As you unpack your new drone, you’ll probably also get some tools, accessories, remote control, and a battery. But, where’s your display? Maybe you’re using your smartphone as a display.

Although it’s true that a smartphone can do almost everything you want when flying a drone, there are still some limitations because of the screen size. Just imagine composing videos or images on a smartphone with a small screen resolution. Isn’t it difficult to know whether or not you’re getting the right exposure?

Well, fret not! Using a tablet when flying a drone gives you a clearer view of what your unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is seeing and makes the whole process easier for drone users.

Using a tablet for your DJI Mavic Pro Drone, for instance, brings benefits not just in terms of screen size, but also of battery life, and visibility even if smartphones are readily available and more portable.

If you’re interested to know of the top tablets for drones in the market today as well as their apparent peculiar features, then keep on reading. We reviewed plenty of tablets, but decided to include only the best 5 in our list!

Here we go!

Review Roundup: 5 Best Tablets for Drones 

 

	1.Apple iPad Mini 5	2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S7	3.NVIDIA Shield K1	4. LG G Pad	5. DJI Crystal Sky
Battery Life	10 hours	14 to 15 Hours	5 hours gaming,  10 hours surfing/watching	Standby Time: 792 hrs. Usage Time: 35 hrs.	5 to 6 hours
Storage	128GB	Internal: 6/8GB(RAM) + 128/256/512GB microSD up to 1TB	128 GB	16GB	High brightness：ROM 64GB+RAM (random access memory) 4GB Ultra Brightness：ROM 128GB+RAM 4GB
Processor/ Processor Speed	A12 chip	Octa Core (3.09+2.4G+1.8GHz)	2.2 GHz tegra_k1 Graphics: NVIDIA 192-core Maxwell	Speed: 1.2 GHz
Display	7.9″ Retina Display, 2048 x 1536 Maximum Resolution	2560 x 1600 (WQXGA) TFT	1920×1200 Pixels	1,280 x 800 pixels	Multi-touch display with IPS technology
Operating System	iPadOS 14	Android 10.0	Android 5.1 Lollipop	Android 4.4 KitKat	Android

 

1. Apple iPad Mini 5

Product Description

We believe the Apple iPad Mini 5 is one of the best tablets for drones. We would originally want to include Mini 4, but you’re much better off spending extra money for an iPad mini 5 version since it has faster processing power. Thanks to its A12 chip compared to iPad mini 4’s A8 chip that is beneficial to your drone usage expertise.

The Apple iPad has a battery display that allows you to make the most of your quadcopter flying experience. Another thing the A12 Bionic chip and embedded M12 coprocessor give the device a huge benefit so experience less downtime and lag.

And lastly, you can trust that Apple devices are quality-based products that include extra features known for their smartness and creativity.

Best For:

Drone pilots who prefer a tablet with a screen that is clear and bright (without dead pixels) and one that comes from Apple (brand trust)

Pros

• Ensures a pleasant drone flying experience
• Works flawlessly with your drone
• Up to 10 hours of battery life
• Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor
• Dual-Core A8 Chip with Quad-Core Graphics
•  2048 x 1536 Pixel Resolution
• Solid performance
• Best app selection
• With IPS display that makes the screen brighter

Cons

• Expensive than other tablets
• No USB-C
• Does not support second-gen Apple Pencil
• Exterior design sill with huge bezels

Like what you see? Buy this product here today!

2.Samsung Galaxy Tab S7

Product Description

Another great tablet for drones would be the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Wi-Fi. After we received this beautiful device, we quickly tested it, such as if it works well with DJI Go App, and true enough it did!

Aside from having a 120 hz refresh rate (meaning the tablet can refresh at a rate of 120 times per second. Some of the things we especially love about this Samsung Galaxy Tablet is that it works as a tablet computer.

What does it mean? It has the performance of a computer, but the portability of a tablet. Isn’t it great? You can also use this device during public drone movement displays. For these reasons, we included it in our list of the best tablets for drones.

Best For:

Drone enthusiasts who prefer a tablet computer with adequate storage memory space and reasonable processing speed performance

Pros

• Bluetooth-enabled controller
• Immersive screen
• Fast-charging USB-C port
• Can sync up multiple devices
• Comes with a redesigned S Pen
• Dolby Atmos surround sound
• Fingerprint scanner to unlock the device
• Fast processor
• 6/8GB RAM, enough to supply optimal function to your device
• Fair battery life (between 14 and 15 hours of battery life)

Cons

• Several drone users find the pen not properly constructed
• Apps not as optimized as iPad, but they work fine for watching videos, reading
• The tablet itself is a bit heavier, but still portable

Click here if you’d like to buy this tablet for drones!

