Magnetic declination is the angle between magnetic north and true north at a given location on the Earth’s surface. This angle varies from place to place and changes over time. Accurate knowledge of magnetic declination is essential for navigation, surveying, and exploration. There are various methods to determine magnetic declination, including using maps, compasses, and electronic devices.
Android devices provide a convenient platform for accessing a range of navigation and mapping applications. Many of these apps offer features that can help users determine their location, track their movement, and navigate to destinations. However, not all of these apps are equally effective in providing accurate information on magnetic declination.
To help users find the best app for magnetic declination on Android, we have conducted a detailed review of the most popular apps in this category. Our review takes into account factors such as accuracy, ease of use, and features offered. We have also considered user feedback and ratings to provide a comprehensive evaluation of each app.
We have compiled a list of 8 Best App For Magnetic Declination Android for your consideration, which have undergone rigorous testing and evaluation by our team of experts.
Table of Contents
8 Best App For Magnetic Declination Android
1. Compass 360 Pro Free
A Compass app is available for outdoor activities such as travel, picnics, camping, hiking, and boating. While there are many similar apps on the market, most of them only work accurately in America, with less reliable results in Australia and Asia. However, this particular app can work accurately worldwide. The accuracy of this app depends on the performance of the user’s device, so it is recommended to check for interference from magnetic fields if the readings are incorrect.
The Compass app offers several features, including a simple interface that mimics a real compass, a professional design, and a dampened compass card that orients the user with a single glance. Decimal bearings provide detailed directions, while cardinal bearings offer a quick way for the user to express general direction to others. The app also offers both magnetic and true north readings and takes care of variation automatically. The smooth movements of this app make it easy to use, and an internet connection is not required. The app supports many languages and is free to download.
It is important to note that to use this app, the user must hold their Android device flat and use it like a real compass. The device must have a magnetic sensor inside to read the earth’s magnetic field accurately. If the device does not have a magnetic sensor, the Smart Compass Pro, or any other compass app, will not work. The creators of this app encourage users to leave a 5-star rating to support app development.
2. Smart Compass
Smart Compass is a compass app that is part of the Smart Tools collection. It requires a magnetic sensor to function properly and users should check their device specifications to ensure compatibility. The app uses embedded magnetic sensors to search bearings or directions and has four significant features, including fixed heading, camera view, metal detector, GPS and map support.
The accuracy of the compass app depends on the performance of the user’s device, including the quality of the sensors. If the compass is inaccurate, users can check for magnetic field interference and use the app’s calibration options. The app offers various compass modes and main features, including true north, vertical line, azimuth and coordinate types, GPS speedometer, screen capture, and material design.
The Pro version includes additional features such as no ads, sharing GPS location, Qibla finder, car locator, and individual metal detector. Users who want more tools can download the Smart Compass Pro and Smart Tools 2 package. However, users should be aware that the compass may be inaccurate if used with a view-cover that has a magnet. For more information, users can watch YouTube videos and visit the app’s blog.
3. Digital Compass
The digital compass for Android is a useful tool for outdoor activities, and particularly helpful for Muslim prayer to find the Qibla direction. The app utilizes the gyroscope, accelerator, magnetometer, and gravity sensors of the device to display the direction a user is currently facing. However, the device must have an accelerator sensor and magnetometer sensor for the digital compass to function accurately.
The digital compass app is a free tool which displays the user’s current location, longitude, latitude, address, altitude, magnetic field strength (EMF), slope level, current accuracy state, and both magnetic north and geographic north (true north). It also shows all available sensor status and includes a direction pointer marker. Users should be cautious when using the digital compass near other magnetic interference, as it can interfere with accuracy. If the accuracy becomes unreliable, the device can be calibrated by flipping and moving the phone back and front in patterns 8.
