Navigation Pro: Maps on Watch

First Impression

I downloaded this app last Tuesday afternoon because I needed help navigating the new walking trails they opened near the community center. My son bought me an iPhone 15 Pro for my birthday, and I figured I’d try using the maps on my watch instead of pulling out my phone all the time. The app cost $2.99, which seemed reasonable enough. Setting it up was mostly straightforward, though I did get confused when it asked me to “grant location permissions” right away. I had to call my daughter to explain what that meant. Once I got past that initial hurdle, the main screen looked clean and simple, which I appreciated. It showed my current location as a blue dot and had a search bar at the top. I typed in “Riverside Park” and it found it within seconds. That was a good start.

What It Does Well

The best part about this app is how it works on the watch itself. I can raise my wrist and see turn-by-turn directions without fumbling for my phone in my purse. Last Thursday, I walked to the hardware store on Main Street, and the watch vibrated gently before each turn. It felt like having a little guide sitting on my arm. The voice directions through my AirPods were clear and not too loud. The maps update quickly when I move, which surprised me because my old flip phone could never do anything like this. I also like that I can save favorite places. I saved my grandson’s school and my doctor’s office, so now it only takes two taps to get directions there. The app also shows me how far I’ve walked and how long it took, which is nice for keeping track of my exercise.

Where It Falls Short

There are a few things that drive me crazy. First, the app seems to eat up my watch battery like candy. I went for a 45-minute walk on Saturday morning, and my watch battery dropped from 80% to 30%. That’s way too much drain for a simple map app. I had to charge my watch twice that day, which is a hassle. Second, the search function doesn’t always find what I’m looking for. I tried to find “Jenny’s Diner” on Elm Street, and it kept showing me places in another city entirely. I had to type the full address to get it to work. That felt unnecessary. Third, the font size on the watch is too small for my old eyes. I know watches have limited space, but I find myself squinting at the street names during the day. At night it’s even worse because the contrast isn’t great.

Is It Worth the Price?

For $2.99, I think it’s mostly fair but not perfect. The Apple Maps app that came with my phone is free, and it works fine for most things. But Navigation Pro offers some watch-specific features that the free app doesn’t have, like those wrist vibrations and the clearer voice prompts. I paid three bucks, and I don’t feel cheated, but I also don’t feel like I got a steal. If it drained less battery and had bigger letters, I’d say it was worth every penny. As it stands, I’d recommend it to someone who walks a lot and owns an Apple Watch, but I’d warn them about the battery issue first. My friend Bill says he’s happy with his purchase, so maybe my phone’s battery is just getting old.

Developer & Support

I needed help on Friday because the app kept crashing when I tried to open my saved locations. I sent an email to the support address listed in the app store. They replied the next day with a message that felt very generic, like they didn’t actually read what I wrote. It said something like “please try restarting your device and clearing the cache.” I don’t even know what a cache is! I wrote back and asked for simpler instructions, but that was three days ago and I haven’t heard anything since. The crashing stopped on its own after I restarted my phone, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. I expect better help when I pay for an app. It doesn’t make me feel very supported.

Privacy & Safety

This app asks for location access all the time, even when I’m not using it. That bothered me at first because I don’t like apps tracking my every move. I went into my phone settings and changed it to “while using the app” instead of “always.” The app still works fine that way, so that’s what I recommend. The app also collects data like my walking routes and search history, which the privacy policy says they share with “third-party partners.” I don’t love that, but I guess that’s how most apps work these days. I’m not sharing anything super personal like my credit card info, so I’m not losing sleep over it. Just be careful what you type into the search bar if you’re worried about privacy.