be able to use any carrier sim. Get a prepaid sim, you can find 1-3 GB sims for < 20 a month with no contract. Getting stuck with no signal and carrier quality varies greatly in more rural areas.
Presumably you're looking for an iPhone? In that case, it just depends on priorities. Optimize for practicality and price - iPhone SE (2020). Although it has an outdated chassis, and by today's...
Presumably you're looking for an iPhone? In that case, it just depends on priorities.
Optimize for practicality and price - iPhone SE (2020). Although it has an outdated chassis, and by today's standard a small screen, the refresh comes with an unbeatable SoC for the price and far more software updates than any other phone in the price category.
Optimize for best overall experience - iPhone 13. It's the standard iPhone Apple expects people to buy, and it's a good phone. OLED, retina screen, fastest SoC on the market by quite a bit, very good camera (even if it lacks the telephoto), many years of updates left for it.
Optimize for biggest screen - iPhone 13 Pro Max. You'll pay a pretty penny, but it's an absurdly large phone, and perhaps that's desirable if you're using it as a GPS
Optimize for big screen and price - used/refurbished iPhone XS/11 Pro/12/12 Pro. Basically, if you want to stay <$700 and think the SE is too small. Biggest sketch factor is battery, since LI-ONs degrade and there's not much you can do about it. From a quick google, looks like you can get a refurb XS for ~$500, and probably lower on the used market.
Satellite GPS is table stakes for any smartphone of any price at this point. Note that unlike, say, a satellite phone, you just need a receiver for GPS - it's thus not particularly expensive and...
Satellite GPS is table stakes for any smartphone of any price at this point. Note that unlike, say, a satellite phone, you just need a receiver for GPS - it's thus not particularly expensive and at this point it would be hard to make a smartphone without a GPS receiver just because that part is so commonly part of the SoC.
I recommend Organic Maps. It's easy to use and built on OpenStreetMaps, which is generally considered to have the best mapping of backcountry trails.
In the unlikely event that you will be travelling to some very remote, poorly mapped locations, and might need to supplement your own map data, well, there are plenty of smartphone apps for that.
I recommend Organic Maps. It's easy to use and built on OpenStreetMaps, which is generally considered to have the best mapping of backcountry trails.
I mean...if you didn't like Android and you like Apple...you should get an iPhone. Just have to dial in the model you want based on desired price and capability. It sounds like you aren't super invested in smartphones in general, so I'd probably suggest the iPhone SE (lower quality build, though still decent specs) or looking at used options. If your family have iPhones, you might be able to see if they have any of their previous models, or perhaps offer to help them pay for an upgrade if you can get their old phone.
Pretty much all phones for years have a GPS receiver in them. That android phone you donated almost certainly did. All iPhones that you can currently buy have GPS.
To be clear, they also use cell tower triangulation and WiFi hotspot triangulation to get more precise location data. But they also use GPS data. (iPhones also use ibeacons in some areas for even more precise location).
You do need to have data service to get directions and start navigation, but you can drive through areas with no cell service just fine.
Side tip-maps can be downloaded for use when there is no data service. Google maps and gaia maps are both useful in this regard.
as @vord said, definitely buy used. hardware in smartphones has reached a point of diminishing returns, and a used ~3ish year old smartphone will work perfectly cromulently for what you need.
I recommend a used iPhone if you want to stay within the Apple ecosystem, or if you wanted to try Android again, either a Google Pixel or OnePlus device. Android has matured a lot in the decade since you used it but one thing that hasn't changed is that quality can be hit-or-miss depending on the manufacturer and their customizations on top of Android. Google's own phones, and OnePlus's (which is what I personally use) are consistently high quality and not riddled with crapware.
you could also get a tablet instead of a smartphone, if you wanted. the larger size might make reading maps easier. as long as you get one with a SIM card slot you can make calls and send texts and check voicemail just like a "real" phone. you might look a little silly holding it up to your ear, of course... (but you could certainly use bluetooth headphones for this instead)
whichever device you get, I would strongly recommend downloading offline maps for the areas you'll be driving through. this means that even if you're in an area with no cell signal, you can always pull up the map and see your location and surroundings. this uses up a fair bit of space, so even if you buy used, you should probably avoid the bottom-of-the-line used devices, because the most common thing they scrimp on is storage space. look for a model with a MicroSD reader if at all possible, because that means the storage is expandable. if it doesn't have an SD card (which AFAIK is true of all iPhones & iPads), I'd recommend getting 32GB storage as the bare minimum, and 64GB or more if possible. maps of multiple states could easily consume 5-10GB on their own.
