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For most pilots, the best tablet is an iPad with built-in GPS (a Wi-Fi + Cellular model), enough storage for charts and apps, and a size that fits your cockpit. Students and pilots in smaller aircraft usually do best with an iPad mini. Pilots who want a bigger moving map, or who fly larger cockpits, can step up to an iPad Air or iPad Pro. You don’t need the newest model, so a certified refurbished iPad is a sensible way to get there.

Below we cover what matters in the cockpit (size, GPS, brightness, battery, heat, mounting), how to match an iPad to the way you fly, and how to check a used or refurbished unit before you trust it with your navigation.

TL;DR

• Choose a Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad: AOPA reports these models carry a GPS receiver that works without a cellular plan.
• Small is usually better. Flying Magazine calls the iPad mini probably the most common student EFB device, and says larger tablets can get in the way in small aircraft.
• Heat and power are the real cockpit problems. Plan for shade, cooling, a mount and backup power.
• Android works but has fewer aviation apps, according to Aviation Consumer.
• Refurbished saves money. Buy one that is bench-tested, graded and warrantied, and check it before your first flight.

Table of Contents

• What a tablet does in the cockpit
• Features that matter most
• Which iPad fits which pilot
• Android tablet or iPad?
• ADS-B, weather and traffic
• Set it up for the cockpit
• What to check on a refurbished iPad
• Where to buy and how to pay
• Ready to pick an iPad for flying?
• FAQ
• Sources

What a tablet does in the cockpit

A tablet replaces a stack of paper: sectional and approach charts, the airport directory, your flight plan, checklists and, with the right receiver, weather and traffic. AOPA’s Flight Training magazine says tablets have gone from a “nice to have” to almost a “need to have” piece of equipment because they are functional and lightweight.

For students, the same device also does ground school work: reading the handbook, running practice tests, logging flights and planning cross-countries at the kitchen table. That is why one good tablet usually beats two cheap ones.

A tablet is also a piece of electronics sitting in a hot, vibrating, sunlit space. The features that matter are the ones that keep it readable and working for the length of a flight.

Features that matter most

Flying Magazine’s roundup of iPads for pilots lists the same core criteria most pilots end up using: screen size that suits the cockpit, enough storage for aviation data, a rugged build, strong battery performance, a clear display in varied light, and reliable GPS. Here is how each plays out in practice.

Screen size and cockpit fit

A bigger screen shows more chart at once. It also needs more room. In a Cessna, Piper or similar trainer, a large tablet on a yoke mount or kneeboard can crowd the panel or interfere with your hands during maneuvers. Flying Magazine notes that larger tablets may get in the way in smaller aircraft, which is why the mini is so popular with students.

A simple rule: if you fly a light single with a tight panel, start with an iPad mini. If you fly a roomier cockpit, or you mostly use the tablet on a kneeboard and want larger chart text, consider an iPad Air or an 11-inch iPad Pro.

GPS: choose Wi-Fi + Cellular

This is the most important buying decision. According to AOPA, Wi-Fi + Cellular iPads include a built-in GPS receiver that works independently of cellular data plans, so you get moving-map positioning without paying for a subscription. Wi-Fi-only models need an external source, such as an ADS-B receiver or a separate GPS puck.

If you buy Wi-Fi only, plan on pairing it with an external receiver. If you buy Wi-Fi + Cellular, you get a second position source at no extra running cost, which is useful when your panel GPS or external receiver is not talking to the tablet.

Storage

Aviation apps are not huge on their own, but the data adds up: chart sets for the whole country, terminal procedures, airport diagrams, offline maps and your own documents. If you also use the tablet for ground school videos, photos and logbook files, the smallest storage tier fills quickly. Pick the next tier up from the minimum if the price difference is modest. Refurbished pricing often makes that easy.

Screen brightness and readability

Sunlight is the test. Look for a bright, laminated display and keep the brightness high in flight, which will drain the battery faster. Polarized lenses can also make electronic displays hard to read, so Flying Magazine recommends non-polarized, aviation-specific sunglasses. Before you blame the tablet for a dim screen, try your sunglasses at different head angles.

