“rugged tablet” refers to a type of tablet computer that is specifically designed to withstand harsh or demanding environments. Unlike standard consumer tablets, rugged tablets are built with durable materials and feature reinforced construction to endure extreme temperatures, moisture, dust, vibration, and impact. They are commonly used in industries such as manufacturing, construction, logistics, field service, healthcare, and military, where regular tablets may not be able to withstand the rigors of the environment. Rugged tablets often have additional features like waterproofing, shock resistance, sunlight readability, and extended battery life to ensure reliable performance in challenging conditions.
A rugged tablet may be semi-rugged or fully rugged. The semi-rugged might have a protective case, rain-resistant body. Fully rugged tablets are engineered from the inside-out to work in extreme temperatures and other harsh conditions. They are designed to resist drops, shocks and vibrations while maintaining strength to be dust- and waterproof. A tablet has internally a solid state drive and no moving parts. Unlike many laptops, most tablets do not require a fan, improving their dust and water resistance. Many rugged ones have options such as a barcode scanner because they serve in the logistics and transport sector. Levels of ruggedization are measured by various certifications such as IP, MIL-STD-810 or ATEX.