The digital compass can be used for a variety of purposes, such as adjusting television antennas, finding Qibla direction for Muslim prayer, Fengshui (Chinese), outdoor activities, education purposes, and more. The directions displayed by the digital compass are N for north, E for east, S for south, and W for west. Overall, the digital compass app is a precise and accurate tool for Android users to utilize on their outdoor adventures.
4. Compass
An accurate compass is essential for outdoor activities. This device offers multiple functions such as displaying true north, latitude and longitude, altitude and speed, sensor state, level, magnetic field power, device slope angle, level error correction, and connection to Google Map. Users can select their desired display information through available options.
5. Compass (Altimeter, Sunrise, Sunset)
This compass is a user-friendly tool that provides useful information about one’s current position. It is free and does not contain ads. The compass displays both magnetic and geographic north using magnetic declination. Users can also view sunrise and sunset times, as well as choose from various skins and color themes. The compass includes true altitude above sea level at the user’s position, which is computed using EGM96 as the geoid reference.
The latitude and longitude of the user’s position can be viewed in MGRS, UTM, DD, DMM, or DMS format. The compass also displays magnetic field strength and sensor accuracy. Additionally, the tool provides the address of the user’s current location. However, it is important to note that the compass works best outside where magnetic perturbations are low, and magnetic closure cell phone cases may disrupt accuracy.
The tool uses EGM96 as the geoid reference to compute true altitude above sea level from data collected by the GPS sensor. UTM is a system for assigning coordinates to locations on the surface of the Earth. Overall, the compass is designed to be an enjoyable and easy-to-use tool for retrieving information about one’s current position.
6. Variation
Variation, also known as magnetic variation or magnetic declination, refers to the angle between the magnetic and geographic meridians at any location. It is expressed in degrees to indicate the direction of magnetic north from true north, and is typically used in navigation with a magnetic compass.
The app in question utilizes the World Magnetic Model (WMM) 2020, which is valid from October 12th, 2019 through December 31st, 2024. Additional information regarding the WMM can be found at the following website: https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomag/WMM/DoDWMM.shtml.
The app’s user interface features zoom buttons, map types including normal, terrain, and satellite, and GPS location functionality. In order to use the GPS location feature, the user must allow the app permission to access their location and ensure that their GPS is switched on.
Events on the map include the ability to add a mark with the variation at the current day’s position through a long click, and the option to tap the mark to view its information. Additionally, map gestures can be used in accordance with the Google Maps Android SDK controls.
7. Digital Field Compass
The Digital Field Compass is a magnetic compass app that offers a user-friendly interface with all the necessary information presented on one clear screen. It features a sighting screen, allowing users to take and store bearings for better navigation. The app now includes selectable new Holo dark themes.
The app displays the user’s heading on an analogue compass with a digital centre panel showing the heading in degrees. Compass heading and bearings are referenced to True or Magnetic North, and users can adjust the Declination for their current location. Users can record up to three compass bearings and display them around the compass for a three-point compass fix. The app is ICS compatible with no menu options.
The Digital Field Compass can be used for sailing, boating, hiking, hill climbing, walking, and general outdoor navigation and map reading training. It is also suitable for Orienteering enthusiasts as a backup compass. Additionally, the app features a night mode with dimmed red colours, an orientation field, a True North reference option, and a Declination field with a user-configurable value.
8. Compass with declination
This is a simple compass that is available for free. One of the features of this compass is its ability to adjust for magnetic declination. Magnetic declination refers to the difference between true north and magnetic north. This can vary depending on location and can have an impact on navigation. By taking into account magnetic declination, this compass can provide more accurate directions.
In addition to being able to adjust for magnetic declination, this compass also allows users to save declination degrees to a database. This can be helpful for future reference, especially if the user frequently travels to different areas with varying magnetic declination. With this feature, users can easily access previously saved declination degrees without the need to manually input the information each time.
Overall, this simple compass provides users with a way to accurately navigate while taking into account magnetic declination. Its ability to save declination degrees to a database makes it a convenient tool for frequent use.