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Battery saving and data optimisation for navigation
Navigation apps like Waze, Google Maps, and OsmAnd are indispensable on the road, but they consume a lot of battery and data. Fortunately, with offline maps, adjusted screen settings, and smart Bluetooth integration, you can save up to an hour of battery life per day without compromising your navigation experience. How do you do that? Read on for practical settings you can apply immediately.
Why navigation apps consume so much power
GPS navigation consumes energy due to a combination of factors. Your phone simultaneously uses GPS signals, a constantly lit screen, an internet connection, and audio output. The GPS chip is the most energy-hungry because the phone constantly needs to determine and refresh your location.
Google Maps exacerbates this with standard activated location notifications and location history. These features also run in the background, even when you’re not actively using the app. Disabling these background activities significantly saves battery power.
‘ This app works completely without an internet connection and consumes less battery than online alternatives. ’
Downloading offline maps saves data costs
Offline maps reduce your data consumption to almost zero and also save battery. Your phone doesn’t have to constantly connect to the network for map data.
How to download offline maps
In Google Maps, you can save areas via your profile picture, then ‘Offline maps’ and ‘Select your own map’. Choose the area you need and download it via Wi-Fi. Bear in mind storage space: an area the size of the Netherlands requires approximately 2 GB.
OsmAnd offers more extensive offline capabilities. This app works completely without an internet connection and consumes less battery than online alternatives. Download the full country maps you need before you depart.
Waze has limited offline functionality. The app automatically downloads routes you drive regularly but remains dependent on a data connection for real-time traffic information.
Minimising screen usage for longer battery life
Your phone’s screen consumes a lot of energy, especially at high brightness. During navigation, the screen often remains continuously on, which quickly drains your battery.
Settings you can adjust
- Manually lower screen brightness or enable automatic brightness
- Activate voice navigation in your navigation app, so you have to look at the screen less often
- Set a shorter timeout for turning off your screen between navigation instructions
- Use the dark theme in apps that support it
Voice navigation is particularly effective. You can turn off the screen between instructions and only turn it on when you want to check details. This can extend your battery life by 30 to 40 per cent on long journeys.
Strategically managing GPS and location services
Many apps request access to your location, even when they don’t need it. This background access drains your battery.
Check which apps have location access. On Android, go to Settings, then Location and App location permissions. On iPhone, you’ll find this under Settings, Privacy, and Location Services. Restrict location access to ‘Only while using the app’ for apps that don’t constantly need it.
Adjusting Google Maps location settings
Google Maps defaults to requesting permission for location notifications and location history. These features share your location with other Google services and store your movements. Turn them off if you’re not actively using them:
- Open Google Maps and tap your profile picture
- Go to ‘Location History’ and turn it off
- Go back and choose ‘Data & privacy’, then ‘Location History’ and switch off ‘Location History is on’
‘ Disabling these features provides at least an hour of extra battery life. ’
Smart use of connectivity for navigation
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth constantly search for available networks and devices. This consumes battery, even when you’re not connected.
Turn off Wi-Fi when you’re on the go and not using hotspots. Only turn on Bluetooth when pairing your phone with your car system for hands-free calling or audio. Disabling these features provides at least an hour of extra battery life.
Bluetooth integration in the car
Bluetooth connection with your car uses relatively little energy compared to Wi-Fi. When playing navigation audio via Bluetooth, you can place your phone face down. The screen will then automatically turn off while the voice navigation continues to work through your car speakers.
Only pair your phone when you are actively using it. Many car systems keep the Bluetooth connection active, which consumes battery on long trips.
Aeroplane mode with GPS for optimal battery usage
Aeroplane mode disables all wireless connections, including mobile internet, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. GPS remains available when you manually re-enable it after activating aeroplane mode.
This combination works excellently with offline maps. Your phone only uses GPS for navigation and doesn’t search for network signals. This significantly saves battery on routes where you don’t need real-time traffic information.
Please note: in aeroplane mode, you will not receive calls or messages. Only use this setting when you don’t need to be reachable.
Differences between navigation apps in battery consumption
Not all navigation apps consume the same amount of energy. OsmAnd is more economical than Google Maps and Waze because it works completely offline and does not run background processes.
OsmAnd for longer trips
OsmAnd downloads maps completely to your phone. The app does not require an internet connection and does not run background tasks. This makes it a good choice for road trips through areas with limited network coverage.
The interface is simpler than Google Maps but offers sufficient functionality for route planning and navigation.
Google Maps with limitations
Google Maps offers the most features but also consumes the most data and battery when navigating online. With offline maps and disabled background services, battery usage significantly improves.
Waze for shorter journeys
Waze relies on real-time traffic information and therefore constantly consumes data and battery. Use this app for journeys where current traffic updates are important, but for longer trips, choose a more economical alternative.
‘ Completely close unused apps, especially those with location access ’
Additional settings for battery saving
In addition to navigation-specific adjustments, general phone settings also help save battery:
- Activate power saving mode or battery optimisation in your phone settings
- Completely close unused apps, especially those with location access
- Turn off vibration and keyboard sounds
- Avoid streaming videos or playing games during long navigation sessions
- Restart your phone before departure to reset background processes
What to do on long journeys
For road trips and extensive route planning, these preparations help:
- Bring a power bank with sufficient capacity, preferably 10,000 mAh (milliampere-hour, a measure of battery capacity) or higher
- Use a car charger with sufficient power, at least 2.4A (ampere, a measure of charging speed)
- Download all necessary offline maps for your entire route in advance via Wi-Fi
- Test your settings on a short drive to check if everything works as expected
- Plan stops where you can charge your phone, for example during longer breaks
A good power bank can fully charge your phone two to three times. Choose a model with fast-charging technology for shorter charging times during your breaks.
Discover more tips for your trip
On the Traveler Tips website, you’ll find extensive information about route planning, necessary documents for travelling through Europe, vignettes and toll roads, and practical checklists for your departure. Check out the other articles to prepare for your trip even better.
Frequently asked questions
To use offline maps and save battery and data during your trip, you can download maps in advance in navigation apps like Google Maps. Then, disable GPS for apps that don’t need it and minimise screen usage by, for example, using voice navigation and lowering screen brightness. Optimise connectivity by turning off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on the go, and activate aeroplane mode if your battery is critically low. Also consider using offline navigation apps like OsmAnd as an alternative to cloud-based navigation.
It is not specified which navigation apps are the most efficient, but Google Maps, Apple Maps and Waze are mentioned as popular apps that consume a lot of battery. For battery saving, it is recommended to strategically manage GPS, minimise screen usage, optimise connectivity, and limit background processes. To save data, it is advised to download maps offline.
To extend battery life during navigation, you can strategically manage GPS access by disabling location history and notifications, and minimise screen usage with voice navigation and lower brightness. Furthermore, turn off unnecessary connectivity like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and activate battery saver mode. Pre-downloading offline maps reduces internet usage. An essential accessory is a power bank, which can charge your phone multiple times while on the go.
To avoid high data costs abroad when using navigation, download maps offline in advance. Use apps like OsmAnd for offline navigation, which minimises data consumption. Activate aeroplane mode if the battery is critically low, and turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you’re on the go to prevent unnecessary network searching.
Download offline maps in advance and use offline navigation apps to ensure navigation without an internet connection. A power bank is essential to charge your phone if no power is available. Minimise screen usage by using voice navigation and lowering screen brightness. Turn off GPS and other unnecessary connectivity features to save battery.