in that "no service" situation, your GPS will still work (because it uses satellites, not cell towers) and happily tell you "you are here", where here is (latitude, longitude, altitude). and that's it. it won't answer "but where is here?" GPS alone doesn't give you a map, it only gives you a location.
normally, when you're in cell range, those maps get downloaded on the fly from Google or Apple's servers, and then cached on the device to remember local areas you're in frequently. this works great for "normal" usage but not for driving cross-country.
the other benefit of offline maps is that you probably won't spend much time in zero cell service (especially just going up & down the US east coast) but you'll spend plenty of time with mediocre or slow service, and when that happens you won't have to wait on the maps to load.
apparently this offline maps feature isn't offered in Apple Maps, so it sounds like regardless of Apple vs Android, you'll want to use Google Maps or another app (most likely some OpenStreetMap frontend) that does.
are you planning on doing a handsfree mount for the phone/tablet in your vehicle? I would definitely recommend this, it allows you to look at the map while driving, and still keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. the "usual" way of doing this is a suction cup that sticks on to your windshield, but I've had better luck with the type of mount that sticks into one of your air vents.
with the handsfree mount, both iPhone and Android have some very advanced voice recognition, so you can say for example "ok google, navigate to Yankee Stadium" and never need to touch your phone. many states have started to require this with "distracted driving" laws that have a speeding-ticket-like fine if you're holding / touching your phone while driving (in some cases, even while stopped at a red light).
you'll also want a charger for your car that plugs into a 12v socket (aka the "cigarette lighter" socket), I'd recommend Monoprice or Anker for high quality, inexpensive-but-not-cheap charging stuff. the same chargers at your friendly neighborhood cell phone store are probably all lower quality and marked up to a higher price (or, god forbid, that little bucket of USB car chargers sitting next to the cash register at a gas station...)
do you already have a cell phone carrier you're planning on using? if not, I'd recommend an MVNO of some kind. the big 3 carriers (Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T) will all try to sell you their $$$ "unlimited everything" plans even though you'll be using relatively very little of their network. MVNOs (which don't have any towers of their own, they lease/rent usage of the equipment that the big 3 run) tend to offer less expensive, no-frills plans that would work better for your modest data consumption (especially with offline maps, and assuming you don't wind up wanting to do something like stream music on Spotify during your entire road trip). I've used Ting as an MVNO for years and been happy with them.
I just wanted to supplement this with a quick diagram for clarity on how things work. Everything in yellow is done on your device, so if you get into that regime - downloading map data and using on-device routing algorithms - you should be good to even without a network connection. However, some of those algorithms can be augmented by cloud execution, so you might get better driving directions with a data connection.
I would highly reccomend buying used. This site is great because they insure phone is working.
I'd reccomend something like this, which should (in theory) be able to use any carrier sim. Get a prepaid sim, you can find 1-3 GB sims for < 20 a month with no contract. Getting stuck with no signal and carrier quality varies greatly in more rural areas.
Presumably you're looking for an iPhone? In that case, it just depends on priorities.
Optimize for practicality and price - iPhone SE (2020). Although it has an outdated chassis, and by today's standard a small screen, the refresh comes with an unbeatable SoC for the price and far more software updates than any other phone in the price category.
Optimize for best overall experience - iPhone 13. It's the standard iPhone Apple expects people to buy, and it's a good phone. OLED, retina screen, fastest SoC on the market by quite a bit, very good camera (even if it lacks the telephoto), many years of updates left for it.
Optimize for biggest screen - iPhone 13 Pro Max. You'll pay a pretty penny, but it's an absurdly large phone, and perhaps that's desirable if you're using it as a GPS
Optimize for big screen and price - used/refurbished iPhone XS/11 Pro/12/12 Pro. Basically, if you want to stay <$700 and think the SE is too small. Biggest sketch factor is battery, since LI-ONs degrade and there's not much you can do about it. From a quick google, looks like you can get a refurb XS for ~$500, and probably lower on the used market.
Satellite GPS is table stakes for any smartphone of any price at this point. Note that unlike, say, a satellite phone, you just need a receiver for GPS - it's thus not particularly expensive and at this point it would be hard to make a smartphone without a GPS receiver just because that part is so commonly part of the SoC.
I recommend Organic Maps. It's easy to use and built on OpenStreetMaps, which is generally considered to have the best mapping of backcountry trails.