When comparing Sygic: GPS Navigation & Maps vs Apple Maps, the Slant community recommends Sygic: GPS Navigation & Maps for most people. In the question“What are the best car navigation apps for iOS?” Sygic: GPS Navigation & Maps is ranked 6th while Apple Maps is ranked 7th. The most important reason people chose Sygic: GPS Navigation & Maps is:
GPS Navigation & Maps Sygic offers an in app purchase to add on a Heads Up Display for the app. This works for nighttime driving by placing ones device up by the windshield and the device will reflect all information in the windshield for a convenient hands free experience that is on the level of where ones eyes already are.
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Pros
Pro Safe projection like hands free heads up display
GPS Navigation & Maps Sygic offers an in app purchase to add on a Heads Up Display for the app. This works for nighttime driving by placing ones device up by the windshield and the device will reflect all information in the windshield for a convenient hands free experience that is on the level of where ones eyes already are.
Pro Useful lane guidance
GPS Navigation & Maps Sygic provides lane guidance as a feature for safe lane maneuvering while driving which is great especially when on a highway of unknown locations being one never knows exactly what lanes to be in when merging or taking exits.
Pro Highly precise address data
GPS Navigation & Maps Sygic is powered by Tom Tom map data, which is often used by governments as well as emergency services.
Pro Local language guidance
Pro Easily assess location with 3D Navigation
GPS Navigation & Maps Sygic provides a very detailed 3D world during navigation, with elevated hills and even city buildings which makes for a more realistic view of where one is in comparison to their surroundings.
Pro Commercial Map Data
Utilizes commercial data for its maps that are supplied by TomTom Maps. While not strictly better it can have more up-to-date map data than OSM. This is also the reason for the the good address data.
Pro Default option
It's already installed, so you don't have to install it.
Pro Best apple watch integration
With an apple watch paired with your iPhone, haptic feedback alerts you just a few seconds before a turn comes up. This is distinct from the audio alerts that say in 1 mile, or half a mile or even a quarter of am mile, the haptic feedback vibrates even closer to the actual turn than audio cues. The feedback is also slightly different from left turns, right turn and straight ahead. It takes time to distinguish the difference but in time you might. None of the competitors have haptic feedback close to turns. It could be due to Apple being stingy with the API or if competitors have simply not developed the feature into their apps. It makes navigating to new places much more relaxed as a deaf person since it is no longer necessary to depend so heavily on the street name, exit, or tracking the guiding line (remaining blocks) on the map as a turn comes near.
Pro Easy on the battery
It doesn't destroy the battery as much as Google Maps or any other option.
Cons
Con Poor map viewing
Sygic's interface is tailored to navigation. While viewing maps in 2D is possible, it populates the map with a bunch of POI icons which detract from street names. The biggest issue is how easy it is to select something or start navigation when zooming in/out.
Still usable for map viewing though.
Con Bad map accuracy
Even the newest maps seem outdated and have many mistakes or inaccuracies. Entire ranges of house numbers are absent in some streets, 3d buildings are only present in some segments.
Con Bad routing
Con Pricey Android Auto
TomTom is more than 2x cheaper.
Con Updates require running app
After a Play Store update it is important to run the app once to download all the offline data again, otherwise it will not be usable when no external data is available. This is not only time consuming but inconvenient for those that may be in a hurry.
Con No voice controls
Seems a bit pointless having no voice alerts in the free one unless someone is sitting next to you.
Con Some parts of the map are not actually
Con Sans apple watch and haptic feedback, harder to navigate visually
Apple maps is not as good about lane shifts and names of streets where you need to turn. It's not possible to skip to the next turn like you can with Google Maps so as to be prepared for quick successions of turns. Terrain details are very bare while cross streets make things feel busy. Cross streets are great for learning a new city, but distracting when you're just trying to get from point A to point B.