Electronics

[VaBelle35]

I use my VZ Navigator every time I get in the car for traffic and it doesn't use data or if it does, it doesn't use that much.  I have a 5G plan with Verizon and I never use more than 2G in a month.

[glb613]

A lot depends on how you are using your phone and a map app.  If you are using it as a GPS with constant updates of your location or turn by turn directions, it uses data to update the map. If you simply download a map and look at it without using it as a GPS, you won't.  Your phone cannot update it's map while traveling without using data.  While home, you can download the map and itinerary while on Wifi but, once you are out of range, the Wifi isn't available.  

"The biggest data usage comes from using the iPhone as a GPS when you drive a long distance. This is because new sections of the map are downloaded as you travel. If you have a limited data plan, you should avoid using the GPS feature too often while driving."

[gardenman]

Google maps both updates your position and gives you turn by turn directions with the data turned off. You need data to initially download the map and route, but once that's done, it'll just use the GPS signal to update your position and guide you along the route. Now, if you veer off the mapped out route it'll go quiet (no turn by turn directions) until you're somewhere back on the pre-mapped route, but then it'll resume the turn by turn directions. It's impressively clever.

My cheap little LG Premiere Pro ($89.99 with a year's service when I bought it) is insanely impressive.It's a GPS, digital camera, camcorder, WiFi hotspot (not advertised but it's got it and it works,) audio recorder, mp3 player, FM radio (when headphones are plugged in,) flashlight, web browser, and more, all in one neat little package. It wasn't that long ago when if you just wanted to record audio, you'd need a briefcase sized tape recorder. Go back twenty years and all of those functions (if available at all) would require a separate device and you'd need people to help carry all of them. Now you can do all of that with a device that slips into a pocket, and even lets you make phone calls.