The Ultimate ATAK EUD Guide - What To Know Before You Buy

The Ultimate ATAK EUD Guide - What To Know Before You Buy

An End User Device (EUD) for ATAK is more than “just a phone.” It’s the node through which your mapping, tracking, voice, and comms intersect. Choosing the right EUD means fewer headaches, more uptime, and less duct tape. A good EUD minimizes the friction of integrating radios, plugins, power, mounts, and mission-specific tools.

Here are the main axes to evaluate:

Factor Why it matters Trade-offs / constraints
Ecosystem / mounting & accessory support Integration with chest mounts, power rails, module expansion, rugged cases, etc. determines how clean and durable your loadout is Generic phones may “work,” but mounting and cable routing often become messy or fragile
Battery capacity & life In field ops, battery life is often your limiting factor Bigger batteries add weight/thickness; trade battery vs. size/weight
Operating system, rooting, account dependencies Pre-rooted, degoogled, or stripped-down OS allow more command & control and remove dependencies on Google/Samsung accounts Custom OS can complicate updates or compatibility; support matters
Global / unlocked modem / SIM / satellite compatibility You want flexibility to use local SIMs or satellite uplinks in austere environments Some phones or vendor-firmware may restrict bands or block certain networks
Comms integration (radios, mesh, relays) Having built-in or plug-in support for VHF/UHF, mesh, SDR, relays reduces external wiring and makes the system more seamless Those features add cost, complexity, or may increase size/thermal constraints

If you buy a generic smartphone or a model not well supported by Bunker Supply’s MAAK system or Juggernaut, you’ll typically end up using “universal” or “generic” chest mount/case setups. These often work, but may be harder to manage, less durable, or less ergonomic—especially in high-stress environments such as military, law enforcement, search and rescue, public safety, or sustained deployments.

In contrast, devices built around a purpose-driven EUD ecosystem (MAAK, Juggernaut, etc.) tend to deliver a more integrated, reliable experience.

Accessory / Mount Ecosystems

Below is an overview of EUD accessory ecosystems. Which one you choose can dramatically shape the rest of your loadout.

Ecosystem Strengths / unique features Considerations / constraints
MAAK (by Bunker Supply) Next-gen, modular architecture. ]This is the future of EUD accessories from wireless charging batteries, to hubs and even mesh radios along with chest mounts and phone cases. Being relatively new, not every older phone has a MAAK-case ready. Some legacy devices may not have native MAAK support, so you may need adaptors. S20FE/S23/S24/S25/S25U/Xcover 7 and GoTAK EUDs
Juggernaut A competitor in rugged tactical mounting systems; good for users already invested in Juggernaut gear Compatibility may require custom adaptation; fewer “plug & play” options for different phones
Generic / Universal mounts Cheapest, widely available, typically foreign or simple design formats Usually bulkier, less elegant, more prone to failure under stress; cable strain and mechanical robustness are common weak points

If you’re starting fresh, choosing a device with native support for a modern mounting ecosystem (MAAK or Juggernaut) often pays dividends in robustness, modularity, and field usability.

Budget (Repurposed / Consumer) Devices — Risks & Opportunities

Some users prefer to repurpose consumer smartphones as ATAK EUDs to save cost. But that path carries trade-offs. Below is a balanced view.

Pros of used / consumer phones

  • Lower upfront cost (you can get more devices for less)

  • Broad familiarity, spare parts availability

  • The Samsung ecosystem is well tested in many ATAK plugins

Cons / risks

  • Aging batteries degrade quickly, reducing field reliability

  • Older or locked firmware may restrict compatibility with newer networks, bands, or satellite comms

  • OS version or vendor skin limitations may break or conflict with certain ATAK plugins

  • Mounting, power integration, ruggedization tend to become “jury-rigged”

  • You’ll typically need a Google account to access Play Store or sideload tools (unless degoogled)

As a practical guideline, if you’re going to use a consumer phone as an EUD, Samsung S20 is about the oldest model worth considering, due to community support and plugin compatibility. Beyond that, the diminishing returns of battery, support, and accessory compatibility often outweigh cost savings.

Example “Budget Phone List” (used / consumer)

  • Samsung XCover 6 (used)

  • Samsung S20 (used)

  • Samsung S23 (used or new)

Avoid (for most EUD uses): ultra editions (e.g. S-series “Ultra”) unless you absolutely need camera specs, and avoid S22 or S24 as the accessories/ecosystem support doesn’t justify the marginal leap. The S20 and S23 have better existing support in the tactical/military accessory pipelines.

Side note: All consumer options will require you to install ATAK, necessary plugins, mapping layers, etc. That includes managing OTA updates, plugin dependencies, side-loading, and maintaining a Google/Samsung account—or adopting a degoogled/Graphene-based alternative.

Purpose-Built GoTAK EUD Family

Rather than retrofitting consumer phones, GoTAK offers purpose-built EUDs designed for ATAK from the ground up. The advantage: plug-and-play, rugged hardware, built-in features and full integration with the GoTAK ecosystem. 

