Best iPad for Foreflight, etc.

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Katherine Jackson

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kjackson206
Looking to upgrade my boyfriend's iPad (he's got an old model mini) for his birthday. Did some research and it keeps pointing to the 10.5" iPad Pro because it's big enough screen to see a lot of map, antireflective, larger memory to download, etc.

Does anyone have either the iPad Pro or the new models of the iPad Mini - suggestions? Price is not an issue if it is worth spending the extra $

Thanks!
 
I have the latest model Mini granted it's a little over a year old. It was fine for a while but with all the added capability of Foreflight it is really starting to struggle. Especially if you have a lot of information being displayed on the moving map like weather, traffic, ceilings, etc. When I upgrade I will be going to the 10.5" pro even though I am not a fan of the larger size.
 
Grum.Man said:
I have the latest model Mini granted it's a little over a year old. It was fine for a while but with all the added capability of Foreflight it is really starting to struggle. Especially if you have a lot of information being displayed on the moving map like weather, traffic, ceilings, etc. When I upgrade I will be going to the 10.5" pro even though I am not a fan of the larger size.
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Thank you!! That is what I was thinking as well... I'm sure the size will be a big adjustment but it seems worth it for all the added capabilities.
 
Mini 4 with cellular (so it has a internal GPS), works great for me!



Grum.Man said:
I have the latest model Mini granted it's a little over a year old. It was fine for a while but with all the added capability of Foreflight it is really starting to struggle. Especially if you have a lot of information being displayed on the moving map like weather, traffic, ceilings, etc. When I upgrade I will be going to the 10.5" pro even though I am not a fan of the larger size.
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Did you update iOS or something? That always screws the things up and is best avoided IMO
 
According to ForeFlight you should do your updates. So yes, I have done them albeit delayed several weeks or months from the launch. I get tired of the little notification popping up.
 
(( Yet another topic we need a sticky for :D ))
 
I have an E6B, sectional paper chart (current even), and plotter. Do I get anything?

Just joking around, even though I do have all that. A couple students have ForeFright, which is amazing. But, gotta teach the dinosaur stuff still...
 
mscard88 said:
I have an E6B, sectional paper chart (current even), and plotter. Do I get anything?

Just joking around, even though I do have all that. A couple students have ForeFright, which is amazing. But, gotta teach the dinosaur stuff still...
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No metal landing calculator??? WTH? How can I trust you to be a competent CFI if you don't have one of those??? You already support the wrong college football team....
 
Grum.Man said:
According to ForeFlight you should do your updates. So yes, I have done them albeit delayed several weeks or months from the launch. I get tired of the little notification popping up.
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That’s how you end up getting a “slow iPad” and having to shell out a grand every year or so.

I just say no, works great for me :cheerswine:
 
Katherine Jackson said:
Do you find the size to be an issue? What case do you use?? Was also looking at the pilot geared cases to go with it
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The size is perfect and the anti-glare works. My mini had a horrible glare and it was to small.
I hate cases and don't have one. I use ram mounts and have a mount with the snap in cradle in my airplanes. It would be a pain if it wasn't mounted.
 
10.5 pro with the Apple Pencil is a pretty solid setup. Mine is yoke mounted and works epically


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
I have a 9.7 that I yoke mount horizontally with a Ramsey mount. It’s big enough to see full plates well but small enough that it doesn’t block any instruments or gauges. It’s close enough that I don’t think I’d be able to see the engine gauges wo the larger unit.
 
10.5 pro and i use a iphone 8plus for backup, briefing of charts, weather checking, filing flight plan...
 
10.5 I Pad ,my old eyes need the bigger screen. Have it backed up on my I Phone.
 
10.5 pro, apple pencil, just bought the MyGoflight kneeboard for it, haven't tried it in the AC yet, hopefully Tuesday. Flying an SR 20 so yoke isn't an issue.
 
#1 make sure the 10.5 isn't too big for his liking.
If not, I'd suggest the 10.5, and possibly get the 64Gb to offset the cost of it over the 9.7....as you will get 2 more Gb ram, anti reflective coating, and a slightly better processor.
64Gb should be fine for just aviation and apps.
If he wants lots of movies and music etc, you might consider 128Gb.
The newer 9.7 performs well. Its only 32gb and 128gb. I'd recommend the latter for sure.
Unless he demands the smaller screen I wouldn't recommend the mini either.
 
For the mini, keep in mind it is horribly outdated. It has not been updated since it was released in 2015. For longevity, a current-spec Pro or waiting for a Mini update would be best.
 
I have the 10.5 with Cellular. If you buy from apple/amazon, you don't have to activate cellular. The cellular just has an internal gps that the wifi only version does not. So unless you have an external GPS you plan to link to the iPad, go for the cellular version.I also have the Apple Pencil and It works fantastic. I use it for everything from copying clearances to yoke mounting so its right in my line of sight.
My dad has the 9.7" from 2016 which he uses just to follow along on foreflight and it works well, just not "quite" as fast as the 10.5. The 128gb of storage is fantastic for all applications and doesn't slow down the iPad at all. Coupled with the 2S stratus, its a fantastic addition to any cockpit and really increases situational awareness.
 
