Skip to main content

XCSoar runs on many kinds of hardware: desktop (Windows, Linux), Android (phones, tablets, and car GPS units), iOS, and embedded Linux. E-ink devices such as Kobo e-readers are popular: the screen is monochrome but stays readable in bright sunlight.

XCSoar works with a wide range of peripherals (varios, loggers, FLARM, and more). For wiring, protocols, and manuals, see the documentation. The built-in device drivers are listed first; further down are community-reported Android and Kobo setups.

Those examples are not product endorsements. XCSoar’s needs change over time—check the current download page for minimum OS versions before you buy. For cockpits, sunlight readability matters as much as raw specs.

Dedicated embedded hardware

Besides consumer phones and tablets, XCSoar is often used with purpose-built embedded systems: panel displays, single-board flight computers, and sensor boxes designed for gliders (custom Linux images, embedded Android stacks, or avionics that stream data to XCSoar over serial or Bluetooth).

  • OpenVario — open flight computer stack; build your own or source an assembled unit via the project site.
  • SteFly (stefly.aero) — Larus gliding sensor hardware and related avionics; works with OpenVario, tablets, or other displays running XCSoar.
  • XCNav — Android-based embedded navigation hardware for gliding and ultralight flying.
  • XCVario — stand-alone variometer family that exports sensor data to XCSoar (OpenVario, Borgelt, Cambridge-style protocols, Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi/serial).

Built-in device drivers

These are the instrument and simulator drivers shipped with XCSoar (the labels you pick in System → Devices). They are defined in src/Device/Register.cpp in the XCSoar source tree. Use Generic for standard NMEA when your hardware does not have a dedicated entry.

Variometers and glide computers

Sensors only

Transponders and radios

Desktop flight simulators (not panel hardware): Condor Soaring Simulator (incl. Condor 3). Generic I/O: Generic (plain NMEA fallback), NMEA output (send-only to other equipment).

Driver sets and behaviour change by release; see upstream NEWS.txt.

Android

XCSoar runs on many Android devices (phones, tablets, car GPS). Android 5.0 or newer is required.

For phones used in the cockpit, prefer a high-nit display (high peak brightness) so the map stays readable in direct sun on the canopy. Units that are tested or rated to MIL-STD-810 are often a good fit: that family of tests covers environmental stress, including pressure altitude and temperature (heat and cold), which matches sailplane use better than typical consumer-only ratings.

Devices reported to work well

  • Google Pixel 8
  • Google Pixel 8 Pro
  • Galaxy S22 Ultra
  • Google Pixel 6
  • Google Pixel 2
  • Cat S61

Devices with known issues

Built-in GPS

Most Android devices include GPS that is adequate for many flights. External units are still useful for higher accuracy, MacCready sync, task declaration, faster IGC download, and other features.

Barometer and accelerometer

Many Android phones and tablets also ship with an internal barometer (pressure sensor) and accelerometer. XCSoar can use these for pressure altitude, vario-related behaviour, and motion data where the platform exposes them—sensor quality and sampling differ widely by device, so a dedicated vario or external GPS/pressure source is still preferable when you need consistent, high-rate data in turbulence or competitions.

Bluetooth and IOIO

Android has no built-in serial port. Typical options:

  • Bluetooth — wireless; you can connect multiple Bluetooth adapters (up to seven in many configurations).
  • IOIO — wired; one IOIO board can expose several serial ports and charge the device.

Bluetooth adapters

IOIO

Kobo e-readers

XCSoar supports several Kobo models. The e-ink display is black and white but easy to read in direct sun.

Models recognised in software (by internal hardware ID) are listed in src/Kobo/Model.cpp in the XCSoar source. They include:

  • Kobo Aura
  • Kobo Aura Edition 2
  • Kobo Clara 2E
  • Kobo Clara HD
  • Kobo Glo (incl. refurbished variants covered by the same IDs)
  • Kobo Glo HD
  • Kobo Libra 2
  • Kobo Libra H2O
  • Kobo Mini
  • Kobo Nia
  • Kobo Touch (original)
  • Kobo Touch 2.0