Battery life and power

A tablet that works at the hangar can run flat on a long cross-country with the screen at full brightness. AOPA’s guidance is to use backup batteries or aircraft power and to secure the tablet and cables so they do not interfere with the controls. A refurbished iPad should come with a battery you can trust; on our own listings the battery condition is stated, and some listings call out 100% battery health.

Heat

Cockpit heat is a significant challenge. AOPA says high temperatures frequently trigger iPad shutdown warnings. Keep the tablet out of direct sunlight, and use a cooling holder or a cooler bag on hot days. A dark case can make things worse; a light, ventilated holder helps.

Which iPad fits which pilot

The table below summarizes how we point pilots to the iPad lines we stock. It is guidance, not a spec sheet: always check the exact generation, storage and connectivity on the listing before you order.

Student pilots

Many flight schools tell new students to buy their own iPad without much direction. Start by asking your school which apps and iPad generations it supports, then pick the smallest, most current model you can afford. Our iPad mini 6th generation is a good example of the class of device students tend to choose, and our iPad mini 5th generation is an option when budget comes first. Both are Wi-Fi models, so pair them with an external ADS-B receiver for position and weather.

If you want one device for the cockpit and the classroom, a standard iPad is a reasonable step up in screen size for study. Our iPad 10th generation in 256GB gives you plenty of space for charts and course material.

Private and instrument pilots

Once you fly cross-country regularly, built-in GPS and a bigger screen become worth paying for. The iPad Air 10.9-inch with Wi-Fi + Cellular and the iPad Air M2 11-inch with Wi-Fi + Cellular put a GPS receiver in a mid-size body. For a lot of storage on an Air, look at the iPad Air 11-inch M2 1TB, which is listed as Grade A with 100% battery. Note that this one is Wi-Fi only, so plan on an external position source.

Pilots who want the biggest screen

If your cockpit has the room and you want large approach plates and a wide moving map, the iPad Pro line is the answer. We stock Wi-Fi + Cellular versions across generations, including the iPad Pro 11-inch (3rd generation), the iPad Pro 11-inch M4, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (6th generation) and the 13-inch iPad Pro M4. Larger tablets mean more heat exposure and more bulk, so treat the mount as part of the purchase.

Android tablet or iPad?

Android tablets can fly. Aviation Consumer’s comparison found that Android tablets generally perform well and cost less, but they may not have as many mainstream aviation apps as iOS. In practice the app is what decides it. If your flight school, instructor or favorite app is built around iPad, you will get the most support, the most tutorials and the easiest troubleshooting by flying the same hardware.

That support matters more than it sounds. When your tablet misbehaves on the ramp, you want an instructor who has seen the exact screen you are looking at.

ADS-B, weather and traffic

A tablet gets more useful with an ADS-B In receiver. AOPA explains that ADS-B In can show weather and traffic on a tablet, which improves situational awareness. The receiver is a separate piece of hardware that sends data to the tablet over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Two practical points:

• A Wi-Fi-only iPad plus an ADS-B receiver covers both position and weather and traffic.
• A Wi-Fi + Cellular iPad adds its own GPS, so if one source drops you still have a position.

Don’t rely on a tablet as your only source of navigation. Use it as a tool alongside your instruments, your training and your regulatory requirements, and ask your instructor how your school expects you to carry backups.

Set it up for the cockpit

Buying the right iPad is half the job. The rest is setup.

1. Mount it. Use a yoke mount, kneeboard or suction mount, and route cables so nothing can catch the controls. AOPA specifically advises securing the tablet and cables so they do not interfere with controls.
2. Plan power. Carry a charged backup battery, or use aircraft power if your plane has it.
3. Manage heat. Keep it out of direct sun, and use a cooling holder or a cooler bag on hot days.
4. Update before you go. Download current charts and databases while you are on Wi-Fi.
5. Run a preflight check. AOPA’s iPad preflight technique covers the battery and accessories, backup power, databases and charts, route, app, screen and mounting hardware.
6. Keep a short record. Write down your model, storage, iPadOS version, app version and accessories, so that when something is replaced or updated you can compare against a known-good setup. FlyHdg360 suggests keeping this kind of note.

One more habit: turn off notifications, or use a focus mode, so a text message does not cover your approach plate.

Our view: why a graded, refurbished iPad suits pilots

We have been buying and selling Apple hardware in Hollywood for 15 years, and pilots are a familiar kind of customer: they want a device that is predictable, not a status symbol. A cockpit tablet is a tool that gets handled, bumped and heated, so paying full retail for a new one is often the wrong place to spend.

