Portable GPS, ADS-B & Weather Receiver Comparison Chart
Prices and specs from the PilotMall catalog. Reviewed by pilots on staff.
Quick answer: what to buy
For a single do-everything portable, the Garmin GDL 52 ($1,360) is the best overall: it's the only unit here that combines dual-band ADS-B In (978 UAT + 1090 ES) weather and traffic with subscription SiriusXM weather/audio and backup AHRS attitude. Best value is the Appareo Stratus 4 ($849), which delivers dual-band ADS-B plus full AHRS, a color status touchscreen, and a user-replaceable 8-hour battery under a 2-year warranty. If you only need a GPS position source to feed a tablet, the Garmin GLO 2 ($140) is the lightest (2.12 oz) and longest-running (up to 13 hr) option; step up to the Dual XGPS160 SkyPro ($169.99) when you want to share one GPS across up to 5 devices.
- Best overallGDL 52
- Best valueStratus 4
- Best ADS-B without SiriusXMGDL 50
- Longest battery / lightestGLO 2
- Best multi-device GPS sourceXGPS160 SkyPro
| Model | Type | ADS-B In | SiriusXM | Backup attitude | GPS/WAAS | Battery | Connects via | Apps | Warranty | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Garmin GDL 52 |
All-in-one: ADS-B In + SiriusXM + GPS + AHRS | Dual-band: 978 UAT and 1090 ES | Yes (SiriusXM Aviation weather + audio, subscription required) | Yes (backup attitude; not for IMC) | Yes (built-in WAAS GPS) | Up to 5 hr | Bluetooth (Connext) | ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, Garmin aera portables (660/760/795/796) | 1 year | $1,360 | The do-everything portable: the only unit here that pairs dual-band ADS-B weather/traffic with SiriusXM weather+audio and backup attitude, for pilots who want a single box for coast-to-coast weather. |
 Garmin GDL 50 |
ADS-B In + GPS (no SiriusXM, no AHRS) | Dual-band: 978 UAT and 1090 ES | No | No | Yes (built-in WAAS GPS) | Up to 8 hr | Bluetooth (Connext); also wired 18-pin/microUSB | Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight, FltPlan Go, Garmin aera portables/G3X Touch | 1 year | $850 | Dual-band ADS-B In weather and traffic with WAAS GPS and an 8-hr battery, for Garmin Pilot / ForeFlight users who do not need SiriusXM or backup attitude. |
 Appareo Stratus 4 |
ADS-B In + GPS + AHRS (with color status touchscreen) | Dual-band: 978 MHz and 1090 MHz | No | Yes (full AHRS; supplemental only, not IFR-certified) | Yes (WAAS GPS) | Up to 8 hr (user-replaceable battery) | Wi-Fi (GDL-90 protocol) | ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, Stratus Insight, FlyQ, FltPlan Go, WingX, iFly GPS (any GDL-90 app) | 2 years | $849 | Best standalone situational awareness: dual-band ADS-B with full AHRS, an onboard color status touchscreen, Apple Find My, and a swappable 8-hr battery, for ForeFlight-centric pilots. |
 Garmin GLO 2 |
GPS source only (GPS + GLONASS; no ADS-B, no SiriusXM, no AHRS) | Not applicable (not an ADS-B receiver) | No | No | Yes (GPS + GLONASS, WAAS-capable; 10 Hz update) | Up to 13 hr (1150 mAh) | Bluetooth | Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight, and other EFB apps accepting an external Bluetooth GPS | 1 year | $140 | Compact, inexpensive Bluetooth GPS+GLONASS position source (no ADS-B) with the longest battery here at 13 hr, to feed an EFB when the tablet lacks its own GPS. |
 Dual Electronics Corporation XGPS160 SkyPro |
GPS source only (GPS + GLONASS; no ADS-B, no SiriusXM, no AHRS) | Not applicable (not an ADS-B receiver) | No | No | Yes (GPS + GLONASS, SBAS/WAAS; +/-2.5 m, 10 Hz) | Up to 10 hr (1400 mAh) | Bluetooth (up to 5 devices simultaneously) | Most EFB/GPS apps that accept external Bluetooth GPS (ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, etc.); NMEA + Apple protocols | 1 year | $169.99 | Budget multi-device GPS+GLONASS receiver that pairs to 5 devices at once; position-only (no ADS-B/weather), for crews sharing one GPS across several tablets. |
Current pricing is shown on each product page via the model links and is subject to change.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an ADS-B receiver and a GPS receiver in this chart?
An ADS-B In receiver (GDL 52, GDL 50, Stratus 4) pulls subscription-free weather and traffic broadcast over 978 UAT and 1090 ES and also provides a GPS position. A GPS-only receiver (GLO 2, XGPS160 SkyPro) is just a position source with no weather or traffic; it feeds latitude/longitude to an EFB app when the tablet lacks its own GPS.
Which receiver is the only one with SiriusXM weather?
The Garmin GDL 52 is the only unit here with SiriusXM aviation weather and audio (subscription required). It combines that with dual-band ADS-B In and backup AHRS attitude, making it the all-in-one choice for coast-to-coast weather that doesn't depend on ground-station ADS-B coverage.
Does the Garmin GDL 50 have backup attitude (AHRS)?
No. PilotMall's spec confirms the GDL 50 provides dual-band ADS-B In and WAAS GPS but no SiriusXM and no AHRS; backup attitude is reserved for the GDL 52.
Which unit has the longest battery life?
The Garmin GLO 2 runs up to 13 hours, the longest here, followed by the Dual XGPS160 SkyPro at 10 hours. Among the ADS-B receivers, the GDL 50 and Stratus 4 both reach up to 8 hours, while the SiriusXM-equipped GDL 52 lasts up to 5 hours.
Can I use the AHRS attitude display for instrument flight?
No. The backup attitude output on the GDL 52 and Stratus 4 is supplemental situational awareness only and is not certified for flight in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). Treat it as a backup aid, not a primary or IFR reference.
Which receiver works with ForeFlight?
All three ADS-B receivers here work with ForeFlight: the GDL 52 and GDL 50 connect over Bluetooth (Garmin Connext), and the Stratus 4 connects over Wi-Fi using the GDL-90 protocol, which also makes it compatible with Garmin Pilot, FlyQ, FltPlan Go, WingX, and iFly GPS. The GLO 2 and XGPS160 also feed ForeFlight as external Bluetooth GPS sources.
Portable GPS, ADS-B & Weather Receiver Comparison Chart
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