Best tablet for navigation?

[OverlandDeparture]

Im currently using a Samsung Tab A from 2018 that is my dedicated nav device.
Ill be getting a Garmin Reach soon enough as well.

the tablet is rather slow and ive been thinking about maybe an ipad mini?

any ideas?

 

[El-Dracho]

Im currently using a Samsung Tab A from 2018 that is my dedicated nav device.
Ill be getting a Garmin Reach soon enough as well.

the tablet is rather slow and ive been thinking about maybe an ipad mini?

any ideas?

Hi Adam,

I used a Samsung Galaxy Tab2 10.1 for several years as navigation device.

But it was getting old and slowly. Because I was very satisfied with the old one (robust, no probs offroad, no probs in cold or heat) I recently ordered a Samsung Active Pro. I've also done a few shorttrips with the new tablet in the rig already:

• good satellite reception in the vehicle; Here I was not sure when ordered the new one, because I have often heard that this is often not the case with various (newer) tablets and an external antenna would be necessary - not in my case.
• The device itself is significantly heavier than my old Samsung, time will tell how it works with the holder
• definitely makes a very robust impression
• easy to read even in sunlight
• so far no problem with switching off in the heat - here I had also heard lately that it was a problem with some tablets. Anyway, this was completely unknown to me from my old one - it didn't matter whether 45 + degrees in the car in the sun or "shock-frozen" at minus 30 - no problems, time will tell if this new one is also such robust
• AND of course it is much faster compared to my aged tablet, zooming and scrolling the map is superfast and makes fun again.

Just my impressions...

Bjoern

 

[OverlandDeparture]

Hi Adam,

I used a Samsung Galaxy Tab2 10.1 for several years as navigation device.

But it was getting old and slowly. Because I was very satisfied with the old one (robust, no probs offroad, no probs in cold or heat) I recently ordered a Samsung Active Pro. I've also done a few shorttrips with the new tablet in the rig already:

• good satellite reception in the vehicle; Here I was not sure when ordered the new one, because I have often heard that this is often not the case with various (newer) tablets and an external antenna would be necessary - not in my case.
• The device itself is significantly heavier than my old Samsung, time will tell how it works with the holder
• definitely makes a very robust impression
• easy to read even in sunlight
• so far no problem with switching off in the heat - here I had also heard lately that it was a problem with some tablets. Anyway, this was completely unknown to me from my old one - it didn't matter whether 45 + degrees in the car in the sun or "shock-frozen" at minus 30 - no problems, time will tell if this new one is also such robust
• AND of course it is much faster compared to my aged tablet, zooming and scrolling the map is superfast and makes fun again.

Just my impressions...

Bjoern

that sounds pretty good actually. i was reading up on them just now and it seems a like a solid tablet for such travels. What kinda mount do you use for yours? i have 2 RAM mounts for the tablet and the cell phone.

 

[El-Dracho]

that sounds pretty good actually. i was reading up on them just now and it seems a like a solid tablet for such travels. What kinda mount do you use for yours? i have 2 RAM mounts for the tablet and the cell phone.

Hi,

For the old one I used a RAM Tab Tite. For the new one I have the Cradle which was especially designed for the Active Pro Tablet, the RAM® EZ-Roll'r™ Power & Data Cradle for Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro I have it still on my B-size RAM ball, seems ok for now, but I have read that RAM Mount recommends C-Size for this tablet. I have to admit that the tablet is quite heavy. I will see what the time brings and how it works inrough environment.

Bjoern

 

[LumixLab]

Im currently using a Samsung Tab A from 2018 that is my dedicated nav device.
Ill be getting a Garmin Reach soon enough as well.

the tablet is rather slow and ive been thinking about maybe an ipad mini?

any ideas?

I switched from a Galaxy tab to an iPad mini for the same reason. I was running an IPad mini 4 with a small Garmin Bluetooth GPS but recently upgraded to a mini 5 (cellular but no contract) so that it could function on it's own. I also have the inReach in case of an emergency. The iPad mini's seem fast especially the 5 with the new processor. I'm happy with this set up and think I'm set for awhile.

 

[OverlandDeparture]

I switched from a Galaxy tab to an iPad mini for the same reason. I was running an IPad mini 4 with a small Garmin Bluetooth GPS but recently upgraded to a mini 5 (cellular but no contract) so that it could function on it's own. I also have the inReach in case of an emergency. The iPad mini's seem fast especially the 5 with the new processor. I'm happy with this set up and think I'm set for awhile.

yea ive heard a lot about the mini 5. ive looked into those. i have an iphone so it could be nice to have em all talk to each other.

 

[mmbirtcher]

I’ve used an iPad Air2 for a few years now. Great for Gaia and backcountry navigation. When I update it will be to a newer iPad.

 

[gvb40]

iPad 3 ,Gaia , Garmin in reach for GPS. The iPad with cellular capabilities works off cell towers not satellites. Garmin in reach works off the Iridium satellite

 

[JL Lou]

Mini 4 and Inreach explorer+ for GPS. I want to upgrade to a Ipad mini 5 but cant justify it. What I have works good.

 

[wigsajumper]

iPad 3 ,Gaia , Garmin in reach for GPS. The iPad with cellular capabilities works off cell towers not satellites. Garmin in reach works off the Iridium satellite

iPads with cellular do work off satellites. They do have something called Assisted GPS which means they will use a Cell towers GPS coords help speed up a lock. A cellular connection is not needed to utilize the GPS function of the chipset. I have been using my iPad 2 for years now. Often outside of cellular towers and as long as you have offline map data the GPS works fine.

 

[Autism Family Travels]

I vote to refresh your galaxy. Just do a factory reset on it. It makes all the difference to older android devices. They get clogged with a lot of crap over time. I am using a tab A 8 inch LTE version. It's not as fast as my ipad, but its more compact on my dash and was 200 bucks instead of 600 for a mini.

 

[1Louder]

Im currently using a Samsung Tab A from 2018 that is my dedicated nav device.
Ill be getting a Garmin Reach soon enough as well.

the tablet is rather slow and ive been thinking about maybe an ipad mini?

any ideas?

I have a iPad Mini 5 that I only use with my drone. The bezels on the thing are HUGE! Hard to use it as compared to my iPad 11 Pro. Rumors are the iPad Mini 6 will be more like the Pro with no monster bezel. Rumor is also it won't come out until 2021. Rumors.... If it was me I would wait or just buy the larger iPad 11 Pro. I hate the bezels. Just such a waste of potential screenspace.

 

[JL Lou]

Gaia is pretty much the only thing I use my iPad mini 4 for. Except watching videos when I am out of town.

 

[jimmyjamson]

Hi Adam,

I used a Samsung Galaxy Tab2 10.1 for several years as navigation device.

But it was getting old and slowly. Because I was very satisfied with the old one (robust, no probs offroad, no probs in cold or heat) I recently ordered a Samsung Active Pro. I've also done a few shorttrips with the new tablet in the rig already:

• good satellite reception in the vehicle; Here I was not sure when ordered the new one, because I have often heard that this is often not the case with various (newer) tablets and an external antenna would be necessary - not in my case.
• The device itself is significantly heavier than my old Samsung, time will tell how it works with the holder
• definitely makes a very robust impression
• easy to read even in sunlight
• so far no problem with switching off in the heat - here I had also heard lately that it was a problem with some tablets. Anyway, this was completely unknown to me from my old one - it didn't matter whether 45 + degrees in the car in the sun or "shock-frozen" at minus 30 - no problems, time will tell if this new one is also such robust
• AND of course it is much faster compared to my aged Tablets, zooming and scrolling the map is superfast and makes fun again.

Just my impressions...

Bjoern

What is the best tablet to use for navigation that holds charge best, has best internal GPS

 

[Ethan N]

I have a Galaxy Tab S7, and in my experience so far it has been perfect for me. About the same charge and accuracy as my phone, they're both on Verizon plans. I typically run Google Maps on my phone on the road, and I'll switch to the tablet off-road so I can see it in satellite view and on a nice big screen. I don't use any apps like OnX or others so I can't review that aspect, but Google Maps works great on the tablet.

 

[RuggedBlackRubicon]

I'm running a Tab E I believe.
It is a little slow to get everything loaded, but once loaded it runs fine.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

At this point, I would add the Garmin Tread series to consideration. It runs on Android, you can side load most anything you'd want on it and depending on the model has the (potential) benefit of all the other regular offerings, such as InReach, off-road oriented readouts/dials, robust offline maps, dog tracking, backup camera support, wireless switch panel

 

[Broski]

I'm also running the Samsung Tab8A with ONX off road very happy with this, mounted on a ram mount with a power feed.

 

[genocache]

Hi Adam,

I used a Samsung Galaxy Tab2 10.1 for several years as navigation device.

But it was getting old and slowly. Because I was very satisfied with the old one (robust, no probs offroad, no probs in cold or heat) I recently ordered a Samsung Active Pro. I've also done a few shorttrips with the new tablet in the rig already:

• good satellite reception in the vehicle; Here I was not sure when ordered the new one, because I have often heard that this is often not the case with various (newer) tablets and an external antenna would be necessary - not in my case.
• The device itself is significantly heavier than my old Samsung, time will tell how it works with the holder
• definitely makes a very robust impression
• easy to read even in sunlight
• so far no problem with switching off in the heat - here I had also heard lately that it was a problem with some tablets. Anyway, this was completely unknown to me from my old one - it didn't matter whether 45 + degrees in the car in the sun or "shock-frozen" at minus 30 - no problems, time will tell if this new one is also such robust
• AND of course it is much faster compared to my aged tablet, zooming and scrolling the map is superfast and makes fun again.

Just my impressions...

Bjoern

Bjoern, It has been a few years, how is all that working out for you?

 

[El-Dracho]

Bjoern, It has been a few years, how is all that working out for you?

Hi Gene,

Works perfect. At the beginning I had doubts whether the RAM holder with the B-ball was strong enough for the heavier tablet with the holder with all the connections. But it works very well. I am very satisfied. However, I have also mounted the holder very solid in the cockpit with 4 bolts - nothing wobbles, not even on rough gravel roads and in the dunes on my Sahara trip 2022. I'm therefore leaving it like this.

If you have any further questions, please get in touch - I'm always happy to help.

Greetings from Europe,
Bjoern