Android or IPad

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Lobsterranch

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Lobsterranch
I have been scouring reviews and blogs but the information out there is dated. I have always been more comfortable with Android phones but before buying a tablet, I want to make sure I get the right one. Is it spending almost twice the price for an IPad and Foreflight or going with an Android and another EFB. I really would like some input from those who are currently living with it.
 
No right answer for this question. I use Foreflight because it has the information I use. I fly in the Caribbean and Latin America on occasion and find Foreflight to have the things I need. Your needs may differ.
 
If your looking for someone to agree that you should get one-> Yes I believe getting the ipad is well worth it over getting a random andriod tablet. This is coming from a person who has and continues to use andriod phones. I have the ipad mini 4, while relatively expensive, it, and the apps associated, are worth it if you ask me.
 
You will find the corporate and commercial pilots are overwhelmingly using iPads.
 
It really depends on what kind of pilot you are. 1000 hours a year flying IFR, spring for the Ipad and foreflight subscription for all the bells and whistles.

50 hours a year, VFR only flying a few hundred miles away max, get a $200 Samsung tab A and a free subscription to Avare. It will do everything you need it to do.
 
I'd choose based on the app you want to use. Foreflight seems to be the leader for now and the last few years and it's iPad only. I use WingX on iPad. There is also an Android version, but it's not quite the same. If you're dealing with Garmin GPS in the panel, you might want Garmin Pilot just because it can talk (with the right equipment in the panel) to the Garmin GPS. As was said above, VFR 50 hours a year, maybe all you need is a free subscription to something like Avare.

Let your needs drive the choice. (Wow, that sounded Yoda like. Maybe more like this: Drive the choice let your needs.)

This is my second iPad and I've been very happy with them. We use some Android tablets at church to communicate between the sound room and the platform and they seem to work just fine as well. But there are apps on one platform that are not on the other. So, choose wisely.

John
 
iPad - this is coming from someone who uses an Android phone everyday. Foreflight is an awesome app and you can't get it on a Android tablet.
 
I personally don't like Apple products primarily because of their proprietary connector crap, but after reading enough discussion I have made my decision, when it's time to buy, it's gonna be iPad. Most apps release their new feature, bug fixes on ipad first

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If you are wanting an EFB/GPS platform for flying, I would definately recommend an iPad. If you only want a tablet for e-mail and surfing the web, then an Android tablet will be cheaper and do about the same. As a general rule the iPad aviation apps are more advanced than the Android versions. If you do go the iPad route, I would also recommend downloading the trial versions of WingX, Foreflight and Garmin Pilot so you can play with each for a month before deciding which one to buy. They all do essentially the same functions but they each have a little different look and feel. If you are a VFR only pilot and are looking for the best bang-for-the-buck app, WingX offers more features in the base version for a lower price than the other two. If money is no object to you then it comes down to which one you like the look and feel of.
 
I like Apple products so I'd say go for an iPad. I use WingX on my iPad and iPhone.
 
Have been using an I Pad and foreflight for years,have been happy with my choice
 
korben88 said:
50 hours a year, VFR only flying a few hundred miles away max, get a $200 Samsung tab A and a free subscription to Avare. It will do everything you need it to do.
Click to expand...

This is me and I don't i.
 
Lobsterranch said:
I have been scouring reviews and blogs but the information out there is dated. I have always been more comfortable with Android phones but before buying a tablet, I want to make sure I get the right one. Is it spending almost twice the price for an IPad and Foreflight or going with an Android and another EFB. I really would like some input from those who are currently living with it.
Click to expand...

No one is a bigger fan of Samsung phones and tablets than me (own Samsung smartphones and both Windows and Samsung tablets). But sadly the Android version of Foreflight and Garmin Pilot are behind the iPad version. If you you are going with one of these you really have no choice but to get an iPad.
 
Thanks for the reply. I was afraid you were going to say that. Your thoughts on Wingx pro, Droid EFB or another?
 
