Technology is Incredible...

Are there handhelds certified for aviation use?

That's a question that has pilots bumping heads against one another.
Google similar threads here in the past (hint: search for "tuna
sandwich" and "ham sandwich").

The answer is:

There are =no= handhelds that are certified for =reliance= on under IFR.

=All= handhelds are permitted to be used in aviation.

When flying a certificated airplane (as opposed to an experimental) in
tue US under IFR, one is required to have instrumentation "appropriate
to the navigation system being used". Although there are many wrinkles,
in terms of GPS this generally means that you need to have an "aviation
certified"(*) unit, whose installation is also "aviation certified". No
handhelds fit this category.

There are several levels of such certification, including "approach
certified" and "enroute certified". It is not illegal to have, and to
use, other equipment (including the proverbial tuna sandwich used for
navigation), but if you are =relying= on a unit for primary guidance in
a certificated airplane under IFR, it must be a certified unit.

This causes unending discussion, because...

.... it is perfectly legal to =have=, and to =use=, non-certified
equipment, even in a certificated airplane, even under IFR. This
includes handhelds. It also includes the tuna sandwich (it means just
what it sounds like) and tea leaves.

In an emergency of course, you can use anything you have, and disobey
any rule you need to, in order to safely get on the ground. There may
be paperwork later, but it beats bandages and incense.

Jose

(*) unofficial term
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.