We’re writing a guide-by-your-side to help you choose the best tablet for flying drones. We explain what matters, what problems arise, what features solve them, what specs you should insist on, and then we’ll transition into good choices.
This is made for drone pilots, hobbyists, pros flying mapping or FPV rigs, or anyone who wants reliable control and viewing from the air.
Flying drones demands precision, light tracking, clear video feed, stable apps, safety. If your tablet lags, dims in sunlight, or drops GPS/connection when you need a safe return home, that becomes dangerous. We often see pilots frustrated when what seemed like a good device gives blurry live video, delayed controls, weak battery under long flights.
Challenges are many. Glare and brightness outdoors reduces visibility. Heavy tablets make the controller setup clumsy or fatigue your arms. OS incompatibility or weak processors cause lag or dropped frames. Battery drains fast in cold or when screen at full brightness. Mounting difficulties: some controllers won’t hold large tablets, many brackets, arms expect phones or smaller screens. Software demands: many drone apps demand 64-bit OS, certain versions of Android or iOS, reliable GPS, frequent updates.
The solution is to pick a tablet engineered for drone workflows: one that handles live video, high brightness, strong connectivity, ruggedness, with a size that you can physically mount or manage. We evaluate tablets under criteria that map directly to drone flight needs. We assess display, brightness & visibility; processor / RAM; connectivity / GPS; battery life; ruggedness and mounting size; OS and update support. We set minimum specifications so the device functions safely and reliably during flight.
Here are the key criteria.
Display & Brightness: You need a screen you can see outdoors. High nit values (brightness) reduce glare problems, good resolution keeps UI sharp so you can see telemetry, map overlays, obstacles. Advantage: better situational awareness, safer flying. Mitigates: glare, poor image from live feed, misreading sensor warnings. Use case: daytime flights, bright sun, long distances. Minimum: at least 700 nits brightness; screen size between 8-11 inches so it fits controller but gives a good view; resolution at least 1920×1080 (Full HD) or similar.
Processor & RAM: Live feed, video decoding, app overlays, maps all use CPU/GPU. A weak chip causes lag, dropped frames. Advantage: smooth streaming, responsive controls. Mitigates: input lag, stutter, delayed telemetry. Use case: flying with video feed, mapping/photogrammetry, live FPV (not racing, but observer view). Minimum: quad-core CPU, preferably 8 cores; at least 3-4 GB RAM for Android, or similar for iOS.
Connectivity & GPS: The tablet must maintain reliable connection (WiFi, USB-OTG, maybe 5GHz), must have GPS or ability to tether an external GPS so home point, geofencing, return-to-home work correctly. Advantage: location accuracy, safer flight, correct positioning. Mitigates: drift, mis-home points, wrong map overlays. Use case: automated waypoints, mapping, flights over unfamiliar terrain. Minimum: onboard GPS; stable WiFi or USB-C cable support; if Android, 64-bit OS (many drone apps require this).
Battery Life & Power Management: Flights can last long; screen brightness drains battery; power peaks when streaming or recording. Advantage: longer flight sessions without finding power; fewer mid-flight shutdowns. Mitigates: loss of feed, loss of telemetry, mid-flight emergency landings. Use case: field work, mapping, long mission flights. Minimum: battery capacity that gives at least 4-6 hours of screen on time under outdoor/bright conditions; fast charging helps.
Ruggedness & Mount Compatibility: Tablet should withstand knocks, vibration, handling; prefer somewhat rugged or protective case. Must fit in controller mount or use reliable adapter. Advantage: durability, safety, stable mounting. Mitigates: device slipping, breaking, glare of case adding bulk. Use case: field operations, traveling, exposure to dust, wind. Minimum: weight under about 600-700 grams (so it doesn’t strain the controller arms); thickness that fits in standard tablet holders (check your controller mount’s dimensions).
OS & Software Environment: Apps like DJI Fly, DroneDeploy etc require certain OS versions, 64-bit, etc. Must support updates. Advantage: App compatibility, security, bug fixes. Mitigates: crashes, lack of support, broken features. Use case: mapping, firmware updates, safety features (no-fly zones etc). Minimum: Operating system version Android 11+ or iOS 14+ (or app’s stated minimum), 64-bit support, certified GPS/permissions.
