The best rugged tablets you can buy: Expert tested

If you’re interested in buying a rugged tablet, you should consider the following:

• Pen or no pen?: In many cases, having the ability to use a stylus to easily mark up drawings or photos, take notes, and navigate the user interface with gloves on is an important element of using the rugged tablet in the field. If you decide that a stylus is essential, then that will help you narrow down your choice of rugged tablet.
• Size and weight: The environment you will be working in and the type of work you plan to do with the tablet may help you decide how large the tablet can be for remaining productive. While a large display tablet may be great for viewing large drawings, it may also be cumbersome if you are using it while crawling into small spaces. Check out the size and weight of the tablets to see which works best for you.
• Price: Rugged tablets are generally more expensive than a standard tablet with no protection from the elements. However, the price can vary quite a bit, so pick a range that works for you as you start to eliminate those tablets that are priced higher than you are willing to pay.
• Specifications: The processor, RAM, and storage capabilities will help define the performance experience of your selected tablet. If you plan to use a rugged tablet with just one or two apps running, you may not be as concerned about the amount of RAM available. Many of these tablets support microSD expansion cards, too, so the amount of internal storage is then not as important as the amount of available RAM.

The ZDNET team chose all of the tablets included in this list based on their performance when tested in the real world. When we test tablets, we typically follow the same routine for each one to see which performs best.

• Display: We measure the brightness level in different lighting conditions and assess color accuracy.

  We also compare the display’s performance with what the manufacturer promised, test the screen’s responsiveness to touch, and assess the performance of any extra features, like a manufacturer’s stylus.

• Performance: For real-world performance metrics, our reviewers measure how quickly the tablet reacts to input, assess game performance and frame rates, test how the tablet handles having multiple apps running simultaneously, measure the time it takes to launch apps, and even assess the tablet’s temperature during intensive tasks. 

• Battery life: We test different scenarios for battery life, including measuring how long the battery lasts while streaming, web browsing, using productivity apps, and playing games.

• Camera and audio: For cameras, we evaluate features like resolution, aperture, low-light performance, autofocus accuracy, dynamic range, color accuracy, image quality, sharpness, and video quality. For audio, we look at the sound quality and overall listening experience, including audio clarity at different volumes, stereo separation of left and right audio channels, maximum volume level in various environments, and if there is perceived distortion.

We picked these top rugged tablets by using them in shipyards, forests, and other outside environments with sand, dirt, rain, and other elements.

For a deeper look into our testing process, check out our comprehensive tablet testing methodology. 

A rugged tablet is a tablet that has been designed to withstand extreme conditions. Whether it’s bad weather, very high or very low temperatures, or drops and shocks, the extra durable case protects the delicate internal components from damage and corrosion. 

Rugged tablets are best for mobile professionals who do a lot of fieldwork, like construction contractors and engineers. However, they can also apply to families with smaller children, who, let’s say, are more punishing with electronics. 

Yes and no. Some of the higher-end cases, like those from Otterbox, are certainly designed to protect your tablet. But there are some aspects of a rugged tablet it can’t reproduce. 

For example, some of the tablets in this roundup are designed to withstand severe temperatures in addition to being tougher to break when dropped. They also offer moisture and dust resistance — a must to protect your asset in an outdoor environment. 

If a device is advertised as “military grade,” that doesn’t necessarily mean it was developed for military use but rather rigorously tested against MIL-STD 810 standards. This testing process runs devices through extreme conditions to simulate what soldiers may encounter during deployment or combat. 

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.

On this list, the Acer Enduro T1, the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro, and the Dell Latitude 7220 are all super durable and have features like gorilla glass. Plus, they are drop-tested and protected with impressive IP ratings. 

IP rating indicates whether the device resists surface particles like dust (I) and moisture (P). It is why, when looking for a rugged tablet, you’ll want to pay attention to the device’s IP rating. In both instances, the higher the number, the better resistance it offers. 

Rugged tablets are on the high end of most price points, so it can be tempting to get a regular, consumer-grade model and plunk it in a “rugged” case. And that will work… for a time. 

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. However, a tablet 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 working in all kinds of weather.