New User Question

[DeadEnd]

Hi,
Just picked up the Air 2s a few days ago and it's my first ever drone. Wanted to use something bigger than a phone due to my eyesight (I can either see close or see far depending on choice of contacts or choice of glasses) so at least with the bigger screen I can enlarge the display.

My question is which least expensive choice works the Air 2s:

I am an android guy and would prefer something along those lines but not sure what works, does anyone have any hands on experience with android tablet on Air 2s?

I see most people use the more expensive option of Apple (never been a fan and have never used one). Does it matter which Ipad or GB should I have to go that route?

Still have yet to fly it, work has been rather all encompassing at the moment.

Thanks in advance

 

[Tufargon]

Lots of threads on this.
You're going to get a lot of comments on tablets that work but most won't also say if it has a built in compass or not. A lot will also say they have no need for a built in compass. I prefer to have ALL functionality.
The cheapest I've found that works with the Fly app and has ALL functionality is the Asus Zenpad Z8S. It isn't the brightest so you'll need to be in the shade of have a sunshade if there's bright light out.
Whatever you get will have to be a 64 bit OS.

EDIT: Forgot to mention, with this tablet you don't need to buy another cable because the supplied cable works. You'd just need to buy a 10 dollar adapter for tablets to make it fit nice and compact unlike the huge adapters they have out there.
tablet adapter

 

[Meta4]

I am an android guy and would prefer something along those lines but not sure what works, does anyone have any hands on experience with android tablet on Air 2s?

I see most people use the more expensive option of Apple (never been a fan and have never used one). Does it matter which Ipad or GB should I have to go that route?

Don't be fooled by the vocal Apple fans who love to spread the myth about iOS being the only system that works with DJI devices.
DJI equipment works equally well with either system.
Use whichever you are comfortable with.

My question is which least expensive choice works the Air 2s:

You'll need something fairly recent with a fast processor and 4GB of RAM as the DJI Fly app is quite demanding.
You can get some idea of what others are using from this listing (the column highlighted in blue is for DJI Fly which is the app you would use).

Best Tablets and Phones for DJI GO & DJI Fly (Updated Daily) | Phantom Help

Phantom Help is a site for help with DJI Phantom drones. Find the latest fixes, how-tos, guides, accessories, modifications, and more.

www.phantomhelp.com

 

[MA2 317]

Hello from the Crossroads of America DeadEnd.

Good advice from Tufargon

I started with an Apple mini4 with the Spark and ended up with a Tripltek Pro for the MA2.

Not exactly cheap, but works well.

Good luck with your shopping and welcome to the Forum.

 

[JoeyThePilot56]

Hi,
Just picked up the Air 2s a few days ago and it's my first ever drone. Wanted to use something bigger than a phone due to my eyesight (I can either see close or see far depending on choice of contacts or choice of glasses) so at least with the bigger screen I can enlarge the display.

My question is which least expensive choice works the Air 2s:

I am an android guy and would prefer something along those lines but not sure what works, does anyone have any hands on experience with android tablet on Air 2s?

I see most people use the more expensive option of Apple (never been a fan and have never used one). Does it matter which Ipad or GB should I have to go that route?

Still have yet to fly it, work has been rather all encompassing at the moment.

Thanks in advance

My eye sight isn't that great and I went ahead and purchased the mini-Ipad 5 and I'm very happy with it. My purchase price was 399.00 for a 64 gig model. It works very well and the processor keeps up with the video streaming very well. Good luck! BTW, you'll need to get a iPad bracket or holder to use with your controller. I got one on Amazon for 19.99

 

[Tufargon]

Don't be fooled by the vocal Apple fans who love to spread the myth about iOS being the only system that works with DJI devices.
DJI equipment works equally well with either system.
Use whichever you are comfortable with.

You'll need something fairly recent with a fast processor and 4GB of RAM as the DJI Fly app is quite demanding.
You can get some idea of what others are using from this listing (the column highlighted in blue is for DJI Fly which is the app you would use).

Best Tablets and Phones for DJI GO & DJI Fly (Updated Daily) | Phantom Help

Phantom Help is a site for help with DJI Phantom drones. Find the latest fixes, how-tos, guides, accessories, modifications, and more.

www.phantomhelp.com

They do not necessarily need 4GB of ram. The Asus I mentioned only has 3 and there have been other devices with a 64 bit OS that have also had 3GB of ram and worked.

 

[DeadEnd]

Looking over that list, there is not much in terms of android tablets that are current models.

I do notice that even my android phones have been hard to read in daylight, are apple products different?

I've never own an apple product, but I did buy one for my mother and the pro for niece for college. Maybe it's time I should give it a go.

My Samsung A10 is getting a little old, I tried to side load the DJI app and that was a no go.

 

[Tufargon]

That list doesn't have near the devices that work with the fly app. I don't think it gets updated as much as it used to.

 

[Saladshooter]

Looking over that list, there is not much in terms of android tablets that are current models.

I do notice that even my android phones have been hard to read in daylight, are apple products different?

I've never own an apple product, but I did buy one for my mother and the pro for niece for college. Maybe it's time I should give it a go.

My Samsung A10 is getting a little old, I tried to side load the DJI app and that was a no go.

Almost all tablets and phones are hard to see in direct sunlight. You have to step into a shadow or use a phone/tablet hood to get a better view when its particularly bright out.

 

[DeadEnd]

That list doesn't have near the devices that work with the fly app. I don't think it gets updated as much as it used to.

Good to know, I thought that it listed the most recent tablets, it showed a few 2020 models. I'll check some of the specs on the current android tablets.

