Review: Roundup: Location-Aware Smartphones

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Stand-alone GPS unit, your days are numbered. With sensitive receivers, powerful nav apps, and maps and traffic info over cell networks, location-aware smartphones now lead the way.

1. Motorola Droid
If you need persuading to drop your dedicated nav unit for a smartphone, just pick up a Droid and launch Google Maps Navigation. The simple, intuitive app makes you feel like a native while you're braving foreign lands. Plug in a destination and the software — free on Android 2.0 phones — downloads the appropriate maps. You can add layers like restaurants, gas stations, and parking garages, and if you prefer the long way 'round, call up a list of alternate paths.

2. TomTom for iPhone
When users can get decent navigation apps for free, you'd better have some good reasons to charge big bucks for add-ons. TomTom offers a few (though not enough): The dock boosts the iPhone's GPS sensitivity, and the abundant voice choices make directions easy to understand. Plus, the dock's speaker amplifies directives and works as a thumpin' hands-free. Unfortunately, the strength of the audio isn't complemented by the detail of the instructions: When you hear only "Turn right ahead," it's hard to know what to do unless you look at the screen.

3. Nokia 5800 Navigation Edition
Ostensibly very serious about telling you where to go, this little number comes with preloaded US maps, a suction-cup mount, and free turn-by-turn directions for life. But don't toss your nav system yet. Sure, it's a snap to plan a route on the PC application and beam it to the phone, but it's a lot harder to figure out which way to go when you're already out in the field: The touchscreen is about as sensitive as a hit man, and if you don't know your destination address, your best bets are either a cumbersome point-of-interest menu or booting up the phone's Web browser to search for your finish line.

WIRED Lead foot? The 5800 can warn you when you've exceeded the speed limit. Unlocked phone works on any GSM network. Nav app free with phone.

TIRED Drive over or under a highway and it thinks you've suddenly teleported to that road.

$250, Nokia.com