Why Does GPS Use More Battery Than Any Other Antenna Or Sensor In A Smartphone? GPS is expensive because it is a very slow communication channel — you need to communicate with three or four satellites for an extended duration at 50 bits per second. There is no time division as in other communication mechanisms, necessitating powering the antenna for the duration of any communication. Worse, while the GPS is on, the system cannot enter a sleep state. Mobile devices such as ...
Aug. 6, 2013 - Forbes