Tablet Suggestions

[BrentMG]

Looking to add a tablet to use for maps. Need something which will work when I am in BFE or even just a long road trip. I understand I will probably have to download any maps prior to some trips. Just looking for some suggestions and some knowledge to get smart on. TIA

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[robburns76]

Both platforms Android and Apple work just fine. If you get an ipad, just make sure it has cellular capabilities as that will give you the built-in GPS.

 

[just_another_guy]

Pretty much any tablet will work. If you don't get a cellular version with gps, you can get a Bluetooth gps unit like the Garmin glo. Download Google maps for offline on-road navigation, and Gaia for when you get off the pavement. I've use OsmAnd+ as well, but recently switched to Gaia and am liking it more.

 

[Steven_B]

I bought an iPad Mini. This plus Gaia GPS and you can project the maps to your uConnect screen via Carplay.

 

[BrentMG]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

 

[Blade1668]

Amazon has a few low buck ones for$50-100 I got a 10in one for $70-80 to replace my old one and was for the JT but I found it to big for that.

 

[lvgladiator]

Look for a tablet with built in GPS (ex: Samsung Galaxy) you won't need an external GPS dongle or cellular service. Works great with Gaia or OnX.

 

[brianinca]

I've bought >600 tablets for production in the last eight years, another dozen or more for evaluation. As a LONG time Android user, it pains me that the iPad Mini is still easily the best tablet on the market. They work very well, have a great display, and they last a LONG time. 90% of tablets I've purchased have been the 9.7/10.5 iPads, and they are equally long lived, I just think them too large for any use case I have.

Buying a refurb iPad Mini 4th gen isn't horribly expensive, and it will work great with OnX or Gaia. With Gaia getting CarPlay compatibility again, I just today cancelled my OnX renewal and bought a Gaia subscription. Now I'll probably use an XR to drive the 8.4 Uconnect instead of the Mini due to size, but it was a great solution at the time.

Having to have LTE to get GPS doesn't mean you have to have a data plan, by the way!

 

[BrentMG]

I've bought >600 tablets for production in the last eight years, another dozen or more for evaluation. As a LONG time Android user, it pains me that the iPad Mini is still easily the best tablet on the market. They work very well, have a great display, and they last a LONG time. 90% of tablets I've purchased have been the 9.7/10.5 iPads, and they are equally long lived, I just think them too large for any use case I have.

Buying a refurb iPad Mini 4th gen isn't horribly expensive, and it will work great with OnX or Gaia. With Gaia getting CarPlay compatibility again, I just today cancelled my OnX renewal and bought a Gaia subscription. Now I'll probably use an XR to drive the 8.4 Uconnect instead of the Mini due to size, but it was a great solution at the time.

Having to have LTE to get GPS doesn't mean you have to have a data plan, by the way!

So for the last part, I'm tracking I don't have to get the actual plan for that to work. But don't I have to get iPad which is capable to to have a data plan? I've done a little bit of looking around and it seems the ones you can get data plans on are a good bit more expensive.

 

[brianinca]

For a new iPad Mini 5, LTE adds $130, from $400 to $530. That's a bummer. 64GB of storage is standard on the 5, you need to carefully watch what a refurb 4 has for storage.

Here's a 128 GB LTE/WiFi iPad Mini 4 for $318 with Prime: https://smile.amazon.com/iPad-128GB-Silver-Cellular-Refurbished/dp/B0792D11TB/

If I just think of it as a GPS, I bought a Garmin GPS12 in 1996 for $200. This iPad kicks Hell out of any GPS and it costs about the same money.

So for the last part, I'm tracking I don't have to get the actual plan for that to work. But don't I have to get iPad which is capable to to have a data plan? I've done a little bit of looking around and it seems the ones you can get data plans on are a good bit more expensive.

 

[869 KPH]

I bought an iPad Mini. This plus Gaia GPS and you can project the maps to your uConnect screen via Carplay.

Could you do this with a regular iPhone if you're just going to project it anyways? What's the benefit of the mini at that point?

Waiting on 2022 to open up is killing me... The radio in my fun car still has a tape deck.

 

[j.o.y.ride]

Both platforms Android and Apple work just fine. If you get an ipad, just make sure it has cellular capabilities as that will give you the built-in GPS.

If you have the trucks Wi-Fi turned on shouldn't it be able to get it from that?

 

[brianinca]

I don't use an iPhone for a phone, and an iPad Mini is the best tablet on the market. None of the Android tablets are in the same league for some reason. I tried really hard to make the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 work for our field techs, they're cheap junk compared to an iPad.

Could you do this with a regular iPhone if you're just going to project it anyways? What's the benefit of the mini at that point?

Waiting on 2022 to open up is killing me... The radio in my fun car still has a tape deck.

 

[Ogre_FL]

Maybe overkill for in the jeeps but I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab Active.
It is IP68 and Mil standard rated.
I also use it on my bikes.

I do down load maps for offline work, but its also very easy to Bluetooth tether to my regular phone when i want or need data.
You dont need for the tablet to have cell capabilities.

 

[just_another_guy]

Maybe overkill for in the jeeps but I use a Samsung Galaxy Tab Active.
It is IP68 and Mil standard rated.
I also use it on my bikes.

I do down load maps for offline work, but its also very easy to Bluetooth tether to my regular phone when i want or need data.
You dont need for the tablet to have cell capabilities.

How much did that set you back? I'm wanting to get a smaller tablet for my truck that I can use with my drone as well

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