Which iPad for navigation ? [Update-14]

Many of you ask me about choosing an iPad for boating use. Unfortunately having no time to respond to every request a post is required. Every year, it is appropriate to review this issue, and sometimes even more often.

Follow your guide, new iPads 2025…

Summary

Apple has posted, March, the 4 th, with no fanfare, three new iPads, available today. In fact, it didn't deserve a Keynote because these new tablets are nothing to roll around on. ! An iPad 11th generation " Low cost » 11″, two iPadAir 7th generation 11″ and 13″.

Criteria to choose an iPad

There are several, that are not solely dependent on maritime use, but also the home use of your tablet.

• The model : I have mentioned it several times in my website (²) and several entries (³), a model Wi-Fi + Cellular is imperative to be provided with Integrated GPS. With a simple Wi-Fi model, you will need to add, or a GPS Bluetooth, or a multiplexer to fetch NMEA data from the on-board GPS, which limits the use of the tablet.
• Storage memory : from 128 Go up to 2 TB for the latest "Pro", The choice is wide. For a strict navigation use , with applications using vector charting, 128 GB are enough to go around the world, even with many complementary applications. But if you use the raster charting, larger than the vector charting for equivalent area , therefore 256 Go will be required. Be careful though : if you also store your travel photos and videos, if you add music and movies, It may be necessary to consider more.
• Screen size and resolution : iPad (10/11 Inches) or iPad Mini (± 8 Inches), I would say that the choice depends mainly on the distance between mariner and screen. So actually vessel size. I'll be embarking an iPad Mini on a 18-25 feet, but beyond that, the distance between the helmsman and the location of the iPad will justify a screen 10 inches screen for easier reading. Screens Liquid Retina high resolution became widespread and provide excellent definition on raster charting and satellite imagery. From 2016 devices benefit from a laminated screen antireflection multicoated and a LED backlight, which allows a fairly correct full-day reading, especially with a sun visor added to the case.
• Models 13″, heavy and expensive, are more suited to plotter use on the chart table than to mobile use on board.

The different versions

There are now countless versions : 35 all devices combined since January 2010 !

•Historical : from iPad 1 to iPad Pro (2010-2019)

The first iPad1, historical tablets, some of which have traveled thousands of miles over several years, are no longer supported by Apple, just like iPad 2 down to 4 and iPad Air 1st generation. This means no more possible updates to iOS and the eventual obsolescence of applications that developers cannot keep backwards-compatible indefinitely. The majority of applications today only work on iOS/iPadOS 13 and next.

March 2016, the arrival of an iPad Pro 9.7″ with a still more powerful processor and a memory up to 256 GB RAM, but also more expensive than ’iPad Air 2, did not represent a decisive advantage for navigation use.

The first iPad Mini of October 2012 had the same technical characteristics as the iPad 2 with a Screen of 7″. It was a great tablet, with a screen that had nothing to envy to its big sister, autonomy for long days of navigation and fast power charging.

•Today (2020-2025)

The following years, Apple has increased the screen size of the iPad Pro down to 10,5″ then recently 11″. But these high-priced devices have been accompanied each year by several iPad 9,7” "low-cost", to attract tight budgets. In 2019 The arrival of the’iPad Air 3 10,5″ at a very attractive price with an A12 Bionic processor and 3 GB RAM, positioned it between the iPad 9.7″ 2018 and the iPad Pro 11″. It had replaced my own iPad Air 2 in 2020 After 6 years of good service. In 2022 I had to opt for a iPad 9th generation to switch to 256 GB of storage.

The’iPad Mini, has been replaced by successive versions with Retina display. An iPad Mini 7 made a discreet arrival in October 2024 with a screen 8.3″ Liquid Retina and built-in with chipset A17 Pro, more powerful than the previous model but still no ARM chip.

Today, if you select a second-hand device, it's wise not to exceed 4 years of service, or to choose an entry-level one if you prefer a new tablet.

• iPad ranges

How easily one gets lost, in a nutshell, Apple now offers Three ranges of iPad :

• iPad = «low cost", usually based on an older case with one or two improvements, first pricing.
• iPad Air = thin and light mid-range with good quality features. Prices are often attractive.
• iPad Pro = the brand's high-end technology. The most expensive of course, but not of interest for navigation.

 

In November 2015 was launched on large iPad Pro with a Screen 12.9″, optionally equipped with a keyboard, aimed at the professional market. For yachting, its size and weight make it ideal for the chart table, despite the availability of a Waterproof case and supports allowing to use it outside. This model has been the subject of several successive versions. The last one arrives with a processor Apple M4, 8 or 16 GB RAM RAM depending on storage capacity, and the first OLED screen. in May 2024, A brand new iPad Air 6 13″ has been inserted into this range.

My advice (See framed templates)

• Second hand or Apple refurbished (Wi-Fi + Cellular)

• iPad 10 (2022) with 128 GB RAM or 256 GB RAM to get started at a reasonable price, becomes the best choice for pre-owned. Tablets with excellent performance good enough for navigation, if you are looking for the cheapest but not the oldest.
• iPad Air 5 (th 2022) with its M1 chip to have a more powerful tablet, but second-hand prices are still too high with 128 and 256 GB RAM. It can be found as refurbished in Apple Store.
• iPad Air 6 13″ 6th generation (May 2024). With its M2 chip, To be preferred mainly to replace a plotter at the chart table at a reduced price compared to the last model..

• Buy new

• iPad 11 (th 2025) with 128 GB RAM or 256 GB RAM, comes at a price very attractive (310 € less than iPad Air 7 with identical storage).
• iPad Air 7 11″ (th 2025), despite his M3 chip It doesn't bring much new compared to the previous generation, which is rather disappointing given its price. It is a powerful device perfectly suited for navigation, but still expensive in Wi-Fi + Cellular with 256 GB RAM storage (more than 1000 € !).
• iPad Air 7 13″ (th 2025) To be preferred only to replace a plotter at the chart table. In this case, its price is reasonable compared to the services it can provide while sailing. An aiShell waterproof case is in the works and should be available soon.

Take into account that serious trading companies make trade-in offers for your old devices, even Apple !

Warning : The latest system iPadOS 18.x is only compatible with devices with A12 chips and above (See list). Older iPads will no longer be able to evolve. As a reminder, once the devices cross the fateful seven-year mark, they are generally considered obsolete by Apple.

Meet you when the next models come up.

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(²) Apple devices
(³) iPad , GPS and cellular network subscription This post from 2011 is unfortunately still relevant !
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