Device Requirements for Technicians

The minimum iPad, iPhone, and Android versions the OpsVara app runs on, and the hardware we recommend buying for field crews.

Updated September 23, 2026

OpsVara's field app runs on iPad, iPhone, and Android. It is a native app from the App Store or Google Play. On iPad it runs full screen in portrait or landscape; it is not a stretched iPhone app.

Minimum requirements

DeviceMinimum version
iPadiPadOS 16.4 or later
iPhoneiOS 16.4 or later
Android phone or tabletAndroid 7.0 or later

The device also needs a rear camera, location services, and a microphone. Every current iPad, iPhone, and mainstream Android device has all three.

Minimum is not the same as recommended

A device at the minimum version will install the app, but older devices stop getting operating-system updates. For iPad, treat iPadOS 17 or later as the practical floor when you buy.

Recommended hardware for field crews

If you are buying devices for technicians, this is what we recommend:

  1. Wi-Fi + Cellular, not Wi-Fi only. This matters most. Wi-Fi-only iPads have no GPS chip, so GPS check-in at a site is much less accurate. They also cannot sync or upload photos between sites unless someone runs a hotspot. Cellular models have built-in GPS and stay connected all day.
  2. 128 GB of storage or more. Job photos and short job-site videos fill a device fast.
  3. A current model. A base iPad or an iPad mini is plenty. Newer devices get operating-system updates for more years, so you replace them less often.
  4. A rugged case with a hand or shoulder strap, plus a screen protector. A stylus is optional.

What the app uses on the device

The first time a technician uses each of these, the device asks for permission. Tap Allow, or the feature will not work.

Device featureWhat OpsVara uses it for
CameraJob-site photos, short job-site videos, and scanning barcodes on products and equipment
LocationGPS check-in at the site
MicrophoneDictating notes hands-free and recording sound with job-site videos
Face ID / Touch ID / fingerprintFaster sign-in (optional)

Turned a permission off by accident?

Open the device's Settings app, find OpsVara, and turn the permission back on. On iPhone and iPad, the app cannot ask again once a permission has been denied.

Once a device is set up, invite the technician from Invite Your Team, then have them start with Complete a Visit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the oldest iPad that runs OpsVara?

Any iPad that runs iPadOS 16.4 or later. We recommend iPadOS 17 or later, because iPads that stop at iPadOS 16 no longer get Apple updates.

Do I need a cellular iPad, or is Wi-Fi only enough?

Buy the Wi-Fi + Cellular model for field crews. Wi-Fi-only iPads have no GPS chip, so GPS check-in at a site is much less accurate, and they cannot sync or upload photos between sites without a hotspot.

Does OpsVara run on Android tablets and phones?

Yes. The Android app needs Android 7.0 or later. For new devices, buy something that runs a current Android version and still gets security updates.

How much storage should a technician's device have?

At least 128 GB. Technicians take job photos and short job-site videos, and those add up quickly.

Related guides