WHICH Android Tablet(s) for Gauges? - Recommendations?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 34
From: Los Angeles, Ca.
7" Amazon Fire 5th gen refurb for $26.55 about a month & a half ago. I had to 'hack' it to be able to put Torque pro on. I'm not tech savvy, found the instructions online and it was pretty easy. Only things that bug me: I was forced to put a password on it so I have to enter that every time I turn it on, and when I turn it on I often have to 'force quit' Torque and re-start it for it to work. No clue if there's a fix for that; again, I'm not tech savvy.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,352
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I ended up with a Samsung Galaxy Tab A (2018 version) for a couple of reasons. When I get my 5th wheel wired for solar this winter I will be able to monitor and change charging characteristics from the tablet. I use it for surfing the internet at the house at times. I use it when camping at times. I use it for Torque Pro or Forscan (still really don't like TP), I use it for reading before sleeping, etc... The Android head unit was tempting, but the tablet serves several purposes. I am a Samsung junky since owning my S7, that is why I selected that particular one.
Lead Driver
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 7,092
Likes: 145
From: San Diego, CA
I’ve had some glitches with my TP every now and then. I’ts a pain depending on how much custom setup you’ve done but un-installing then re-installing the app has fixed my issue every time.
Senior User
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 407
Likes: 0
From: Southern IL
I ended up with a Samsung Galaxy Tab A (2018 version) for a couple of reasons. When I get my 5th wheel wired for solar this winter I will be able to monitor and change charging characteristics from the tablet. I use it for surfing the internet at the house at times. I use it when camping at times. I use it for Torque Pro or Forscan (still really don't like TP), I use it for reading before sleeping, etc... The Android head unit was tempting, but the tablet serves several purposes. I am a Samsung junky since owning my S7, that is why I selected that particular one.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,352
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I am a Samsung fan since owning an S7 for a couple of years now and am just as happy with this tablet.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
I started off my journey as a proof of concept and purchased an Amazon Fire 7 HD last year almost to the date due to the price on Thanksgiving. Like someone else said about you have to hack it a bit to get Torque Pro to install, but it does and will work. It is hard to beat for the price and it works, so I'm sticking with it until it stops working.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,352
Likes: 5,946
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
I started off my journey as a proof of concept and purchased an Amazon Fire 7 HD last year almost to the date due to the price on Thanksgiving. Like someone else said about you have to hack it a bit to get Torque Pro to install, but it does and will work. It is hard to beat for the price and it works, so I'm sticking with it until it stops working.
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 400
Likes: 68
From: Eastern shore, MD
I picked up RCA Voyager 7" tablet on black friday from walmart for $25..came shipped with android 8.1.0 Oreo...it will stay permanently in the truck as the only reason I bought it was to be my monitor...so I cannot comment on its performance with regards to doing anything else...but torque pro was a very easy install, and thanks to the files Tugly shared in the 2018 PID thread I was able to use his very well thought out factory matched theme and get all the gauges set up and working in about 45 minutes (and most of that time was tweaking my preferences / guages to the display)....It stays plugged in so battery life is not an issue...however, the first few times I used it I could tell it would have been on any trip of merit as I didn't have it plugged in and it would be down 30-40% battery on my 30 minute commute.
If a solution for a monitor in your truck is all you're looking for it has everything you need (and no need to hack it) for about $35 (sorry sale is over).
If a solution for a monitor in your truck is all you're looking for it has everything you need (and no need to hack it) for about $35 (sorry sale is over).
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 7
From: Belgrade, MT
Glad to see this place still always has what i am looking for, just ordered up a Samsung Galaxy Tab E Lite 7" from best buy for 70 bucks, now I need a OBD2 blue tooth adapter and some apps, and this was the 2nd thread when i logged in, love it.
Time to do some reading, looks like about a million choices on Bluetooth adapters.....
Time to do some reading, looks like about a million choices on Bluetooth adapters.....
Tuned
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 400
Likes: 68
From: Eastern shore, MD
You'll find many who recommend only the OBDlink varieties (Mx, Lx, Mx+) ... there's a pretty recent thread as to why...elm327 thread
That being said...I've been using a Chinese knock off from amazon for about 2 years...when it quits, I'll upgrade to the OBDlink Mx+...until then if it ain't broke...
That being said...I've been using a Chinese knock off from amazon for about 2 years...when it quits, I'll upgrade to the OBDlink Mx+...until then if it ain't broke...
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
FYI -- the Fire HD is Android-based. You just have to install a few things to expose to OS and get Google Play to work. For $40 it was hard to beat at the time.
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