3.NVIDIA Shield K1

Product Description

Ideal for drone flying, the NVIDIA Shield K1 is a smartphone tablet that has gotten more users this year. This suggests the device’s functionality and aptness. 

Another reason why we included this as one of the best tablets for UAVs, such as DJI drones, is because it comes with NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor. This processor is proven to be power efficient and it also delivers almost 50% higher performance per watt than mobile processors.

Two other exciting features of this device are the 1080 pixels full HD resolution (despite having just 8 inches screen size) and its HDMI port infrastructure. Such a port allows you to connect your drone controller easily to your tablet.

Best For:

Pilots looking for an Android tablet with an HDMI output for easy drone controller connectivity

Pros

• Great processing speed and power
• With HDMI port for connectivity
• Full HD screen resolution display for visual inputs and images
• Decent memory space
• Tablet’s battery: 5 hours for gaming or 10 hours for surfing/watching

Cons

• Not the latest Android operating system version 
• The screen is glossy so it can be shiny under the sun. You may need a screen shade to use outdoors

Don’t miss out! Buy this product here before it’s gone!

4. LG G Pad

Product Description

If you’re looking for a tablet suitable for drone flying functions, then you can opt for LG G Pad 4G LTE Tablet. It combines as many innovative features and has the essential portability that you need when 

This little beauty has an inbuilt memory capacity of 16.0 GB. Equipped with a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor, this device works well with DJI Mavic Pro and other drones.

Best For:

People who are looking for a budget-friendly tablet for their drones.

Pros

• Low-priced tablet computer 
• 16.0 GB hard drive storage capacity
• compatible Android (4.1 and higher) smartphones
• personalized KnockCode
• Display resolution is impressive enough for drone operations
• Durable

Con/s

• Infrared blaster has limited functionality

Order this product now while it’s available!

5. DJI CrystalSky

Product Description

One of the best drone flying tablets you can get with a detailed image color demonstration is the DJI CrystalSky. Such mixture makes drone monitoring as well as control easy and simple!

This tablet also works with the DJI Go app to share and capture beautiful content. 

Admittedly, when we tried using the CrystalSky, we noticed that it does not crumble under the pressure of receiving flight commands and streaming video feed. In terms of connectivity, it has more ports compared to an average tablet or computer. 

You can buy your own drone and pair it with DJI Crystal Sky. It may not have a long-lasting battery life compared to other tablets in this list, but it’s more than enough if you’re going to film for a day.

Best For:

Professional drone pilots or serious drone enthusiasts used to shoot in particularly sunny or hot environments.

Pros

• Specifically designed for DJI Go App
• Faultless even in super bright conditions
• 4K HDMI output
• Responds rapidly
• remarkable multitasking capabilities

Cons

• Heavier than an ordinary tablet or smartphone (in exchange for premium features)
• Expensive

Click here to buy this product today!

What to Look for When Buying A Tablet

1. Operating System

Drone tablets, like Lenovo Tab, Google Nexus, and the above-listed products, are powered by different operating systems. 

The two operating systems that are widely used in tablets are Android for Google products (like Google Nexus with Kepler graphics processor) and Microsoft Windows. Of course, the best operating system for a tablet would be the Apple iOS, although Windows 10 also works well. 

Consider this feature when buying your tablets or android device for drone control so you’ll enjoy a fresh screen-to-body ratio in order to fly First Person View (FPV). But if you’re still confused, just remember that the latest software and hardware are going to be your best bet.

2. Storage Space

A drone tablet should have a significant memory or storage space to process drone data. This is because a flying machine generates a large amount of data. So, consider the appropriate RAM card specification when buying a tablet computer for a drone.

3. Wi-Fi/Wi-Fi+Cellular

A tablet’s Wi-Fi is an important consideration when selecting flight control tablets. We strongly suggest you purchase a WiFi+Cellular iPad or tablet or, if not Wi-Fi only device, one that allows you to use a mobile hotspot for internet connectivity.

Final Verdict: What are the Best Tablets to Buy in 2021?

Selecting the best tablet is an important equipment choice you will make for your DIY drone. If you’re still undecided and want to know our top pick, then it would be the iPad Mini 5.

We believe it’s an amazing tablet in terms of its function, screen size, screen brightness, and overall tablet features. It provides better performance and has very similar specs to that of iPad Pro for a considerably less price.

It has an amazing retina display with a resolution of 2048 x 1536 and is powered by an A12 chip. Because of its brand commitment and brilliant performance as well as other notable features, it is our top pick on this list!

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