That is where our approach is designed to help. Every device we sell is bench-tested and graded by a Certified Apple Technician against a published scale, so you know the cosmetic condition before you order. Our one-year warranty is handled in-house, which means you deal with our staff directly rather than a mail-in claims process.

Our advice is to put the money into the things that matter in flight: Wi-Fi + Cellular for built-in GPS, more storage than the minimum, and a good mount and backup battery. A graded refurbished iPad often leaves room in the budget for all three.

Pro-

What to check on a refurbished iPad

Whether you buy from us or elsewhere, run through this list the day the iPad arrives, before you rely on it:

• Connectivity. Confirm the listing says Wi-Fi + Cellular if you want built-in GPS.
• Storage. Check that the capacity matches the listing.
• Battery. Look at battery health in Settings and run it with the screen bright for a while.
• Screen. Check for dead pixels, touch response across the whole display, and the cosmetic grade.
• Heat behavior. Run your aviation app with a moving map for an hour and see how warm it gets.
• Software. Make sure it is on a current iPadOS version your aviation app supports.
• Accessories. Test the charging cable, the mount and any case you plan to use.

Our grading scale is published: Open Box (Premium) and Grade A (Excellent) have no screen scratches and no visible damage at twelve inches, Grade B (Good) has light scratches that are imperceptible to the touch, and Grade C (Acceptable) has small shallow marks that are invisible when the screen is on. For a cockpit tablet that lives in a case and a mount, a lower cosmetic grade can be a smart way to save, as long as the screen is clean and the battery is healthy.

You also get a 30-day return policy, which gives you time to run the checks above, including a test flight or two of app use on the ground.

Where to buy and how to pay

If you are in Los Angeles, you can order online and collect at our Hollywood store, usually ready in about four hours, or walk in and see the iPads in person. We are at 1947 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Suite 104, Los Angeles, CA 90068, open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm. Our Hollywood store pickup page has the details. Everywhere else in the US, shipping is free and takes two days.

If you want to spread the cost of flight training gear, see our financing options.

Ready to pick an iPad for flying?

We stock refurbished, open-box and like-new iPads across the mini, Air and Pro lines, each bench-tested and graded, with a one-year warranty, free two-day shipping and 30-day returns. Filter for Wi-Fi + Cellular if you want built-in GPS, and choose the size that suits your cockpit.

Browse our full refurbished iPad collection and pick the size and storage that fit the way you fly.

FAQ

Which iPad do pilots prefer?

Most pilots favor the iPad mini for its size, and Flying Magazine calls it probably the most common device among students. Pilots who want more screen room tend to choose an iPad Air or iPad Pro. Whatever the size, choose Wi-Fi + Cellular for built-in GPS.

Do I need a cellular plan to use GPS on an iPad?

No. AOPA says the GPS in Wi-Fi + Cellular models works independently of cellular data plans. You pay for the cellular hardware when you buy, but you do not need a subscription for position. Wi-Fi-only iPads need an ADS-B receiver or other external GPS.

Can I use an Android tablet instead?

Yes, many pilots do, and Android tablets generally perform well and cost less. The catch is that they may have fewer mainstream aviation apps than iOS. Check that your preferred app runs on the exact tablet before you buy.

What should a student pilot buy first?

Ask your flight school which apps and iPad models it supports. Then buy the smallest current-enough iPad you can afford, ideally with Wi-Fi + Cellular and enough storage for charts and ground school. A graded refurbished iPad mini is a common budget-friendly route.

How do I stop my iPad from overheating in flight?

Keep it out of direct sunlight and use a cooling holder or a cooler bag when it is hot. AOPA notes that cockpit heat often brings on shutdown warnings. Keep a paper or second-device backup in line with what your instructor recommends.

Sources

• Best iPads for Pilots (Top 5), Flying Magazine
• Your flat friend, AOPA Flight Training
• Technology, AOPA collision avoidance safety spotlight
• Which Tablet? iPad vs. Android, Aviation Consumer
• Student Pilot Gear Checklist, Flying Magazine
• Technique: iPad preflight, AOPA Flight Training
• Using an iPad in the cockpit, FlyHdg360

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