[Closed] Zwift tablet ?

I run a smart trainer with Swift using Apple TV onto an old tv I had. Works perfectly but need to watch as earlier apple Tv didn’t work I think 🤔

Valley do you need anything in between? Or just a trainer and the Apple TV?

Just a trainer and Apple TV is fine as long as your trainer (and HRM) are Bluetooth, as it doesn’t support ANT. It has to be the latest version (“Apple TV 4K”) to work. Only limitation of this approach is the number of Bluetooth devices supported so if power/cadence are from different devices to the trainer you would need to bridge them via the mobile app.

So.. it’s fine if you have a Bluetooth trainer and Bluetooth HRM and don’t rely on any other devices for power or cadence. If you do, you’ll need to look at the zwift app on an iOS device to bridge them

Alternatively a refurb laptop from Gigafurb e.g. https://www.gigarefurb.co.uk/dell-latitude-3540-i5-4200u-1-60ghz-4gb-ddr3-memory-500gb-hdd-windows-10-refurbished-laptops.html

Get the best spec you can find and add some memory for £15. I managed to get a Dell i7 with 8gb for £225.

I currently use a galaxy tab S2, works with cheep elite Novo trainer and Bluetooth heart rate monitor. Everything works fine.
Only thing is you need to keep the tablet plugged in as you can get through the battery during a ride.

iPad mini. Mounted on Tacx handlebar mount. Looking down is easier but the text is rather small. Bluetooth HR and power from KICKR. All works seamlessly. An older iPad will work too

Didn't know the Android version was out yet!

I thought it was only on iOS?
You need a half decent pc for it to run smooth I bought one for the job as my laptop was too slow.
I still couldn’t run it on high with onboard graphics.

iPad mini. Mounted on Tacx handlebar mount

Same here

To those using iPads does Zwift take ages to load? On my laptop it always seems to hang on first load, and then take 5 mins or so second attempt. Works fine once I’m in. No idea of laptop spec but it’s nothing flash, probably £400 a few years ago.

I've been using Zwift on an iPad Air2 for the last two years and it's been fine. Takes a few seconds to find my trainer and load a ride up but seems fine once it's running.

IIRC Zwift make adjustments when it's busy so in big group rides or just riding generally they only show 100 avatars at a time so that it runs smoothly on tablets etc.

I have it mounted to my handlebars and it works well, although I don't go for it on out of the saddle springs for fear of shaking the tablet out of the stand and also my shitty turbo just toppling over.

Run it off the phone and Chromecast to a larger display?
Android version is available in beta

Apple TV needs to be at least 3rd Gen. for Zwift.

I'm running 2nd hand Apple TV (£30 off Gumtree) and a 2nd hand Samsung 48" TV (also off Gumtree - £70).

Got a 2nd Gen iPad (32GB) if you're interested? Not sure if it'll work with Zwift though, haven't tried it. Looking for £70 for it ono if it does and if you're interested.

I looked at the Android version a wee while ago and at the moment it doesnt support Ant+ only bluetooth which is a pitty as the bikes at my works gym are ant+ only

I’ve also run it on my iPhone 8+. Start up always seems fast to me. Reading the text is not so easy! I’ve found iOS to work well but have never run it on a pc. The graphics present a much lower load I believe. I’ve also run th iPad via hdmi to a big TV for demos, but as I said, I much prefer to look down.

As far as I'm aware Android Beta is closed to new testers.

Of course you can still use Android for the map etc display rather than the actual game.

I use a cheap Android tablet on the bars with a Windows PC powering a cheap 32" tv on the wall.

Also using an iPad air2 on a Tacx handlebar holder. Works great and no qualms about performance. I’d only change the setup if I had a huge tv; one day...

I'm using a Surface Go for mine with an Ant+ dongle (just because Ant+ is better/more convenient, it does have BTLE). Fits in the Tacx handlebar mount perfectly and has the advantage of being a proper laptop as well as a tablet.

LardLover

Member
Apple TV needs to be at least 3rd Gen. for Zwift.

4th gen is minimum I thought?

Nope, 3rd Gen is sufficient. Works for me. And my mate.

does anyone know or have any experience or running a lower spec laptop on zwift or a cheap android tablet etc?

My laptop is about 7 years old and cost £550 - it's an i5 with 6gb of ram and built-in Intel graphics. The graphics is actually one below the one recommended as min by Zwift, but it runs ok. Not great as i have to run with all settings on min, but no way I'm spending out on a new laptop just to run Zwift.

On my laptop it always seems to hang on first load, and then take 5 mins or so second attempt. Works fine once I’m in.

Mine doesn't generally hang, but it does seem to take ages to load. I just get it going while getting changed and shut it once it gets to the connected devices screen. I then open it up again once in the garage, plug the dongle in and ready to go in a minute or so.

iPad Air 2 here which I use with a cheap lightning connector thing to mirror to our old 42 inch telly. Works absolutely fine....

Bump! Just invested in a Tacx Bushido with Bluetooth and ANT+. I'm all about Android. I know that Zwift now has an android app and that it runs with the Galaxy S7 what I currently have. Question is has anyone used Zwift with android and how well has it worked? If anyone has used it with an S7, even betterer.

Also, how do the alternatives to Zwift stack up? I should add that I'm in the medium training camp, want to get fit and in shape and that, but not overly arsed (for the time being) about hard core training sessions and power meters and all that stuff.

Thanks in advance!

I was borrowing my better half's Surface Pro 4 for my Zwift/RGT/Virtugo/MyE-Training app sessions, but since around spring, I've been quite happy to use my Android mobile (originally a Maze Alpha, which unbelieveably died after a single drop without physical signs of damage on exterior mid summer, but since then a Xioami Mi A2) to Zwift when she has been using her SP4.

It might be my memory, but I don't recall ever being able to connect 3 Bluetooth devices (Direto for cadence and FE-C, Coopso HRM, but 4iiii for power instead of Direto) until last night's gentle spin. I'm currently using 5 "power smoothing" for the Direto, which maybe affected things or maybe it was 3 BT connections, but I thought there was a tiny bit more lag as gradients changed... Shown well by the auto photoshot* as I'm ~81Kg in real life and Zwift 😉 and the W/Kg is wrong.
https://www.strava.com/activities/2683125710

* Unless W/Kg is near instant, while I have power on 3sec average.

Okay, much appreciated that's good, so it works on Android, as do the others it seems. Now to find a new phone deal that throws in a cheap(ish) free tablet!

...interesting stuff. I currently run zwift off my android, and it runs well. Can I simply connect the phone to the TV via a cable? Or use a google chromecast dongle?

Can I simply connect the phone to the TV via a cable? Or use a google chromecast dongle?

I've run Zwift through a HDMI converter to PC monitor (really old TV with no HDMI) without a problem. Running on a Galaxy S9. The limiting factor is the lack of ANT+ support in Zwift so I had to buy a Bluetooth HRM. Running Tacx Vortex Smart.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/USB-HDMI-Adaptor-Type-1Adapter-C-DVI-VGA/dp/B07K8MRPNH/ref=asc_df_B07K8MRPNH/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309947853784&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17550140442810901720&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046581&hvtargid=pla-698788266671&psc=1

Okay, much appreciated that’s good, so it works on Android, as do the others it seems. Now to find a new phone deal that throws in a cheap(ish) free tablet!

Just get a decent phone and use a dongle to a TV if you have one near your setup! 🙂

I have a Samsung S9 , how would I manage to get it to run Zwift on a large tv screen.

Pretty much as I posted above?

Android version also supports Ant+ now although it's a bit sketchy.