OK. Everyone has a different response pointing in the same direction. It will be an ipad.
 
I guess I'll be the lone voice in the wilderness. I own 3 Ipads (used for work....mostly), but decided to go with a Samsung tablet and Garmin Pilot for my flying. My reason was mostly because it was far less expensive and will do everything I need it to do. I didn't want to add an additional data plan, and with the Ipad unless you get one with cell data(you don't have to activate a data plan), it won't have a built in GPS, so the cost goes up. When I fly I hotspot my phone and connect my tablet to it...no need to have a data plan for my tablet that way. Plus, I like the size of the my Samsung, it's the same as an Ipad mini, so the knee board I have that's for a mini it fits into perfectly.

I've used Garmin Pilot for almost a year now and find it works fine, my only experience with Foreflight was the one month free trial.
 
There is a ton of pressure in the aviation to community to go with Foreflight. It's a great product no doubt. Certainly overkill for a low time/year VFR pilot. If you want it great, but don't feel pressured into getting it. It is not a must have item. Try Avare on your phone. It's really awesome and free! It should certainly be on there as a backup.
 
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Lobsterranch said:
Thanks for the reply. I was afraid you were going to say that. Your thoughts on Wingx pro, Droid EFB or another?
Click to expand...

As I said above. I am not an Apple lover either and have always disliked how overpriced and underperforming Apple products are as compared to Windows and Samsung/Android.

I have not used Wingx or Droid.

Since we do own Samsung tablets and got a gift of an iPad Air for Christmas we had a chance to test Foreflight and Garmin Pilot on both (demos). There is no question that the iPad version of both EFBs is superior in every way. So we carry the iPad Air with Garmin Pilot into the cockpit now (have G1000 panel with Flightstream).

And as a backup and fun convenience we have Avare on our Samsung Galaxy S7s.
 
As long-time Android user I would recommend iPad. After using my Nexus 7 tablet with Garmin Pilot for the last 4 years, I finally gave up and bought iPad Mini 4. Couldn't be happier. The truth is that Android simply lacks the variety and quality of EFB software available on iPad. Garmin Pilot works fine on Android but lacks some functionality that was present in the iPad version for a while now (like Synthetic Vision, W&B, etc). The only thing that I like more in its Android version is how Split Screen works. After the years waiting for Garmin to close the gap it became evident that it would probably never happen.
 
avongil said:
There is alot of pressure in the aviation to community to go with Foreflight. Its a great product no doubt. Certainly overkill though for a low time/year VFR pilot. If you want it great, but don't feel pressured into getting it. It is no a must have item. Try Avair on your phone. Its really awesome for free! It should certainly be on there as a backup.
Click to expand...
How could it not be, they're taking in all that subscription money and they only have one hardware target to code. I begrudge the foreflight authors for not developing an Android version. Take some of that loot and hire some Android developers. I have an irrational loathing of apple, haha.
 
Couple of years back I was in the same situation. I tried Foreflight on my wife's I pad, but I felt overwhelmed during approaches since I have plenty of stuff in my panel. May be I am not smart enough to handle that much information. So I got an Android device. I have free subscription of Aware. It( Aware ) works but it has some bug issues. Hey but its free and it has all the stuff I need and I can handle.
 
Like WannFly, and probably several million other folks, I do not like needing different cables/connectors apart from almost all other brands, or any other of Apple's proprietary practices, especially the iTunes ball and chain.
I understand they are in it to make money...but I don't have to like it.

They really only do it because they are big meanie stupid heads!
 
Lobsterranch said:
I have been scouring reviews and blogs but the information out there is dated. I have always been more comfortable with Android phones but before buying a tablet, I want to make sure I get the right one. Is it spending almost twice the price for an IPad and Foreflight or going with an Android and another EFB. I really would like some input from those who are currently living with it.
Click to expand...

WingX and Garmin Pilot have good Android Apps, but not Foreflight. You can get a lot more pad with Android than Apple for the price, but considering that you can get a refurbished IPAD from Apple with a new warranty, you might want to go that route. I have 3 IPADs, an IPAD2, and AIR2 and a Mini and they have all been great buys and very reliable.
 
I use both Android (Nexus 9) and iOS (iPad Pro 9.7) devices. I also have a handful of EFB apps -- FltPlan Go (on both), FlyQ (iOS only), Foreflight (iOS only), Garmin Pilot (both), and WingX (both). My preferred app is Garmin Pilot, and the iOS version does have more features, including Jeppesen approach charts (which I get free because I buy navdata from Jepp.

If I was on a budget, I'd buy a refurbished Android tablet and put FltPlan Go on it. FltPlan Go is a remarkable app. It is completely free, there are no premium levels or upgrades to get money after you're hooked. It is also amazingly robust. It includes features that other (paid) apps charge you extra for, such as geo-referenced airport diagrams and approach plates, Canadian charts and data, etc. The Android version is as full-featured as the iOS version (which is not true for Garmin Pilot and WingX). Unlike Foreflight and Garmin, which require you to get one of their pricey ADS-B receivers, FltPlan Go will work with most of the cheaper ADS-B boxes, like Dual, Flightbox or Stratux to give you weather and traffic. It also has apps for the web and Windows. In the end, the savings with a Android tablet and FltPlan Go and go well over $1000 -- and it goes up every year when you don't have to renew your subscription.

Lots of pilots will tell you that their beloved app is so much better than any other, but that is mostly because they have figured out how to use it and have one or two features that they are enamored of (and also because they have paid for it and therefore have a vested interest). We have been brainwashed to think that if something costs more it, must be better (the entire fashion industry would be implode if we could be dissuaded of this), so lots of pilots can't get past the idea that a free app could actually perform as well as something that costs hundreds of dollars a year. I suggest getting FltPlan Go as your first EFB app and thoroughly learning to use it. Then try one of the other paid-for apps (most have free trials). See if that app is worth to you the $75 to $400 you pay yearly for it. Yeah, FltPlan Go does slip some aviation ads in there, but they are small and subtle and don't interfere with using the app.

As for the Android vs. iPad debate, I have become neutral. My first experiences with iOS devices was extremely frustrating. The ones I purchased did not work properly despite multiple replacements under warranty, and Apple's "geniuses" didn't seem interested in going beyond the normal menu process to solve the problems. Add Apple's walled garden approach and its extra cost (which follows the more-expensive-must-be-better mindset) and I found it off-putting. There are more aviation apps available for iOS and my iPad Pro is slightly faster than my Nexus 9, but not significantly so), allowing it to justify some of its extra cost. However, I prefer the Android OS. Garmin's Android interface was slightly better than the iOS interface, but they have converted to iOS interface to something like the Android one.

Finally, I think the iPad Mini and other 7-inch tablets are too small. There is a lot of info on those charts, so you need 8 or 9 inches of screen real estate to let you read things without zooming in and hiding other nearby features.
 
Agree with Aeromot. I fly about 60 hrs./yr and stay IFR current. My Samsung Tab S2 and FlightPlan Go work well for me. FltPln has some quirks you have to master, but it's a good platform.
 
Lobsterranch said:
Thanks for the reply. I was afraid you were going to say that. Your thoughts on Wingx pro, Droid EFB or another?
Click to expand...

I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab A and I use Droid EFB. I did try Fltplan but really like the features of Droid EFB.
 
exncsurfer said:
How could it not be, they're taking in all that subscription money and they only have one hardware target to code. I begrudge the foreflight authors for not developing an Android version. Take some of that loot and hire some Android developers. I have an irrational loathing of apple, haha.
Click to expand...

Yep and that yields far higher stability and a better user experience. Also from a development perspective it's far easier writing software for iOS...


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Looks like the new S3 comes in only the 9.7" and not a 7". It's up there in iPad territory at $599. Anybody know if a cheaper 7" is coming?
 
