# Controller recommendation **URL:** \ **Category:** Roon Software Discussion\ **Created:** [May 12, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231 "2025-05-12T01:26:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gelos](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/gelos/32/368496_2.png) [@Gelos](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Gelos)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 1:26am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/1 "2025-05-12T01:26:22Z")
I have a 4 year old sm-t220 tablet that I use as my Roon controller. My Ti 99/4A is more responsive and snappy. Any recommendations for a decent tablet/device to use as a controller? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/johnny_ooooops/32/121403_2.png) [@Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Johnny_Ooooops)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:11am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/2 "2025-05-12T02:11:44Z")
iPad. Pick your vintage / performance based on hire cost sensitive / insensitive you are. If you need small, get a mini (though I think the experience is blech), if you want a just fine experience get the latest base model, and if you want buttery get an Air (even last gen). My 2 cents. Also, mad credit for the reverse polish reference. ---
**Author:** ![Tony\_Fardella](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/tony_fardella/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Tony\_Fardella](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Tony_Fardella)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 4:57am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/3 "2025-05-12T04:57:08Z")
You might also want to look at the Amazon Fire HD 8+. It’s certainly not the speediest tablet but work well for me. I also love that it has wireless charging. Plus it’s quite cheap. > **[2022 Gray Fire HD 8 Plus Tablet with 32 GB & 3GB RAM | Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Official-Site-Fire-HD-8-Pro-Tablet-8-inch-Display-2022-release/dp/B099Z93WD9?tag=roonlabs0b-20)** > > Discover the 2022 Amazon Fire HD 8 Plus tablet with 8” HD display, 32 GB, and 30% faster processor. Available in gray with 3GB RAM. Shop Fire tablets today. This is the only model that supports wireless charging. Looks like newer ones don’t have it anymore. It might not be around for long. ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_O\_Neill](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/mike_o_neill/32/335505_2.png) [@Mike\_O\_Neill](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Mike_O_Neill)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/4 "2025-05-12T15:49:19Z")
Go big, iPad Pro 12.9m, it’s only money. The experience is wonderful 😈 ---
**Author:** ![SandsOfArrakis](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/sandsofarrakis/32/138690_2.png) [@SandsOfArrakis](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/SandsOfArrakis)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 6:40am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/5 "2025-05-13T06:40:15Z")
My iPad is serving me really well. It is the basic model of the 10th generation. So the one with 64 gb storage. Which is plenty enough for me 🙂 All my apps, including Roon, just fly on it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Mike\_LC](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/mike_lc/32/298812_2.png) [@Mike\_LC](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Mike_LC)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 1:32pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/6 "2025-05-13T13:32:04Z")
Another IPAD Pro 12.9 user here, 2019 model - whatever gen that is. I asked Santa nicely that year and She delivered. The larger screen size is a plus for my use. ---
**Author:** ![Bennard\_van\_Diermen](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/bennard_van_diermen/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Bennard\_van\_Diermen](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Bennard_van_Diermen)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/7 "2025-05-13T16:39:25Z")
I use a OnePlus Pad. Works responsive and reliable. And not that expensive either. And not to forget it’s long lasting battery. ---
**Author:** ![maddib](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/maddib/32/339482_2.png) [@maddib](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/maddib)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/8 "2025-05-13T17:05:51Z")
Indeed a very good question. I’m, again, looking for some kind of a minimalist handy remote for the palm. Without investing into a rather complex and expensive additional hub like box. So, I personally do not have a recommendation in case it should be smaller than a smartphone, unfortunately. My favorite would be something really small using IR for volume controlling my AVR/amp and using WiFi/BT for the rest (roon) i.e. next/previous track, pause and play, maybe using a small and affordable hub, working with Linux based roon server. And the remote should like nice. Nothing found so far. But the roon client on my iPad does a very good job. ---
**Author:** ![Geoff\_Coupe](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/geoff_coupe/32/47986_2.png) [@Geoff\_Coupe](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Geoff_Coupe)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/9 "2025-05-13T17:08:55Z")
I march to a different drum - I use a Surface Go 2 tablet as a controller. It’s just celebrated its 5th birthday. I must admit that I’m being tempted by the just announced Surface Pro 12 tablet… 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/johnny_ooooops/32/121403_2.png) [@Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Johnny_Ooooops)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/10 "2025-05-13T21:59:05Z")
What you’re hearing is that lots of things work. I would personally try a few different form factors that you can return. For me an 11” without keyboard (ipad, but I’m talking form factor not os) is the best on a stand next to the couch. I also own a much later model iPad Air that is same screen size but chunkier and always married to its keyboard case, and that doesn’t work as well - too much opening and closing, too many other apps running. I tried a 12.9, I find it too big. Others are passionate about it. I have a friend who swears by the iPad mini. As you can tell - everyone is different. If you can experiment for a few weeks and see what you’re drawn to, I’d encourage you to. But getting something where user reports are smooth & fast is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![Patrick\_Downs](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/patrick_downs/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Patrick\_Downs](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Patrick_Downs)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/11 "2025-05-14T21:35:29Z")
