PDA
This PDA has rebooted with one directive, to keep you alive on an alien world. File:PDABootup.ogg
― PDA, Dialogue
The PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), also sometimes called the Survival PDA, is a multipurpose device that the player keeps with them at all times. The PDA's AI keeps the player informed of their health status and will alert the player when the player has 30 or 10 O2 points remaining, if the player is getting close to dehydration or starvation, or if the player is reaching dangerous temperatures (only in Below Zero). It also gives useful information to the player when they enter new areas or find new materials.
Apparently people think: (These PDAs were originally designed and produced by Xenoworx before the Alterra Corporation purchased the company.) Well, that is wrong, because in Subnautica: Below Zero, in one of Sam's messages, she refers to Xenoworx getting bought, as a recent event. AND you find this log AS AN ALTERRAN PDA. More supporting evidence is that, In Subnautica, Ryley Robinson uses an Alterra-issued PDA, and in Below Zero, there are Databank Entries referencing Xenoworx getting bought, which would be weird if it happened over 3 years ago. (See, Dialogue: Subnautica, (Trivia). for a timeframe) It is likely that every company in the Subnautica universe has there own PDA brand.
In Subnautica, Ryley Robinson uses an Alterra-issued PDA, while in Subnautica: Below Zero, Robin Ayou uses a Xenoworx PDA.
Controls
| Action | Mouse & Keyboard | Xbox One | PlayStation 4 | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open PDA | 
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| Take In-game Picture | 
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The various tabs of the PDA allow the player to:
- Access their inventory
- View their Blueprints
- Toggle Signals and assign new colors to them
- View the photos they have taken.
- View their log messages
- View their Databank
- in Subnautica, view all received Time Capsules
Inventory paper doll
The PDA's inventory tab provides a paper doll interface that allows the player to equip items. The available equipment slots are on the head, torso, feet, and hands, as well as an air tank and two computer chips. Equipment must be placed in a corresponding slot in order for it to benefit the player.
For a complete list of equipment that can be equipped through this interface, see Equipment.
Blueprints
The blueprints tab keeps track of the player's current blueprints and the respective recipes.
Selecting a recipe will pin it to the top-right of the screen, allowing the player to view the recipe at all times even while the PDA is closed. It is possible that there will be a search function for blueprints in the future.[1]
For a complete list of blueprints, see Blueprints.
Log messages
Abandoned PDAs can be found while exploring Subnautica and Below Zero. Collecting abandoned PDAs will download their log messages to the player's PDA. In Below Zero, the player will sometimes also receive calls from other characters through the PDA.
For a complete list of log messages and calls, see Dialogue (Subnautica) and Dialogue (Below Zero).
Databank
Every databank record the player acquires is saved to the PDA's Databank tab. The AI will sometimes inform the player that a new databank entry is available and occasionally summarize the entry.
For a complete list of databank entries, see Databank (Subnautica) and Databank (Below Zero).
Below are the Subnautica databank entries related to the PDA itself: <tabber> |-|Start Here=
| Start Here |
| <poem>If you are reading this, then you have survived an emergency evacuation of a capital-class ship equipped with Alterra technology. Congratulations: the hard part is over.
Your PDA has automatically rebooted in Emergency Mode. This operating system has one directive: to keep you alive on a hostile alien world. If that is not possible it will alert salvage teams to the location of your remains. It features: NB Your personal and work files have been encrypted and may be retrieved at a later date by a licensed engineer.</poem> |
| Source: Unlocked by default |
|-|Survival Checklist=
| Survival Checklist |
| <poem>1. Administer first aid if required 2. Take inventory of available materials and supplies, and decide on rations NB This information is meant as a general guide. In the first instance you should always follow the advice of your PDA, which has taken your particular circumstances into account.</poem> |
| Source: Unlocked by default |
|-|WARNING: Blueprint Database Corrupted=
| WARNING: Blueprint Database Corrupted |
| <poem>Damage to your PDA's hard drive has corrupted approximately 80% of stored survival blueprints. Blueprints may be reacquired by scanning a salvaged technology using the handheld scanner, or by downloading plans from a ship-board databox. In the circumstances these assets will most likely be found amongst wreckage from the Aurora.</poem> |
| Source: Unlocked by default |
</tabber>
Gallery
<tabber> |-|SN Screenshots=
The Player booting up the PDA
The Inventory tab
The Blueprints tab
The Beacon Manager tab
The Photo Manager tab
The Log tab
The Data Bank tab
The player's stats on the HUD switch to numerical when the PDA is open
|-|BZ Screenshots=
The Inventory tab
The Blueprints tab
The Beacon Manager tab
The Photo Manager tab
The Log tab
The Encyclopedia tab
The player's stats on the HUD switch to numerical when the PDA is open
.jpg)
.gif)
|-|Concept Art=
- Player view pda first use 03
The first use animation while in-development
PDA Concept Art
Early PDA UI Concept Art
A Concept Art mockup of the PDA UI
Ditto
Ditto
Concept Art depicting the Blueprints tab
Concept Art depicting the Beacons tab
Concept Art depicting the Encyclopedia tab
Xenoworx model from Sketchfab
</tabber>
Trivia
- In an old developer doc, the minimap was a planned feature. It would track the player and terrain. This was removed long before the playable version of Subnautica was released.