Koby Sronce said:
So unless you have an external GPS you plan to link to the iPad, go for the cellular version.
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If you don't have the cellular activated, what "live" features of ForeFlight will work when there's no wifi connection? I have an Air with cellular but have never had service activated on it nor have been flying with it. (I just got FF a couple days ago.)
 
iPad mini 4 because it fits on a yoke. I have two of them.

I hope they do a mini 5.
 
ZeroPapaGolf said:
For the mini, keep in mind it is horribly outdated. It has not been updated since it was released in 2015. For longevity, a current-spec Pro or waiting for a Mini update would be best.
Click to expand...

But still complete hardware overkill for what we do if you don’t let apple cut you off at the knees with their bloat ware
 
Rooster T said:
If you don't have the cellular activated, what "live" features of ForeFlight will work when there's no wifi connection? I have an Air with cellular but have never had service activated on it nor have been flying with it. (I just got FF a couple days ago.)
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The internal gps that comes with the cellular iPads works just fine. The only thing you won’t get is the AHRS and the traffic alerts that I’m able to get with the stratus 2S. The accuracy of the internal gps isn’t as accurate but it does the job for VFR flight.
 
It makes no sense to buy an iPad mini 4 at this point. I have an iPad mini 4 and it is great - it does what I want. That said, it is a 3 year old model. The only thing going for it is the low purchase price.

No doubt, buy the 10.5 Pro or wait and see if they come out with an updated mini (they usually release new product in September).
 
Rooster T said:
If you don't have the cellular activated, what "live" features of ForeFlight will work when there's no wifi connection? I have an Air with cellular but have never had service activated on it nor have been flying with it. (I just got FF a couple days ago.)
Click to expand...

FF let's you "pack" information for a route, I believe this includes metars available at the time of the pack, but obviously that info gets stale quickly. The "live" info won't work without a connection. The cellular connection is spotty in the air, pretty much doesn't work at 8,000 and is intermittent at 3,000.... in my experience anyway. But for $200 you can get a Stratux unit that gives you weather, traffic and an emergency AHARS through ADSB. That works great in my experience. If you have a aircraft package with ADSB and Bluetooth like the perspective, the FF live stuff can be accessed through that connection.
 
I'm an Android guy, new to flying, looking to buy an iPad. Will be using ForeFlight and probably several other apps I don't even know about yet. My headset is a hand-me-down Zulu 3 from a buddy.

What are any of your opinions on the new iPad Pro? The home button is gone, is Face ID going to be an issue from an aviation standpoint? There is no more headphone jack as well, is this an issue in the cockpit?

https://www.idownloadblog.com/2018/10/31/10-5-inch-ipad-pro-versus-11-inch-ipad-pro/

I'm leaning towards a 250GB w/LTE model. The new 11" is $1,099. The previous gen 10.5" is $738 and refurbished model is $629.

Any advice would be appreciated!
 
CC268 said:
It makes no sense to buy an iPad mini 4 at this point. I have an iPad mini 4 and it is great - it does what I want. That said, it is a 3 year old model. The only thing going for it is the low purchase price.

No doubt, buy the 10.5 Pro or wait and see if they come out with an updated mini (they usually release new product in September).
Click to expand...

For many a pro is inferior.

I’m not so concerned with model year, it’s a tool and I want the one that will do the job best, for many that’s the mini form factor, still also plenty fast for foreflight.
 
PaulD said:
I'm an Android guy, new to flying, looking to buy an iPad. Will be using ForeFlight and probably several other apps I don't even know about yet. My headset is a hand-me-down Zulu 3 from a buddy.
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If you're an Android guy, I would suggest only getting iPad models that have USB-C. Even if that means waiting a little bit.
I'm an Android guy too, and needing the different style cables is pretty annoying to me. Not the end of the world, but the USB-C form factor solves most of all that. This includes the headphone adapters too...if that matters to you.

Your Zulu 3's are bluetooth??, if so the connector shouldn't be a problem, (if you want to connect with those).

I haven't used face ID, but I do like having a button. I guess you can use a PIN or pattern instead if you want security on??
I also think you can set it to keep the screen on with foreflight. I use FlyQ, and it does that, but I'd only imagine FF does as well.

The new 11" looks more attractive at this time than the 10.5".
As far a memory, I've never used more than 32Gb, but I keep mine only for flying/training, so 64Gb would be plenty to me, and save about me about 150 bucks.
However, I'd prefer what a lot of the other folks said... a 9.7" that's all screen and not much bigger than the Mini 4.
Hopefully others will chime in with their thoughts.

Also, for anyone that might not know, you can get some money for your iPad at Apple.com through the trade in program. Haven't checked it out, just saw it as an option.
 
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Skyrys62 said:
If you're an Android guy, I would suggest only getting iPad models that have USB-C. Even if that means waiting a little bit.
I'm an Android guy too, and needing the different style cables is pretty annoying to me. Not the end of the world, but the USB-C form factor solves most of all that. This includes the headphone adapters too...if that matters to you.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tips Skyrys62. The new iPad Pro models now have USB-C.
 
PaulD said:
Thanks for the tips Skyrys62. The new iPad Pro models now have USB-C.
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Yes I am aware of that, I should have been more clear.
I meant if you decide on a smaller size than the 11", I'd not buy the current Mini 4 or 9.7", and wait until the smaller units (9.7 modified?) come out with updated screen, size, processors, and connectors.
 
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