Here are GoTAK’s current offerings and how they compare:

Model Target use / “best for” Highlights / specs Considerations
GoTAK EUD V2 Entry-level, cost-conscious, rugged daily use 6.52″ display, 6600 mAh battery, dual SIM 4G, IR night vision camera, MIL-STD & waterproof IP68/IP69K, root-enabled, no Google account needed out of the box Lacks FLIR/thermal and built-in VHF/UHF radio
GoTAK FALCON Users needing high endurance & thermal imaging Premium design, 10,000 mAh battery, built in FLIR thermal camera, rugged by default, integration with MAAK mounts, etc. Higher cost; may require more bulk
GoTAK RAVEN Users needing built-in VHF/UHF radio + maximum battery life Built-in 5W VHF/UHF radio with ATAK plugin for off-grid comms, ~15,600 mAh battery, full integration with MAAK ecosystem  Most expensive; additional radio functionality maybe overkill for some
GoTAK EUD V3 High-security / degoogled requirements Based on GrapheneOS, no Google or Samsung account needed, supports passcode duress wipe, multiple profiles, sandboxing, full MAAK integration, satellite support, secure mode  Cost is higher; GrapheneOS learning curve and driver compatibility must be evaluated
GoTAK EUD Tab / Pro Tab Use cases needing a larger screen (command tablet, vehicle mount) 10.36″ rugged tablet, 33,280 mAh battery, dual-SIM, HDMI output, MIL spec, rooted, 4G capable Bulkier; portability vs utility trade-off

All GoTAK EUDs are shipped preloaded with ATAK, necessary plugins, voice/comm tools, and are fully root-enabled and unlocked. They do not require a Google or Samsung account to function for core features.

They also ship with or support accessories (cases, chest mounts) that integrate seamlessly with MAAK.

Why choose a GoTAK EUD?

  • Plug-and-play readiness — minimal setup is required to get full ATAK functionality

  • Carrier unlocked global use — use local SIMs or operate anywhere 

  • Advanced features — rooting, no account dependency, extension support, etc.

  • Accessory / mounting synergy — especially with MAAK system

  • Support & updates — tailored for tactical / field use, with plugin support and OTA strategy

Decision Tree / Purchase Path

To help buyers decide quickly:

  1. Do you require encrypted radio (VHF/UHF) integration built into the EUD?

    • Yes → GoTAK RAVEN

    • No → Next question

  2. Are you budget sensitive or focused on lowest cost?

    • Yes → EUD V2

    • No → Next question

  3. Do you want premium features (thermal, large battery, secure OS)?

    • Yes → FALCON or EUD V3, depending on whether you prioritize thermal or security

    • No → EUD V2 remains a solid choice

In short:

  • Need radio + ultimate battery → RAVEN

  • Want highest security / degoogled → EUD V3

  • Need thermal imaging & rugged battery → FALCON

  • Just need dependable ATAK EUD at lowest cost → EUD V2

Setup & Field Use Notes

Mounting & Power

  • EUD V3 ships with a MAAK phone case and MAAK chest mount included.

  • MAAKLOCK in the V3 case allows mounting multiple accessories and power rails simultaneously.

  • For older GoTAK devices, you may need to purchase compatible mounts or adapters (cases, chest rigs) from the EUD Accessories catalog. 

Power management & battery

  • GoTAK EUD V2: 6600 mAh battery (multiple days under moderate use) 

  • In any deployment, carry external power banks or a harness/bus system to extend life

  • Monitor screen brightness, sensor polling, radio power drains during operations

Security & privacy

  • On V3 / GrapheneOS: you can set a duress PIN which effectively wipes keystore keys and data, shuts down the device, etc

  • Granular permissions control: limit network, sensor, hardware access per app — useful to lock down attacker vectors. 

  • In high-risk cases, physically isolate or disable radio/antenna ports when needed

OTA updates, maintenance & support

  • Because GoTAK EUDs are purpose-built, they typically include OTA update pipelines and firmware maintenance tailored for ATAK and plugin compatibility

  • But always test upgrades in a controlled environment before field deployment

  • For team deployments, GoTAK offers server/cloud integration tiers and field kit bundling.

When a Generic or Legacy Approach Still Makes Sense

There are scenarios where a budget or repurposed setup is acceptable or even optimal:

  • You’re running a volunteer or community-based SAR/EMS team with very tight budgets

  • You need fallback or “spare” nodes that don’t need perfect ruggedness

  • You already own a compatible phone with good battery and want to “test before you commit”

  • As a backup device in non-critical roles

In those cases, you should still plan your loadout carefully: get a reliable chest mount, invest in high-capacity battery or external power, test plugin compatibility, and be ready for hardware failure or software quirks.

Recommendations Summary

  • If you want the easiest, most reliable route, opt for a GoTAK EUD built for ATAK and supported by MAAK (V2, FALCON, RAVEN, or V3)

  • Use the decision tree above to match features to your mission needs (security, radio, cost)

  • Avoid overextending consumer phones for mission-critical use unless you accept the associated trade-offs

  • Always pair your EUD with robust mounting, power, and backup strategies

  • Don’t overlook the long-term value of ecosystem support: plugin compatibility, mount availability, vendor updates, and community support