Garmin appears to be doing some upcoming webcasts about their product titled "Advanced Features of Garmin Pilot" or similar.

Might be fun to book a reservation and then just be totally annoying during Q&A...

"Does any of this work on Android?"

Nah. No time to be that mean. Haha.
 
Lobsterranch said:
I have been scouring reviews and blogs but the information out there is dated. I have always been more comfortable with Android phones but before buying a tablet, I want to make sure I get the right one. Is it spending almost twice the price for an IPad and Foreflight or going with an Android and another EFB. I really would like some input from those who are currently living with it.
Click to expand...

Is this some kind of troll post? Are you baiting us? Everyone EVERYONE knows the Ipad and FF are the final evolution in EFBs. Anyone telling you otherwise is profoundly ignorant. So either your a troll or Ill-informed. Flying with an andoid is like flying into a thunderstorm blindfolded.

(Disclaimer, I just got my PPL, I've never owned an android, and I just started using my ipad and FF for flying. So i have a massive biased and will berate, demean, and attack anyone who does not do everything exactly like I do, oh and welcome to POA :D)

/troll mode off


P.S. But seriously get the IPad and FF
 
Rebel Lord said:
Is this some kind of troll post? Are you baiting us? Everyone EVERYONE knows the Ipad and FF are the final evolution in EFBs. Anyone telling you otherwise is Ill-informed. So either your a troll or profoundly ignorant. Flying with an andoid is like flying into a thunderstorm blindfolded.

(Disclaimer, I just got my PPL, I've never owned an android, and I just started using my ipad and FF for flying. So i have a massive biased and will berate, demean, and attack anyone who does not do everything exactly like I do, oh and welcome to POA :D)

/troll mode off


P.S. But seriously get the IPad and FF
Click to expand...

You've sure got this POA thing down!


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gsengle said:
You've sure got this POA thing down!


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Click to expand...

Seems like honestly the crowd here is plenty mixed. Or the thread and the jokes wouldn't exist.

Like I mentioned though, Garmin needs to get their act together and sync up the iPad and Android versions of their stuff.

Having those have a big split in functionality is just embarrassing.
 
denverpilot said:
Seems like honestly the crowd here is plenty mixed. Or the thread and the jokes wouldn't exist.

Like I mentioned though, Garmin needs to get their act together and sync up the iPad and Android versions of their stuff.

Having those have a big split in functionality is just embarrassing.
Click to expand...

Having lead software development for both platforms at the app level, iOS is *way* easier....


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gsengle said:
Having lead software development for both platforms at the app level, iOS is *way* easier....


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Click to expand...

Oh I know. I know.

I just think they need to "embrace the suck" as one of our developers would put it.

Either you're making one product, or you're making two.

Or you're killing the sucky one. Ha.
 
denverpilot said:
Oh I know. I know.

I just think they need to "embrace the suck" as one of our developers would put it.

Either you're making one product, or you're making two.

Or you're killing the sucky one. Ha.
Click to expand...

Some exec made the dual platform decision without the wherewithal for proper follow through... didn't understand the challenges of the android environment(s)...


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I started out using Garmin Pilot on android it was a frustrating experience waiting for features to be added that ipad users had been enjoying for quite some time. Finally I switched to ipad but bought a used one since I only use it for Garmin Pilot. Adding to my misery is the fact that to get a GPS with your ipad you must buy a cellular model. That is a crock of beans in my opinion but it is what it is.
 
bluefishbeagle said:
I started out using Garmin Pilot on android it was a frustrating experience waiting for features to be added that ipad users had been enjoying for quite some time. Finally I switched to ipad but bought a used one since I only use it for Garmin Pilot. Adding to my misery is the fact that to get a GPS with your ipad you must buy a cellular model. That is a crock of beans in my opinion but it is what it is.
Click to expand...

I agree. Androids have the GPS built in on all models. At least you don't have to activate the cellular for it to work on the iPad.
 
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