In order to navigate the entire variety of car tablets and navigators, which means to make the right choice, you need to know the main technical parameters that you need to pay attention to before buying.
In general, the basis of any high-quality device is its filling, and regardless of the manufacturer's company.
A good car tablet should have:
- highly sensitive GPS receiver;
- reliable and well-proven hardware component (processor, internal memory, etc.);
- modern and proven software (cards).
From these basic parameters it will depend on how quickly, and, most importantly, exactly, the GPS-navigator will make all the necessary calculations and determine your location.
What to choose - GLONASS or GPS?
Many are at a loss as to which system is better and what to choose for your car. The main difference between these navigational landmarks from each other is the country of origin, that is, GLONASS - Russia, and GPS - America. For our realities, the most practical and useful will be a car tablet that works with domestic navigation, or at least hybrids - GPS / GLONASS.
Do not buy devices that support exclusively GPS-orientation. In connection with the latest events, the US government may even turn off its system in the Russian Federation, and the only thing a GPS navigator will be capable of is to show the time and date.
Display
When choosing a screen size, you don’t need to go to extremes: too small takes up less space, but everything is poorly visible on it, while a large one will close the review, although the information on it is better visible. The optimal car tablet is 7 inches or 5, depending on the front panel of the car and the frontal view.
High-quality, which means expensive tablets are equipped with an IPS-matrix, which gives a good angular overview, compared with cheaper counterparts working on a TN-matrix. As for resolution, there is only one choice principle - the more the better. Almost all five-inch models have a span of 800 by 480 pixels, and gadgets by seven inches - 1024 by 600. For example, the Lexand SC7 Pro HD device has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, and this is enough for a high-quality picture, which does not need to be peered to make out the details.
operating system
The best option is the Android platform as opposed to the Windows operating system. The first has wider functionality and capabilities, and the software for it is presented in a huge assortment. In addition, with the help of third-party software, you can significantly improve the car tablet running on the Android platform. Yes, and device developers primarily release updates for green operating systems, and only then for Windows.
Chipset
The chipset in the navigator is responsible for the quality of signal reception and the accuracy of determining the coordinates. Chips of the Star and SiRF series enjoy enviable popularity and expert respect. One of the main advantages of these chips is the reception of a reflected and weak signal with high positioning accuracy. They are indispensable in urban environments, as they allow you to "break through" the dense development of megacities. If you use a navigator outside the city, then you should pay attention to the MTK chips, which are famous for their low power consumption. Other options have their own list of critical shortcomings, so you choose to put up with them or choose an expensive, but sensible stuffing.
CPU
It does not matter where and how your car tablet is installed: on the headrest, on the panel or on the steering wheel, the main thing is that it quickly processes the information and displays it on your screen. The better the processor, the faster it draws cards and responds to the environment.
The principle of selection is the same as in the case of screen resolution: more numbers - better speed. The best option for both urban conditions and for the route is 1 GHz. Take for example the same Lexand SC7 Pro HD, which operates at a frequency of 1.3 GHz without any friezes or subsidence on the FPS.
RAM
RAM is the second most important indicator after the processor - the more it is, the faster the device works: loading programs, building routes, etc.
You should not buy a car tablet with less than 512 MB of RAM. A universal option is considered to be gadgets with 2 GB of RAM on board: fast loading, lack of friezes and excellent work in an urban environment.
Receiver channels
To determine the coordinates of GLONASS or GPS with great accuracy, the navigator needs a more or less confident signal from three satellites. But to get wider information, such as altitude, four satellites are needed.
The number of received channels of the navigator directly depends on its sensitivity and noise immunity - more channels - higher sensitivity. This helps to significantly reduce the time for determining coordinates, and also contributes to a more thorough processing of reflected and attenuated signals. For example, navigators on Star chips have more than 40 receiving channels, and Lexand car tablets use 3-4G protocols from at least five satellites.
Battery life
Navigators and tablets use standard lithium-ion batteries with capacities ranging from 800 to 3,000 mAh. Sometimes you can find more advanced and expensive batteries, such as lithium-polymer. They work longer, charge faster, but their lifespan is slightly less than ionic counterparts. In any case, when choosing a navigation device, be sure to look at the battery capacity: it is better to give preference to a larger number of mAh, and even if it will be weighty, but really autonomous.
Navigation programs
The indicated list of navigation software has been fixed on the market for a long time and each program has its own peculiarities and some nuances. It is very difficult to recommend a specific one, because one is good in the city, the other is on the highway, and the third one is generally designed for mountain travel. You need to choose based on your needs and location.
Popular programs for navigation:
- Navitel (universal option).
- "CityGuide" (urban conditions and large cities).
- iGo.
- Garmin.
- "Autosatellite" (ideal for the track).
For a more detailed acquaintance with each, you can study the detailed instructions on the official resource of the program developer and select the right one for your needs.
Summarizing
As a conclusion, you can focus on critical points that must be considered when choosing a car tablet or navigator.
Recommendations:
- choose a device that supports the domestic GLONASS system or a GPS / GLONASS hybrid;
- a display of at least five inches;
- gadget on the Android platform;
- well-established chipsets - SiRF and Star;
- a processor with a frequency of at least 1 GHz;
- RAM - from 512 MB;
- rechargeable battery from 2500 mAh;
- a set of additional functions does not hurt (you never know what is useful on the road);
- proven navigation software (Navitel, CityGid, Autosputnik and Garmin).
Do not rush to the extremes when buying a navigator: a cheap model will “dull” and sit down quickly, and taking too expensive does not make sense, since most of the functions of such gadgets are designed for entertainment and have no obvious practicality.