Funny timing to find this post. My Kindle Fire 10 stopped working as a Roon remote today, saying the app needs to be updated and they’ve notified the vendor. It’s a 9th generation Fire. I can maybe use the legacy Roon app, but I would have to downgrade the OS version backwards on my Roon server, which I don’t want to do. The latest 13th generation Fire 10 is on sale right now for about 80 bucks, so I’m thinking of upgrading but actually I may switch to an iPad. The basic iPad is $300 now on sale, and it gives me more more versatility. I’ve been frustrated that the Google Play Store does not work with the Kindle Fire and you have to use Amazon’s own app store. There’s a way to sideload certain Android apps but that’s too fiddly for me (the Fire uses a different version of Android OS). My Samsung Galaxy S24 phone, 1.5 years old, works great as a remote but I prefer a bigger screen. Oh, I LOVE ROON! Lifetime subscription. ![1000034954](https://roon-community-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/original/4X/c/d/a/cda8a86236e50a2b8b601ea16f280cd196274d30.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Jazzfan\_NJ](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/jazzfan_nj/32/50021_2.png) [@Jazzfan\_NJ](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Jazzfan_NJ)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2025, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/12 "2025-05-14T22:07:30Z")
> [@Patrick\_Downs](#): > > My Kindle Fire 10 stopped working as a Roon remote today, saying the app needs to be updated and they’ve notified the vendor. It’s a 9th generation Fire. Just to clarify: all current Amazon Fire HD tablets (HD8, HD10 and HD11) work as Roon Remotes (aka controllers) and run the latest version of Roon Remote, which is available for free download from the Amazon App Store. I have four Fire HD tablets and I can verify that they run and work with the current version of Roon Remote. If you need multiple controllers than the Fire HD tablets are a good choice due their relatively low cost. If you have lots of money to burn than knock yourself out and get the Apple iPad Pro 13-Inch (M4), for $2,500 (or the price of about 20 Fire HD tablets or one audiophile network switch). ---
**Author:** ![Patrick\_Downs](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/patrick_downs/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Patrick\_Downs](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Patrick_Downs)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 12:24am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/13 "2025-05-15T00:24:36Z")
![1000034954](https://roon-community-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/original/4X/c/d/a/cda8a86236e50a2b8b601ea16f280cd196274d30.jpeg) I’m in a Roon users Facebook group, and others have had the same problem. It’s not just Roon, but also my New York Times and some other apps have stopped working on my 9th generation Fire 10. One group member says he has a stack of Fire tablets which Amazon has stopped supporting with software updates. So I may be forced to get a new Fire tablet, the 13th generation, for 90 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/johnny_ooooops/32/121403_2.png) [@Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Johnny_Ooooops)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 3:37am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/14 "2025-05-15T03:37:23Z")
Or… get an iPad with an A16 chip for $300 on Amazon and know that it’ll work pretty smoothly for a while. Different strokes for different folks, and I know many understandably detest the Apple ecosystem, but man it makes for a nice price / experience trade-off. (Or various renewed ones for $150-200 if you want to trade off lower cost for fewer years of support/ios upgrades). ---
**Author:** ![TFT](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/tft/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@TFT](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/TFT)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 8:06am UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/15 "2025-05-15T08:06:32Z")
Apart from basic iPad I have been looking at the Lenovo Tab Plus Tablet. It has a stand, which makes it handy as a controller, considerably small to move it around. Most interesting part to me though, it hosts some nice sounding JBL speakers built in to be used as a bluetooth box and or as an additional Roon sound output/display/controller with decent sound which makes quite versatile. Price around 200-300$. Runs on Android though and support is limited until Jan 2028. If screen size and -quality is important I would go for the iPad and its longevity due to prolonged SW support of 6+ years (based on experience). ---
**Author:** ![Jazzfan\_NJ](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/jazzfan_nj/32/50021_2.png) [@Jazzfan\_NJ](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Jazzfan_NJ)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/16 "2025-05-15T12:30:18Z")
I have a question for those Apple savvy users out there. I have an old iPad Air that I now use solely as a Roon Remote. The iPad has limited storage which always seems to be full due to the photos and messages which are linked to my Apple ID. So how do I free up memory on just this old iPad Air without destroying my iCloud ecosystem? In other words, how do I “unlink” this iPad from my Apple ID and have the iPad work only as a Roon Remote? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/johnny_ooooops/32/121403_2.png) [@Johnny\_Ooooops](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Johnny_Ooooops)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 12:33pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/17 "2025-05-15T12:33:43Z")
> [@Jazzfan\_NJ](#): > > So how do I free up memory on just this old iPad Air without destroying my iCloud ecosystem? Sign out of iCloud on that iPad. Then you can’t do any of the things - but you’ll have a “dumb” iPad that won’t be clogged up with stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Jazzfan\_NJ](https://community.roonlabs.com/user_avatar/community.roonlabs.com/jazzfan_nj/32/50021_2.png) [@Jazzfan\_NJ](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Jazzfan_NJ)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 12:35pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/18 "2025-05-15T12:35:18Z")
Thanks! I will give that a try. ---
**Author:** ![Ciaran\_Henry](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/ciaran_henry/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@Ciaran\_Henry](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/Ciaran_Henry)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/19 "2025-05-15T13:15:40Z")
iPad mini 5th gen here - very responsive and good form factor to carry between rooms - ---
**Author:** ![laurent\_guerin](https://community.roonlabs.com/letter_avatar/laurent_guerin/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@laurent\_guerin](https://community.roonlabs.com/u/laurent_guerin)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231/20 "2025-05-15T16:05:10Z")
The second screen of my PC in Full Screen Mode here ! This makes it possible to work remotely and with music 🙂 [Next page](https://community.roonlabs.com/t/controller-recommendation/299231.md?page=2)