What you should expect from a good flying-tablet: you will get clean video feed with minimal latency; visibility outdoors under sun; safe maintainable GPS; battery that won’t die mid-session; mounting to controller that feels stable. You won’t get ultra fast rendering of large video edits, gaming performance equal to gaming tablets, or ultra-rugged military build unless you pay much more.
We now turn into the choices of tablets that meet or exceed these minimums, that many pilots are using with success. We compare them in terms of display, processor, battery, ruggedness, price.
You can also take a look at the Best Tablets for Playing Games in addition to the Best Tablets for College Students.
The Following are the Best Tablets for Flying Drones:
Contents
- Haehne 8 Inch Tablet - Android - 2G RAM - 32GB
- Xiaomi Mi Pad 3
- Microsoft Surface Pro Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB LTE
- VANKYO MatrixPad S21 10 inch Tablet
- Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64GB)
- VANKYO MatrixPad S7 7 inch Tablet
- Apple iPad 10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB 8th Gen)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4, 128GB WiFi Tablet
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Wi-Fi, -512 GB
- Google Pixel Slate 2 in 1 i5
- Google Pixel Slate 2 in 1 i7
- Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 Tablet
- Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB - Silver
- Huawei MediaPad M6 Turbo 8.4inch Tablet
- Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Tablet
- Lenovo Yoga Book - FHD 10.1 Android Tablet
- Apple iPad Pro 3rd Generation (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 512GB)
Haehne 8 Inch Tablet - Android - 2G RAM - 32GB |
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| Operating System | Android |
| Screen Size | 8 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1280 x 800 pixels |
| Processor | Cortex-A53 Quad-Core 1.3GHz |
| GPU | Mali |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage Space | 32GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 2 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 0.3 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | up to 6 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Performance |
| Cons | Display |
Xiaomi Mi Pad 3 |
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| Operating System | Android |
| Screen Size | 7.9 inches |
| Display Resolution | 2048x1536 pixels |
| Processor | MediaTek MT8176 |
| GPU | Mali |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage Space | 64GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 13 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Battery Capacity | 6600mAh |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Pros | Battery Life, Performance |
| Cons | Price |
Microsoft Surface Pro Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB LTE |
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| Operating System | Windows 10 |
| Screen Size | 12.3 Inches |
| Display Resolution | 2736 x 1824 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5 |
| GPU | Integrated Intel HD Graphics 620 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage Space | 25GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | 12 hours average |
| Connectivity | LTE, Wifi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Performance |
| Cons | None |
VANKYO MatrixPad S21 10 inch Tablet |
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| Operating System | Android |
| Screen Size | 10.1 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1280*800 pixels |
| Processor | Quad Core |
| GPU | PowerVR GE8322 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage Space | 32GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes, up to 128 GB |
| Main Camera | 8 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Battery Capacity | 5000mAh battery |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Large Display, Portable and Lightweight, Long Battery Life |
| Cons | RAM |
Apple iPad Mini (Wi-Fi + Cellular, 64GB) |
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| Operating System | iOS |
| Screen Size | 7.9 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1536 x 2048 pixels |
| Processor | A12 Bionic chip |
| GPU | Apple GPU |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage Space | 64GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | No |
| Main Camera | 8 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 7 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | up to 10 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth + Cellular |
| Pros | Portable, Performance |
| Cons | NA |
VANKYO MatrixPad S7 7 inch Tablet |
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| Operating System | Android |
| Screen Size | 7 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1024 x 600 Pixels |
| Processor | Quad-core processor 1.3GHz |
| GPU | Mali T820 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage Space | 32GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes, up to 128gb |
| Main Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 2 Megapixels |
| Battery Capacity | 2900mAh battery |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Storage |
| Cons | |
Apple iPad 10.2-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB 8th Gen) |
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| Operating System | iPad OS |
| Screen Size | 10.2 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1620 x 2160 pixels |
| Processor | Apple A12 Bionic |
| GPU | Apple GPU |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage Space | 128GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | No |
| Main Camera | 8 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 1.2 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | up to 10 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Storage, Price |
| Cons | None |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite 10.4, 128GB WiFi Tablet |
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| Operating System | Android 10 |
| Screen Size | 10.4 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels |
| Processor | Exynos 9611 |
| GPU | Mali G72 MP3 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage Space | 128GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 8 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Battery Capacity | 7040 mAh |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
| Pros | Battery Life, Display Quality, Performance |
| Cons | NA |
Samsung Galaxy Tab S7 Wi-Fi, -512 GB |
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| Operating System | Android 10.0 |
| Screen Size | 11 Inches |
| Display Resolution | 2560 x 1600 Pixels |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ |
| GPU | Adreno 650 |
| RAM | 8GB |
| Storage Space | 512GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 13 + 5 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 8 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | up to 15 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Storage, Display Quality |
| Cons | Price |
Google Pixel Slate 2 in 1 i5 |
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|---|---|
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| CPU | 8th Gen Intel Core i5 processo |
| GPU | Intel HD |
| Display Size | 12.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 3000x2000 pixels |
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage Space | 128 GB |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Ports | USB, Headphone |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 11.45 x 7.95 x 0.28 in |
| Weight | 1.59 lbs |
| Pros | Lightweight, Good performance, Design |
| Cons | Not Cheap |
Google Pixel Slate 2 in 1 i7 |
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| CPU | 8th Gen Intel Core i7 processo |
| GPU | Intel HD |
| Display Size | 12.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 3000x2000 pixels |
| RAM | 16 GB |
| Storage Space | 256 GB |
| Operating System | Chrome OS |
| Ports | USB, Headphone |
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | 11.45 x 7.95 x 0.28 in |
| Weight | 1.59 lbs |
| Pros | Performance, Display Quality, Design |
| Cons | Price |
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 Tablet |
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|---|---|
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| Operating System | Android 9 PIE |
| Screen Size | 8 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1280x800 Pixels |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon |
| GPU | Adreno 504 |
| RAM | 2GB |
| Storage Space | 32GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 8 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | 13 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Performance |
| Cons | None |
Apple iPad Air 10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 256GB - Silver |
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| Operating System | iPad OS |
| Screen Size | 10.9 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1640 x 2360 pixels |
| Processor | A14 Bionic chip |
| GPU | Apple GPU |
| RAM | |
| Storage Space | 256GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | No |
| Main Camera | 12MP back camera |
| Front Selfie Camera | 7MP FaceTime HD front camera |
| Battery Life | up to 10 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Performance, Display Quality |
| Cons | None |
Huawei MediaPad M6 Turbo 8.4inch Tablet |
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|---|---|
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| Operating System | Android 9 Pie OS |
| Screen Size | 8.4 inches |
| Display Resolution | 2k |
| Processor | Kirin, Octa Core |
| GPU | Mali |
| RAM | 6GB |
| Storage Space | 128GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 13 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 8 Megapixels |
| Battery Capacity | 6100mAh |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS |
| Pros | Display, Performance |
| Cons | None |
Lenovo Tab M10 Plus Tablet |
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|---|---|
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| Operating System | Android 9 Pie |
| Screen Size | 10.3 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920 BY 1200 pixels |
| Processor | Mediatek |
| GPU | PowerVR |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage Space | 64GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 5 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | NA |
| Battery Capacity | 7000mAh |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Pros | Storage, Battery Life, Performance |
| Cons | NA |
Lenovo Yoga Book - FHD 10.1 Android Tablet |
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|---|---|
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| Operating System | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Screen Size | 10 inches |
| Display Resolution | 1920x1200 Pixels |
| Processor | Intel Atom x5-Z8550 Processor |
| GPU | Integrated Intel® HD Graphics 615 |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage Space | 64GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | Yes |
| Main Camera | 2 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 2 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | up to 10 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Performance, Storage |
| Cons | None |
Apple iPad Pro 3rd Generation (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 512GB) |
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|---|---|
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| Operating System | iOS |
| Screen Size | 12.9 inches |
| Display Resolution | 2048 x 2732 pixels |
| Processor | A12X Bionic chip |
| GPU | Apple GPU |
| RAM | 4GB |
| Storage Space | 512GB |
| SD Card Expansion Slot | No |
| Main Camera | 12 Megapixels |
| Front Selfie Camera | 7 Megapixels |
| Battery Life | up to 12 hours |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Pros | Display, Performance, Design |
| Cons | None |
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