Almost all tablets and phones are hard to see in direct sunlight. You have to step into a shadow or use a phone/tablet hood to get a better view when its particularly bright out.

I am surprised, I thought apple had some sort of fancy screen that's better than the android counter parts.

 

[Saladshooter]

Good to know, I thought that it listed the most recent tablets, it showed a few 2020 models. I'll check some of the specs on the current android tablets.

I am surprised, I thought apple had some sort of fancy screen that's better than the android counter parts.

I usually fly with my Tripltek tablet.... very expensive but has an incredibly bright 1200 nit screen.... even it is hard to see when there is enough light. iPads are closer to 500 nits but some sort of shade / hood is helpful no matter what you are using.

My iPhone 12 Pro does about 800 nits but tends to overheat sometimes and then it dims the screen so much I can barely see it.

 

[Meta4]

I am surprised, I thought apple had some sort of fancy screen that's better than the android counter parts.

They don't.
Unless you pay for one of the few high brightness screens, all screens are less than perfect in direct sunlight.
That's easily fixed by flying from near a shady tree etc.

 

[RUFFSTUFF]

I'm currently using my S21 Ultra and it works great even in sunlight. I may break down and get the Tripltek Pro, but its old tech bothers me.

 

[blackbirdsr72]

Cheap Android tablets will eventually be a pain no matter how good they seem at the start. Fly app is a resource hog. You would want a tablet with Snapdragon 8 series SoC and at the very least 4 GB of RAM. Also no matter how bright the tablet is because the sun will always outshine your tab's four digit of nits anyway, better get a hood.

Look at the Lenovo Pad Pro if possible. It has everything you need at a comparatively low price (than Samsung Tab S7 etc) and a great SoC inside with 6GB of RAM. Lenovo Pad Pro - Full tablet specifications

 

[jmbsmt63]

Hi,
Just picked up the Air 2s a few days ago and it's my first ever drone. Wanted to use something bigger than a phone due to my eyesight (I can either see close or see far depending on choice of contacts or choice of glasses) so at least with the bigger screen I can enlarge the display.

My question is which least expensive choice works the Air 2s:

I am an android guy and would prefer something along those lines but not sure what works, does anyone have any hands on experience with android tablet on Air 2s?

I see most people use the more expensive option of Apple (never been a fan and have never used one). Does it matter which Ipad or GB should I have to go that route?

Still have yet to fly it, work has been rather all encompassing at the moment.

Thanks in advance

As above, You will have trouble in the sun with any of the tablets ( excluding the Tripltek which is a niche product and a very bright screen).
There really aren't many good performing 8 inch tablets out there so there are limited choices
The Apple Mini 5 is a great form factor and works well but it has 2 issues:

If not a "cellular-equipped" (WiFi only) It, and the other Ipads, do not have a built-in GPS. It is needed if you move the controller/tablet/phone and want to change your RTH ( return to home) point from where you took off from.

The Ipads/Apple products will overheat and just black-out if in the sun or a very hot environment ( I am in Phoenix AZ so I have experienced that and would be a normal part of my use)! Which, as you could imagine, makes it hard to see where you are going.
You can still pilot it back with the controller or hit the RTH button to get it back but you'll be blind..

The processing needs of the Fly app/Air2S are really taxing the processors.
The Androids don't just blank out, they will warn about the temp and dim before shutting the screen off
The Samsung S7 Lite is a good performing 8-inch tablet but the screen isn't even as bright as the Ipad Mini 5.
The 10 inch+ top of the line tablets are strong and bright but then you have to weigh the extra bulk and the required brackets/cables, etc that will be req'd against your usage of the drone kit and the reduced portability ( re: hiking, etc)
I, personally, settled on a Samsung S5e as far as a tablet when I value the extra size of the screen, but I use the Smart Controller almost exclusively now for the convenience and screen brightness as well as the durability and ability to work in the Phoenix sun/heat.
I realize that this doesn't help much but just relaying my thoughts.

Whatever you get, make sure it has AT LEAST 3 Gb of ram, an 8 core CPU, and 64-bit system... for the FLY app that the Air2S uses

 

[wardtom084]

I got the Tripltek but you mentioned price. Can see it during the day, will not turn off, millitary grade.

 

[pommy]

They don't.
Unless you pay for one of the few high brightness screens, all screens are less than perfect in direct sunlight.
That's easily fixed by flying from near a shady tree etc.

None of them have a high brightness screen as such - only when displaying specific HDR content does the nits value increase. So for the Fly app - it will be the standard screen brightness (about 800 nits) if I recall correctly.

 

[pommy]

They don't.
Unless you pay for one of the few high brightness screens, all screens are less than perfect in direct sunlight.
That's easily fixed by flying from near a shady tree etc.

None of them have a high brightness screen as such - only when displaying specific HDR content does the nits value increase. So for the Fly app - it will be the standard screen brightness (about 800 nits) if I recall correctly.

 

[Meta4]

None of them have a high brightness screen as such - only when displaying specific HDR content does the nits value increase. So for the Fly app - it will be the standard screen brightness (about 800 nits) if I recall correctly.

There are some specialised high brightness screens that stay bright.
The Tripletek referred to above and DJI's CrystalSky and Smart Controllers are the most common examples.

 

[pommy]

There are some specialised high brightness screens that stay bright.
The Tripletek referred to above and DJI's CrystalSky and Smart Controllers are the most common examples.

Your reply was to Apple specifically though, that's why I clarified for the OP, that's all

OP asked

"I thought apple had some sort of fancy screen..."

and you said...

"They don't. Unless you pay for one of the few high brightness screens..."