Using GPS for driving in Italy. Smartphone with maps or dedicated GPS unit?

The dedicated GPS will give real time voice navigation with zero data limits. That said, when I was in Italy a few months ago I used Google Maps which was far superior to the in-car GPS I had with my lease. But I also had a Italian sim card in my android phone.

one suggestion might be ( if you rely only on your phone) is to buy some of the michelin maps ( look for the yellow ones, which have a scale where a lot of the small roads are shown- not the orange ones) we find them invaluable as they buy them there ( names match the signs), they are a nice souvenir, and with a map you know the name of a place, as you often don't know the name of the destination to put into the GPS anyway. they are inexpensive.
with a map the passenger can be checking the GPS/phone directions, as a backup. it gives the driver more confidence.

hope this helps.

Always have old-fashioned hard-copy maps available, don't rely just on GPS. You can get maps at a Barnes & Noble or at your local Auto Club, or at Amazon and other travel sites.

We used a GPS unit backed up by a phone. The big screen in the car was handy. We had current GPS maps but use the phone a couple times to double check things that appeared to be confusing.

Thanks. I'm the driver. My wife and travel partner is the navigator. She is a paper map person so we ordered the Michelin Europe Map 705 to take with us. It's always nice to have a large visual of the roads to you can plan ahead. Plus, it works as a backup just in case.
I was just wondering if there was a large reason to prefer a dedicated GPS that I was not considering.

I just came back from Italy and I used a GPS I had rented in the states <$1 a day> and it was mostly a life saver. I also had a phone with a local Sim card and twice I used the google map on it because I could not put in the proper address in the GPS for some reason. The GPS also helped me telling me about speed and those speeding meters and the ones that calculate average speed. It told me upcoming toll booth as well. Next trip I am taking a GPS again! In the states I use my google map on my smart phone only.

I used Google maps on my iPhone, while on airplane mode. Downloaded the "offline" areas I needed in advance and had the turn by turn directions I needed whenever I wanted them. Only thing you miss is current traffic, worked like a charm and we put about 1500 KM on the rental. Milan to Montecatini Terme, MT to Florence, MT to La Spezia, MT to Venice, and Venice to Milan! As well as a day driving the fun windy roads of the Tuscan hill towns! Never took out the paper maps once but had them just in case.

Several years ago, I purchased the TomTom app for my iPhone. First I had USA and then Italy, and finally I added the Western Europe app when we were going to Paris. I had used the full device in the past, but got tired of carrying it along on the trip. From the first I have never regretted the purchase. I have used my TomTom app on an iPhone 5 and 6Plus and have been quite happy with it I DOES NOT USE CELLULAR DATA FOR NAVIGATION so you will not be charged. Preference can be set for walking, cycling, or driving. REMEMBER to reset to driving before you navigate to you next location or you will end up like I did. The route had me going up a set of stairs and down a one way street the wrong way. Never forgot after that. I highly rate the app, and don't get hooked tiny any subscription services you may be seeing after you get it. Works well.

I'm a big fan of the Streetwise line of folding laminated maps. They have just enough info for a tourist and don't go into great granular detail that a local would need.

I've been contemplating the same question for our upcoming trip in August. We have driven twice previously in Italy and used our portable GPS (Garmin) both times. It worked well but I'd like to lighten the load this time and take as few items as possible but I think we're going to take the Garmin again. I won't have an Italian SIM card and don't want to incur data charges. I don't want to risk having problems with an app and regret not taking my Garmin which I know works perfectly well. If you do use a navigation app, make sure it gives turn by turn verbal directions. Good luck.