Is it possible to use Core Location / GPS without

Question

I need to capture the GPS coordinates (no reverse geocoding, names, etc) in regions where there is no internet such as on a sailing boat or in the Sahara desert, so that you just get the latitude and longitude of where you are.

Does Core Location support that and falls back to GPS-only (no cell triangulation or WiFi location mapping)?

I think it does, but just want to be sure.

Answer 1

The list of devices that allow you get location without wifi:

iPad + cellular (assisted GPS)
iPad2 + cellular (assisted GPS)
iPad3 + cellular (assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPad4 + cellular (assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPad Air + cellular (assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPad Air 2 (iBeacon)
iPad Air 2 + cellular (assisted GPS + GLONASS + iBeacon)

iPad Mini + cellular (assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPad Mini 2 + cellular (assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPad Mini 3 (iBeacon)
iPad Mini 3 + cellular (assisted GPS + GLONASS + iBeacon)

iPhone 3G (GPS + assisted GPS)
iPhone 3GS (GPS + assisted GPS)
iPhone 4 (GPS + assisted GPS)
iPhone 4S (GPS + assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPhone 5 (GPS + assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPhone 5C (GPS + assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPhone 5S (GPS + assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPhone 6 (GPS + assisted GPS + GLONASS)
iPhone 6 Plus (GPS + assisted GPS + GLONASS)

Devices that definitely DO NOT allow you get location without wifi.

iPhone (1st generation)
iPod touch
iPad
iPad 2
iPad 3
iPad 4
iPad Air
iPad Mini
iPad Mini 2

Answer 2

Some iOS devices have a real GPS chip allowing you to get location data even with no Internet connection. I believe the last few iPhones all have GPS. Some of the iPad models have GPS. I don't believe any of the iPod touch models have GPS.

Obviously without Internet you can't show any map data unless it is part of the app, but the app will be able to record real location data.

Also, without Internet, the GPS may take longer to get an initial position. The devices with GPS have what is called "assisted GPS". This means Cellular and/or WiFi triangulation is used to help get an initial position fix quicker that without.

Devices without GPS use cellular and/or WiFi triangulation to get estimated location data which is far less accurate than devices with GPS.