Also: Want to gift someone a tablet? Here are 12 great options, starting at $89 Many ruggedized tablets are tested against MIL-STD-810 standards (U.S. military standards) for resisting moisture, dirt and debris, extreme temperatures, and drops and shocks. This means that you can rest assured that the delicate components inside your new tablet will be protected against damage, corrosion, and electrical shorts from water infiltration. We’ve rounded up the best rugged tablets that can be used anywhere from an outdoor work site to your kid’s bedroom (because we know tablets need to be durable when it comes to kids). Or, in case you just need a tablet to withstand frequent travel or drops. All these tablets below are made out of durable and shock-proof material with military standards in mind. More:
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The Acer Enduro T1 is an almost perfect option if you’re looking for a rugged tablet. The 8-inch screen size makes it small enough to slip into a backpack or work bag while the battery gives you up to 9 hours of use on a full charge. And if you forgot to charge your tablet overnight, you can take advantage of the quick charge feature which gives you about 50% battery in 42 minutes. The screen is treated with an anti-reflection coating to reduce glare and improve viewing angles, and it is also made from Corning Gorilla Glass to resist cracking, warping, and chipping. The Acer Enduro T1 is tested against MIL-STD-810G standards and is resistant to drops from up to 4 feet high as well as moisture, dirt, shocks, and extreme temperatures. Along with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, you can set up NFC connectivity so that the tablet can only be accessed by scanning employee or student IDs to prevent misuse or theft of data. It also features two customizable keys that you can set up to access your most important programs more quickly. Its screen is made of strengthened aluminosilicate glass making it harder to scratch or crack. Plus, this tablet comes with a two-year worry-free guarantee so if it breaks, you can return it and get a replacement tablet free of charge. Integrated parental controls let you set screen time limits, block certain apps from being downloaded, and monitor your child’s profile to make sure they’re not misusing the tablet when they should be doing homework or be asleep. For anyone who likes to use a stylus with their tablet, but doesn’t want to worry about compatibility issues when buying one separately, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2 is a great rugged tablet that comes packaged with an S Pen stylus. It works with the 8-inch screen to let you handwrite notes, navigate apps, and browse the web. The tablet has been tested against MIL-STD-810G standards for resisting moisture, dirt, temperature changes, and drops so it’s ready to handle anything your work or school day has in store. The S Pen is also IP68 certified to resist water so sweaty hands, rain, or spills won’t ruin your stylus. Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Tab Active2 review: Rugged Android tablet built for business in the field An integrated fingerprint scanner protects your work and personal data with biometric log-ins rather than passwords that can be guessed or cracked. The Galaxy Tab Active 2 is also equipped with military-grade security software that you can customize to add even more protection to your personal data when connected to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks at school, work, or off-site meetings with clients. It comes with 16GB of storage that can be expanded up to 256GB with a microSD card, and the battery gives you up to 11 hours of use on a full charge so you can work and learn all day before you need to plug in. Between commutes, after school activities, and late night work emails, you need a tablet that is not only tough but has a battery that can last all day. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro gives you up to 15 hours of use on a full charge, which means you won’t have to worry about remembering your charging cable or where the nearest wall outlet is when you head out the door in the morning for work or school. The 10.1-inch screen provides you with plenty of visibility for virtual classes and meetings, educational videos, and productivity apps while Wi-Fi and LTE connectivity options let you access email, cloud storage, and the internet even if a hotspot isn’t available. Read the review: Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro review: Rugged, affordable tablet built for work in the field With 64GB of internal storage, you’ll have plenty of space for images, documents, and apps you need for work or school, while the military-grade security software prevents unauthorized access to your files and personal data. The Galaxy Tab Active Pro is MIL-STD-810G compliant and IP68 certified to resist moisture, dirt, extreme temperatures, drops, and shocks. Dell built this tablet to be rugged, and it’s evident in not only its name, but its 11.6-inch outdoor readable, glove-capable touchscreen with gorilla glass and rugged design. It’s rated IP65 for maximum protection against dust, dirt, and water ingress. In addition, it is drop-tested to withstand a four-foot drop, and temperature tested from 145 degrees to -20 degrees Fahrenheit. But its bright screen is what really makes this rugged tablet stand out on our list. Its 1920 x 1080 resolution screen is viewable in direct sunlight at 1000 nits of brightness, making it the perfect tablet for using out in the field or on factory floors. Also: Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet, hands on: Fully equipped for harsh environments Dell also include FirstNet Ready in the Latitude 7220, meaning that first responders and public safety organizations can get priority access to fast, reliable, and high-capacity LTE networks. Other great tablet features include a 5 MP RGB + IR FHD webcam and an 8 MP rear camera, Wi-Fi 6, and Windows 10 or Windows 11 operating systems. The standards compare device performance in situations where it may be violently dropped, thrown, or even exploded. They also test how devices hold up in heavy rain, high and low temperatures, coming into contact with chemicals, and resist dust and fungus infiltration. Most commercially available “military grade” devices are tested for drops, shocks, and water resistance. Cases can only do so much to protect internal components like processors and storage drives from damage that can occur from bumps, shocks, and moisture. But a tablet that has been designed by the manufacturer to handle extreme conditions is much better equipped to handle just about anything you can throw at it. From waterproofed and reinforced cases to hot-swappable batteries, a rugged tablet can be a great investment and valuable asset for mobile professionals who need to work in all kinds of weather.
