Should I buy a Samsung Tab S9 for flying?

Posted by lassia1214@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 25 comments

I'm a student pilot and my class is going to start this January, and I'm looking for a device that would help me in my studies as well as in flying the plane.

I'm thinking of buying the Samsung Tab S9 because I don't have any experience with Apple, and also to broaden my Samsung ecosystem. Are androids good to use during flight? And what apps should I use while flying?

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BandicootNo4431@reddit

Fltplan Go is free and works on android and ios. It works well on tablets

I only use foreflight for work on my work iPad, but for personal flying I use the free app on my personal devices.

Try it out on your phone first. If you like it then use it on the tablet you want. If you don't like it then buy the iPad and pay the $200/year or whatever for foreflight.

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Comfortable-Reveal75@reddit

I’d say get an iPad it’s basically industry standard at this point for training. I’d get atleast the mini 6.

I bought mine with 256gb and Wifi+ Cellular. You don’t need 256gb I just think 64gb is kind of smol..

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flying-ModTeam@reddit

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irishluck949@reddit

Even if every other thing you own is pc/android, get an iPad.

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odinsen251a@reddit

Op, this.

I abhor apple products, but because foreflight is exclusive to iOS, I bought a previous-gen iPad mini for flying. I got the cellular version, but only 64 GB and it's absolutely fine for flying, and I don't need it for anything else.

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ansonchappell@reddit

This was me. I love Android and swear by my Pixel phone, but iPad was the way to go for Garmin Pilot.

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TerribleBuilder5831@reddit

I’m assuming that you don’t have a glass panel. I’m assuming that you want it for charts and fore flight. I would get an iPad.

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NevadaCFI@reddit

Get an iPad mini 7 with Cellular and ForeFlight.

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dodexahedron@reddit

Get the pro because of the twice as bright screen, among other things.

But yes - ni matter which one you get, you must get the one with cellular even if you don't want to get a cellular plan for it, because the wifi-only models do not have GPS. You can still just tether it to your phone for data if you don't want to pay for the cell plan.

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NevadaCFI@reddit

I like the mini because it can be held in one hand and easily mounts on a yoke with a RAM mount X-Grip.

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dodexahedron@reddit

Yeah that's the main tradeoff really.

I dislike the yoke mounts, though, personally (I don't like anything that heavy on there), and got a knee mount for it. 👌

Plus IIRC, when I got mine a few years ago, the pro was also the only one with 3D GPS, while the others only had 2D or something like that.

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Dependent-Panic3231@reddit

I was an all Samsung/Android guy when I got back into flying after a 31 year break. I was resistant to getting the iPad. But I got the iPad and have never looked back. No doubt about it. GET THE iPAD!

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iPullCAPS@reddit

Before I got here, the comments were already 7 for 7 in favor of get an iPad.

Now I’m here, and now it’s 8 for 8. Get an iPad.

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blacknessofthevoid@reddit

Especially as a student pilot, don’t make it harder on yourself than it needs to. Just use ForeFlight. You can venture into alternate solutions later if you so choose.

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dodexahedron@reddit

And then realize what a colossal mistake you made, and then go back to ForeFlight, even if it's the sole reason for your iPad's existence.

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quesoqueso@reddit

I am not an iOS person, I am an Android person.

I bought an iPad just for flying and foreflight, and you should too. It just is what it is.

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Chago04@reddit

No, get an iPad.

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Brendon7358@reddit

Don’t be a Samsung fanboy, get an iPad. You can get a used one pretty cheap if price is a concern

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AntwonBenz@reddit

Absolutely not.

Get an iPad.

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ericw9@reddit

If you’re planning to use ForeFlight, it’s only available on iOS devices. But if you’re looking at Garmin Pilot, then Android is supported. But I only have experience with ForeFlight.

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falcopilot@reddit

I feel your pain- I don't do iThings. (I don't do Samsung, either, but android FTW.)

The consensus I've heard is that Garmin Pilot is only good on iOS, so... get the iPad.

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Yesthisisme50@reddit

Get an iPad

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TravelingBartlet@reddit

I would recommend that of your devices that you own - an apple ipad is the most useful for pilots (this coming from an Android user, windows PC user, etc).

Foreflight is only available on Ipads and it is the gold standard for EFBs.

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No_Needleworker_8103@reddit

No. Get an iPad.

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

I'm a student pilot and my class is going to start this January, and I'm looking for a device that would help me in my studies as well as in flying the plane.

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