For those who prefer a rugged phone to a regular smartphone, a military tablet with a bigger screen is the perfect solution. Military-rated tablets need to have MIL-STD-810 and IP (ingress protection) certifications to be considered rugged. While your decision should depend on personal preferences and budget, there are many other factors to consider. Take a look at our selection of the top 10 military tablets for 2022.
Important Note: Military Tablets require a customized and tailored approach, with a solution plan specifically designed for its task. Use the contact form below to talk to our expert Military Tech Consultants. We will respond within 1 business hour.
Top 10 Military Tablets
1. Honeywell RT10A
The Honeywell RT10A is a powerful tablet and barcode scanner with near, mid, and far scan range options. It even features 1D and 2D decode scanning capabilities. With its fully-rugged design, this military tablet is built to last. In fact, it comes with MIL-STD 810G and IP65 ratings, which means it’s waterproof, dustproof and can withstand drops onto concrete from 1.2 meters or 4 feet.
It comes with a standard 5,900mAh battery, but since it features a hot-swap battery capacity, it can be replaced with a 5,900mAh battery. The Honeywell ET10A also comes with a number of accessories, such as hand or shoulder straps, which you can use to keep your tablet within reach at all times.
This tablet also comes with various ports, such as one USB 3.0 (Type A) port, one USB 3.0 (Type C) port, one 3.5mm audio combo connector, and more. However, you won’t get Google Mobile Services with this tablet.
Pros:
- Built-in barcode scanner
- MIL-STD 810G and IP65 ratings
- Excellent battery life
- A variety of ports
Cons:
- No GMS
2. Getac T800
The Getac T800 has all the makings of a great rugged tablet. Thanks to its ergonomic design and compact size, you can hold it comfortably in one hand. With the Snapback add-ons, you can attach your tablet to a variety of accessories, like an extended battery, a SmartCard and an RFID, a magnetic stripe reader, and more.
This tablet has an 8.1-inch sunlight-readable display, which has 34% more screen area than what a typical 7-inch tablet would offer. With MIL-STD-810H and IP65 ratings, this tablet is resistant to drops, water, and dust. However, since it’s so rugged, it’s heavier than normal tablets.
Pros:
- Ergonomic design
- Class-leading battery life
- High-resolution display
- Snapback add-ons
Cons:
- Heavy
3. Panasonic Toughbook CF-33
If you’ve been looking for a 2-in-1 tablet and laptop, then take a look at the Panasonic Toughbook CF-33. Powered by Windows 10 Pro and the Intel Core i5 2.6 GHz processer, this military tablet offers high-speed performance. Not to mention that it’s backed by MIL-STD-461F, MIL-STD-810G, and IP65 certifications, so it can survive almost anything.
Even though this Military Tablet commands a high price, it provides you with all the necessary features of a rugged tablet and an intuitive device. The physical buttons on the tablet can be programmed for a variety of functions. However, this tablet’s battery life only lasts for eight hours.
Pros:
- 2-in-1 tablet and laptop
- Windows 10 Pro operating system
- 12-inch screen
- Programmable physical buttons
Cons:
- Pricey
- Short battery life
4. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro
Samsung has released some powerful rugged tablets, and the Galaxy Tab Active Pro is no different. It offers military-grade certifications, including MIL-STD-810G and IP68 ratings. In other words, this tablet can withstand drops, shock, vibrations, water, dust, and extreme temperatures. Other impressive features include a 10.1-inch display, an AR-enabled 13MP camera, and a large 7,600mAh battery that can last for 15 hours.
It even comes with a water-resistant S Pen Stylus. However, this tablet has 64GB of internal storage and only 3GB of RAM, which might not be enough for some users.
Pros:
- 15-hour battery life
- Superior ruggedness
- Water-resistant touch screen
- AR-enabled 13MP camera
Cons:
- Only 3GB of RAM
- Lower display resolution
5. Vanquisher Ultra Rugged Tablet
The Vanquisher Ultra Rugged Tablet comes with everything a powerful military tablet needs to have – rugged features, a compact size, and an excellent battery life. With IP67 and MIL-STD-810G ratings, and a Gorilla Glass panel, this tablet is ideal for extreme conditions and demanding industrial environments. It has an extra-large 10,000mAh battery. With up to 15 hours of talk time, you will be able to use this tablet on the field the whole day without having to charge it.
One downside of the Vanquisher Ultra Rugged Tablet is that it has low-quality speakers. However, this may not be a determining factor for those who plan to use it for their job.
Pros:
- Compact and ultra-thin
- Built-in GPS
- Superior battery durability
- IP67 and MIL-STD-810G ratings
Cons:
- Low-quality speakers
6. Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet
The Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet can survive being dropped from 1.2 meters or 4 feet, and is fully functional from -20 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit or -28 to 62 degrees Celsius. It’s also resistant to water, shock, dust, and dirt. Thanks to ATEX and IECEx ratings, this Military Tablet can even be used in potentially explosive environments.
This tablet has 512GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. In addition, it comes with a variety of ports and slots, including a USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C port, a USB 3.1 Type-A port with power delivery, a Micro Serial RS-232 port, a Micro SIM/SD-card reader, and more. It runs on Windows 10 Pro, but it can be updated to Windows 11 Pro.
Pros:
- Ample internal storage
- ATEX and IECEx-certified
- Various ports and slots
- Available with Windows 11 Pro
Cons:
- Heavy
- Expensive
7. Panasonic Toughbook A3
The Panasonic Toughbook A3 can be used in all kinds of environments. Since it has a rain and glove-friendly touch display, it’s a great rugged tablet for those who like to spend a lot of time outside. Even though it runs on Android 9, it’s still highly functional. Made according to MIL-STD-810H and IP65 standards, this tablet is resistant to impact, shock, water, dust, and dirt.
With a 3200mAh battery, the Panasonic Toughbook A3 can last for nine hours with no charging. Moreover, this tablet offers 4GB of memory and 64GB of storage.
Pros:
- MIL-STD-810H and IP65 standards
- Integrated barcode reader
- Rain and glove-friendly touch display
- Dual hot-swap battery design
Cons:
- Short battery life
- Doesn’t use the newest Android OS
8. Getac F110
This tablet is another powerful rugged device by Getac. Even though it was designed to meet MIL-STD 810G, 1P65, and MIL-STD-461F standards, it’s still lightweight and comfortable to hold. Due to its 11th-gen Intel i5 Core processor, you can expect real-time performance and faster connectivity from this tablet.
What also makes this tablet better is its extra-large 2,160mAh battery, and that it supports a dual-battery setup. Even though the display has a resolution of only 1366 x 768 pixels, it comes with anti-glare technology. This tablet also lacks a MicroSD slot.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Extra-large battery and dual-battery setup options
- Meets MIL-STD 810G, 1P65, and MIL-STD-461F standards
- Real-time performance
Cons:
- Not enough ports
- Low display resolution
9. Lenovo 10e Rugged Tablet
Lenovo has a track record of releasing high-quality tablets, and the Lenovo 10e Rugged Tablet is no exception. While the Lenovo 10e Rugged Tablet has all the necessary rugged certifications, it can also be used by children. In fact, it was initially designed as a learning tool for kids, and it’s tough enough to withstand drops, spills, and any similar types of accidents.
Even though this tablet is low on storage and memory, it has some notable features. They include a highly-durable Dragontrail Pro glass display, ports for USB-C and headphones, and budget-friendly price.
Pros:
- Budget-friendly
- Durable Dragontrail Pro glass
- Includes USB-C and headphone ports
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Not very powerful
- Low storage and memory
10. MobileDemand Flex 10A
The MobileDemand Flex 10A is another great rugged tablet. Its back cover can even be mounted, allowing you to place the tablet in a standing position and carry it wherever you go. This tablet is waterproof, drop-resistant, and lightweight.
It lacks some features that may be important for some users. For example, its screen resolution is only 1280 x 800 pixels. It still offers military-grade performance, and you can count on it in all kinds of environments.
Pros:
- Ultra-lightweight
- Fixed mounting solutions
- Military-grade performance
- Extra protection for corners
Cons:
- Low-resolution screen
Requirements for the US Military Tablets
While regular tablets are useful in many ways, they’re quite fragile. That’s why rugged tablets are better suited for those who work in outdoor environments or extreme conditions. Therefore, the most important aspects of phones and other devices, especially military tablets, for the US military are durability and ruggedness.
This applies to the specific ratings devices must have in order to be classified as rugged. Here are the most important US military specifications:
- MIL-STD-810 – this rating indicates that the device is resistant to shock, vibration, heat, cold, humidity, etc.
- IP – ingress protection against solid foreign objects. IP is followed by two digits. The first can go up to 6, and it indicates the protection level against dust. The second digit marks protection against liquid, and it can be as high as 9.
If you’re looking for a rugged military phone or a rugged military tablet, these are the specifications you should be looking for.
Talk to a Technology Specialist
Searching for a rugged tablet is more complicated than it seems. There are many factors you need to consider, like performance, battery life, ruggedness, and physical features. Hence, it would be best to consult with a technology specialist.
Here at Energy Electronics, we have a lot of experience in rugged devices. If you have any questions, if you want a quote on any of the rugged devices we mentioned in this article, or if you’re interested in some of our rugged phones on our website, feel free to contact us.
We respond within one business hour.
