Navionics for Android: Europe HD or not?

[Poignard]

I am planning to buy the Navionics app for my Samsung Galaxy Tab 4. There are two versions on offer: Navionics Boating Europe at £28.99 and the HD version at £48.99.

What do I get for the extra £20 with HD version and do I need it.?

By the way, apart from Navionics, are there any other chart plotter apps for my area (Brittany) that I should consider?

 

[Hoolie]

AFAIK there's no difference in the cartography just screen resolution. SD for phones - HD for tablets. I have the HD version on a 10" Sony Experia and it's fine. I think the SD version on your tablet would be largely unusable.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I bought the SD version several years ago to use on my phone. It was before the HD version was available. I still the same version today on my Samsung Tab E and it's fine.

 

[Moonbeam]

I just looked at this whole area myself in the last month, but I was only looking for a backup/alternative to my fixed Garmin 5" chartplotter which sits in the cockpit near the helm.

I considered the alternative apps for a 10" Android Tablet which as far as I'm aware are 'Visit My Harbour in conjunction with Marine Navigator app, or 'MX Mariner' or 'i Sailor.

I was drawn to those three because they use Raster charts... but looking at them in depth, I found they each had issues. So in the end I've gone for Navionics HD which runs on my tablet and phone.

I downloaded the two week free trial of the HD version, liked it, bought it. Perhaps you should try their free trial SD version first, if you like that, then you've saved yourself £20.

As I'm sure you are aware, the big problem with using them in real life is the lack of sunlight readable screen and their general fragility. But the tablet cost me £129, the app, £44, so for £173, I'm pretty happy with a 10" chartplotter that is a very useful back up and good for getting an overview compared to my Garmin 5" screen. Used it a couple of weeks back going from Plymouth to Fowey and back, all good.

 

[James_Calvert]

I bought the SD version for my android phone; its screen is just under 5 inch across the diagonal.

Got an 8 inch tablet. Another copy of SD was free so tried that. Very happy, but don't use either for anything much more sophisticated​ than general position awareness, and measuring distances and bearings. Oh and tidal streams and heights.

I do find I use the phone more than the tablet.

 

[Poignard]

Thanks for all your helpful advice.:encouragement: