Technology makes everything in life simpler and easier. If someone came up with the idea of a car, it was followed up with a host of accessories that have simplified driving considerably over the years. The GPS unit is one such accessory, without which road lovers the world over would have had a tough time navigating themselves between places and spend less time wandering in the wrong direction.

The portable GPS unit has become really good and today, you might have a tough time choosing one that will satisfy your needs and get you to your destination on time. Listed in this article are some of the best portable GPS units in the market today. Depending on your priority, choose one of these units before planning your next getaway.

Garmin is known the world over for making the best portable GPS for vehicles today. Their units are as good as it gets and give you simple and clear directions with multiple options to alter the route. The nuvi series offered by Garmin will leave you in awe with its impressive feature list. It is simply mind-blowing and probably the best that your money can be. The latest offering also has voice recognition and an option to give oral commands. This is a big step as it completely eliminates the need to lift your hands from the steering wheel and instead just focus on the driving aspect of your car. It has all the added functions like Bluetooth and limited net connectivity which makes it possibly one of the best overall packages that you can buy today. If money is no object, then the Garmin Nuvi 800 series is the way to go.

However, you can still buy a reasonably good GPS without breaking the bank. TomTom makes some of the most affordable portable GPS in the market today. Although not always rated as the best portable GPS, it is still more than adequate for novice drivers who just want basic road guidance. If you don’t mind missing out on all the jazz that Garmin offers, then this tiny device will give you good directions plus cost you a fraction of the competition. The directions are pretty good and there are some features that are in common with the higher end models. The one aspect that is not in common is that this model costs less than a fifth of what a Garmin Nuvi will cost you. Now, that’s something to rejoice about plus some handy money for your planned trip.

The Mio series of navigation systems fall in between Garmin and TomTom portable units. These guys offer you a commendable unit, although without the comprehensiveness of the Garmin units. You do get decent directions, but recalculations are not always the best and sometimes often muddled up. The strong aspects are the fact that it has a generous screen size, with the ability to be used as a video player too if the need arises. The unit’s limited wireless and communication capabilities are what steal the title of best portable GPS from it. On the whole, it is a pretty decent package with some of the frills that the Nuvi series offers at a price that is slightly higher than the TomTom unit.

Finally, if you still want an exceptional GPS unit but just do not have the resources for one, then consider one of the newer generation cell phones as an option. Most new Blackberry and Palm phones are equipped with GPS capability that can leave you amazed. Although it cannot be dubbed as the best portable GPS, it does come very close. The GPS functionality is surprisingly comparable to the higher end units and you also get complete media capabilities plus a live access to upgrade maps from the internet. The only drawback is the screen size, but if you are willing to look beyond that, then this is simply one of the best solutions for a GPS unit. In fact, most new generation smartphones come with a free trial of the GPS function and you can buy the whole package for a special low price. You also have the security of carrying it with you when you are not in the car. If you don’t use your phone for too many calls or texting, then this is surely one of the best portable GPS solutions today.

The final decision is dependent on your budget and your requirements. If you feel that you can make-do with a simple TomTom unit, then that is probably the best portable GPS for your needs. Do weigh in all considerations and decide in advance before settling on any particular model.