I'm a bit tired of traveling with my laptop and I would like to downsize a little bit, so I was thinking in using a tablet, but I don´t know how LR works with it. I don't need to edit with IA, just basic adjustments. My ideal is when on a dive trip, after the last dive and with a beer in my hands I download the pictures to the laptop well organized and with keywords to find everything, sometimes I order another beer and i start doing basic adjustments to a picture, not more. And when finally at home I move the files from my laptop to the NAS, everything trough LR in order to don't lose the files. I would like to do the same but with a Tablet. I don't know if this is possible and what kind of tablet should I buy, I don't want to spend a lot of money. Also the tablet must be Android.

Hi Atus,

In principle, such a workflow is possible with the mobile version of Lightroom. I've done it myself on several trips and vacations. I worked with a 2018 iPad Pro, but I think it should also work with Android tablets.

The basic requirement is a Lightroom subscription with sufficient storage space, or enough storage space on the tablet. I don't think it's possible any other way these days.

After taking the photos, the images are imported directly into Lightroom on the tablet and copied to the tablet. (I worked exclusively with RAW files.) Afterward, I usually did a rough sort of the images with Wi-Fi turned off, i.e., without internet access, and immediately deleted the unusable ones. Unfortunately, using keywords doesn't work yet, as far as I know. Therefore, I focused on star ratings. As soon as the tablet has an internet connection, the original RAW files are uploaded to the Adobe server, so you essentially have a backup. Almost all image development options are also available on the tablet.

When I get home, I launch Lightroom Classic, and all my RAW files, including star ratings and any other developments, are downloaded from the Adobe server and saved to a specific location. Once everything is downloaded, I move it all to the correct location within my file structure and can then delete the space it's using on the server.

This workflow works perfectly for me. I even created a tutorial for it. I should probably double-check everything, though, since there have been a few Lightroom updates.

Cheers, Tino

If you have an Android phone and a corresponding LR subscription, you can test the workflow before buying a tablet; it works exactly the same on a phone as on a tablet.

You could get a microsoft surface pro, they are close to a tablet in size, even with the keyboard cover, then you have a full featured system and can use regular applications to do your sorting and keywording.

I fully agree this idea... I'm using since years now Suface Pro.

I have the last model with Intel Processor... with 1 TB HD...Good screen light and It is a REAL PC under Windows 11.

Hi @atus great question!

I travel frequently and basically do not carry a laptop any longer. Lightroom mobile is incredibly powerful! There is a tiny learning curve as the interface is a bit different than the classic version, but basically all you typlically will need is included.

Equipment:

• iPad Pro - 11” 2022 w M1. (Currently M4 at the same price i paid)

• Enough memory cards to not require reuse during the trip (fairly cheap now)

• An SSD (I use a 1TB Samsung T7 or T9)

• USB-C dongle w/ card slot, plug for SSD cable, and power connection plug

Strategy:

• Each night upload all photos/videos to SSD using dongle w card inserted

• Do not format card (super important for redundancy)

• Upload some of my favorite images to Lightroom mobile

• Edit as desired

• Repeat daily

• For return trip, pack memory cards and SSD in different bags to preserve full redundancy (I.e. cards in my backpack and SSD with in my dive bag or other carry on)

• Once home, import remaining images from SSD

• Rename all to desired trip name w date, sequence numbers, etc.

• Duplicates of previously uploaded images will not upload again

• All edits made during the trip will sync so long as you have the feature enabled

• Any edits that require additional plugins can then be made on the home computer.

• Once redundant images are no longer needed, format the memory cards and reuse.

• Do the same with SSD as desired and/or fits in your normal workflow

I am a Mac person which is why I use an iPad. If you use Windows, the Surface would also be a perfect choice.

Either way, a laptop is no longer required to have a successful, connected trip. Traveling light is incredibly lberating!

Enjoy!

Chip

Edited 2 hours ago2 hr by ChipBPhoto

Thank you all for the answers, you've been really helpfully. I think I'm going to bay a Surface Pro. I'm ashamed but I didn't know that those kind of pc existed. The size is not that big comparing with a tablet and I don't need to learn Lightroom mobile. I am currently paying The LR photographic plan, which includes 20 GB cloud. I think is not enough for everything I have to do if I work with a tablet. Anyway my plan was to buy a keyboard and a pencil for the tablet, so the size is going to be pretty much the same.