The strength may be better(I can't attest but the reciever strength seems very good), and has full satellite capability. And, the built in gps reciever battery lasts a full day and puts no extra load on the ipad battery(which I'm told the built in gps does). Each runs for a full day. It's nice to have an extra plotter in your lap, down below in the chart drawer in wet weather, or in the vee berth off watch, anchor watch, etc.

The blue tooth signal reaches anywhere on the boat. I keep the Garmin Glo in the chart drawer, below a fiberglass deck, and get full satellite signal.

Simple cig plug charger for both ipad and Glo, no measurable(to me) battery drain. My chart drawer is becoming the receptacle of chargers, different cords, rechargable batteries(camera). Nice if your plugs and devices are in the same place, easy to charge and still use.