In order to navigate the whole variety of car tablets and navigators, and therefore 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 quality device is its filling, and regardless of the manufacturer.
A good car tablet must have:
- highly sensitive GPS receiver;
- reliable and well-proven hardware component (processor, built-in memory, etc.);
- modern and proven software (maps).
These basic parameters will determine how quickly, and, most importantly, accurately, the GPS navigator will make all the necessary calculations and determine your location.
What to choose - GLONASS or GPS?
Many are lost in conjecture - which system is better and what to choose for your car. The main difference between these navigation landmarks from each other is the country of origin, that is, GLONASS is Russia, and GPS is America. For our realities, the most practical and useful will bea car tablet that works with domestic navigation, or at least hybrids - GPS / GLONASS.
Don't buy devices that only support GPS orientation. Due to recent events, the US government may turn off its system on the territory of the Russian Federation altogether, and the only thing that a GPS navigator will be able to do is show the time and date.
Display
When choosing a screen size, you don't need to go to extremes: too small one takes up less space, but everything is hard to see on it, while a large one will block the view, 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 front view.
High-quality, which means expensive tablets are equipped with an IPS-matrix, which gives a good angular view, compared to cheaper counterparts that work on a TN-matrix. As for resolution, the principle of choice is the same - the more, the better. Almost all five-inch models have a resolution of 800 by 480 pixels, and seven-inch gadgets have 1024 by 600 pixels. For example, the Lexand SC7 Pro HD device has a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, and this is quite enough for a high-quality picture that you don’t need to peer into to sort out the details.
Operating system
The Android platform remains the best option, as opposed to the Windows operating system. The first has wider functionality and capabilities, and software for itpresented in a wide range. In addition, with the help of third-party software, you can significantly improve a car tablet running on the Android platform. Yes, and device developers first 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 respect from specialists. One of the main advantages of these chips is the reception of an reflected and weak signal with high positioning accuracy. They are indispensable in urban conditions, as they allow you to "break through" the dense buildings of megacities. If you use a navigator outside the city, then you should pay attention to MTK chips, which are famous for their low power consumption. The rest of the options have their own list of critical flaws, so you can choose to put up with them or choose an expensive but sensible stuffing.
Processor
It doesn't 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 information and gives it to you on the screen. The better the processor, the faster it draws maps and reacts to the environment.
The principle of choice 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 GHzwithout any freezes or subsidence in 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.
Don't buy a car tablet with less than 512 MB of RAM. Gadgets with 2 GB of RAM on board are considered a universal option: fast loading, no friezes and excellent work in urban environments.
Receiver channels
To determine the GLONASS or GPS coordinates with great accuracy, a more or less confident signal from three satellites is enough for a navigator. But to get broader information, like 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 to determine the coordinates, and also contributes to a more thorough processing of the reflected and attenuated signals. For example, navigators based on Star chips have more than 40 reception 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 a capacity of 800 to 3000 mAh. Sometimes you can find more advanced and expensive batteries, like lithium polymer. They work longer, charge faster, but here's the deadlineThey have slightly fewer ionic counterparts in operation. 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 is weighty, it is really autonomous.
Navigation programs
The list of navigation software indicated below has long been established on the market and each program has its own characteristics and some nuances. It is very difficult to advise any specific one, because one is good in the city, the other on the highway, and the third is generally created for mountain travel. You need to choose based on your needs and location.
Popular navigation software:
- "Navitel" (universal version).
- "CityGuide" (urban conditions and major metropolitan areas).
- 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 choose the right one for your needs.
Summing up
As a conclusion, we can focus on the critical points that must be taken into account when choosing a car tablet or navigator.
Recommendations:
- choose a device with support for the domestic GLONASS system or a GPS/GLONASS hybrid;
- display at least five inches;
- gadget on the Android platform;
- well establishedchipsets - SiRF and Star;
- processor with a frequency of at least 1 GHz;
- RAM – from 512 MB;
- battery from 2500 mAh;
- a set of additional features can not hurt (you never know what will come in handy on the road);
- proven navigation software (Navitel, CityGuide, Autosputnik and Garmin).
Don't go to extremes when buying a navigator: a cheap model will be "stupid" and quickly sit down, and it makes no sense to take too expensive one, since most of the functions of such gadgets are designed for entertainment and have no obvious practicality.
