Techniques are disclosed for state-based location monitoring and determining a location of a mobile device. An application processor identifies a desired movement state. The application processor notifies a coprocessor of the desired state and enters a low power mode. The coprocessor monitors movement data to determine whether the desired state has occurred. In the event the desired state has occurred, the coprocessor will notify the application processor. The application processor can then determine whether it should switch to a high power mode.