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Last Updated: Jan 9, 2023
GPS and Google Maps are completely different things. GPS is a radio that listens to satellites in space and calculates a location. Google Maps is a software application that provides a layout of a map to help you navigate around in a specific location.
Notice the common word they both share, location.
So GPS and Google Maps really depend on each other, one is not much good without the other. You can’t navigate unless you have your current location, and your location is not much good unless you can navigate around.
Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information anywhere on the Earth where there is an unobstructed line of sight to four or more GPS satellites.
GPS is operated by the U.S. Department of Defense and is available for use by anyone with a GPS receiver. See more details on how GPS works.
Google Maps is not a GPS, it is a web mapping service and software app developed by Google that provides detailed information about geographical regions and sites around the world.
In addition to conventional road maps, Google Maps offers aerial and satellite views of many places. In some cities, Google Maps offers street views comprising photographs taken from vehicles.
Both GPS and Google Maps are useful tools for navigation and can be used in different situations. GPS is often used for outdoor activities, such as hiking and driving because it can work without an internet connection.
Google Maps is often used for urban navigation and can provide real-time traffic updates and alternative routes. It can show your speed on the screen because it gets the speed from the built-in GPS.
Google Maps is also useful for finding businesses and points of interest. Ultimately, the choice of which one to use depends on your specific needs and preferences.
Keep in mind there are many other mapping software products that do the same thing as Google Maps, such as Garmin, TomTom, just to name a few.
Is GPS Better than Phone
There are a few differences between GPS (Global Positioning System) and a phone that may make one better than the other in certain situations.
Since GPS is a satellite-based navigation system that provides location and time information in all weather conditions, anywhere on or near the Earth’s surface, GPS receivers, such as those found in smartphones or standalone GPS devices, use this information to determine their exact location.
A phone, on the other hand, is a device that is primarily designed for communication, but may also have other features such as a camera, music player, and a GPS. The GPS functionality of a phone is typically just as good as a standalone GPS device and is usually just as accurate and even more reliable.
A phone that has a built-in GPS has a greater ability to find your location than a standalone GPS. This is because the phone has other ways of finding its location, like cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios that can be used to get a fairly accurate location fix even when the GPS is unusable.
A standalone GPS, however, will typically have a much longer battery life than a phone, so you can use it to navigate for a week or more, vs a couple days with a phone. There are even solar GPS watches that give you maps and tracking.
Conclusion
So the question, is GPS better than Google Maps, I hope has helped you understand the differences between the two technologies.
They both are used on a mobile phone to help you find where you are and a way to navigate anywhere or get directions anywhere in the world. And, in many ways, a phone is better than a GPS at getting your location.
