RadioMaster AX12: Android is here, but why?

RadioMaster made a new radio, the AX12. It looks familiar, which is a neat trick because it’s not just a radio; it’s basically an Android tablet with gimbals glued to the side. You get a real touchscreen, the Play Store, and sideloading, because apparently, someone wanted to check their emails mid-flight. For the average hobbyist flying tiny quads, this is probably just expensive, heavy silicon waiting to distract you from not crashing. However, if you're the type to use waypoint navigation, mapping apps, or need specialized ground control software, this integrated command console might actually make sense. The rest of us can probably just keep using our simple, non-Android transmitters like cavemen.

There’s also HDMI I/O on top, which sounds futuristic until you try it. Initial testing with HDZero showed mixed results, with the screen not updating properly once the source switched to analog or HDZero video. So, don’t buy this thinking it’s a painless, clean path to stick-cam recording just yet. Like many things, it technically "can do" it, but "worth doing" is another question entirely. If you have to ask why you need Android and HDMI on your radio, the answer is usually: you don’t. This radio belongs to a different corner of the sky—one with spreadsheets and operational planning. You can read the full, puzzled breakdown on our original blog post.