The iPad is a beautiful tablet that inspires long lines of customers to buy every new model. But what if you need something more serious, more durable? When you're taking your tablet to work or on a road trip, do you hold your breath, praying you won't drop it or get it wet or the display won't crack? When you hand it to a child (or dog or your significant other) to distract them for a minute, do you wonder if it will still function when you get it back? What you need is a rugged tablet.
Rugged tablets do exist. Our best rugged tablets not only make the great travel gifts for men, but they also offer excellent service, top-notch graphics, and most of all, a durable exterior that won't break just from looking at it. Let's find the right one for you.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro
Best rugged tablet overall
The robust Samsung Galaxy Active Pro Android tablet offers a 10.1-inch display with a ruggedized, IP68-rated (waterproof) housing. It comes with 64 GB of storage, a 13-megapixel rear camera, and an 8-megapixel front-facing camera.
Upgrade your storage to 512 GB with a microSD card and buy an extra battery pack for more juice to get you through your busiest days. The dimensions are comfortable for viewing, and it’s light enough at 1.4 pounds to make it your favorite grab-and-go rugged tablet.
Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1
Best designed rugged tablet
Panasonic’s offering is an ultra-tough, dustproof, windproof, humidity-proof, and shockproof tablet that looks great, too. The Toughpad FZ-G1 has physical command buttons and an integrated microphone at the bottom edge of its 10.1-inch display.
The Toughpad is ISP65 certified and has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory, and a 256 GB solid-state drive. Battery life is good for up to 10 hours. The magnesium frame offers better overall durability than the typical hard-shell plastic, giving it a more rugged, military-esque feel.
It's damn near perfect for everything from weekend mini-adventures to long-haul, round-the-world trips.
Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2
Best battery life rugged tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 2’s battery is good for up to 11 hours per charge. This tablet is great for work (beyond "just" working from home), commuting, or weekend activities. The Active 2 is available in Wi-Fi-only or LTE-unlocked versions for use with any carrier.
Military-grade rated and MIL-STD-810G certified, it features a moisture/water-resistant screen and can be submerged in water for up to 30 minutes to a depth of 5 feet. The Active 2 also has an HD camera and fingerprint and facial recognition. It includes a Samsung S Pen to write on the display.
Vanquisher 8-inch Android Tablet
Best Samsung alternative rugged tablet
For a solid, Android-based Samsung alternative, Vanquisher offers ultra durable housing with 64 GB of storage and a microSD expandable up to 256 GB. The housing is IP67 waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof. It offers up to 500 standby hours on the battery and will last all day while you’re on the go.
The 1920 x 1200 full HD screen and 500 NITS brightness mean you can use it in the middle of the day without sacrificing visibility. The Vanquisher is also specially configured with a foldout scan wedge for enterprise data collection via fast barcode reading.
Amazon Kindle Fire HD 8 Kid's Edition
Best rugged tablet for families
The 2022 Kindle Fire HD 8 Kid’s Edition Kindle is perfectly suited for younger children and families that need a rugged tablet that's both affordable and toddler-friendly. It has a kid-proof case and stand, and it gives families access to the Amazon Kids+ content library of books, games, and media with an included one-year subscription.
Providing up to 12 hours of battery life on a single charge, the tablet has 32 GB of internal storage and can accept a microSD card with up to a mind-boggling 1 TB of storage space. Amazon also backs the Kids Edition with a two-year worry-free guarantee. So, if it breaks, return it and Amazon will replace it for no charge. Seriously.
MobileDemand Flex 10B Rugged Touchscreen Tablet
Best lightweight rugged tablet
Designed for enterprise fieldwork (and other hardcore uses), the drop-tested MobileDemand Flex 10B tablet weighs less than 2.1 pounds. It has an Intel Celeron Quad-Core processor with 4 GB of RAM, and 128 GB of storage. The tablet has multiple connection options, including type A 3.0 USB, USB-C, and mini HDMI ports, plus a standard headphone jack.
It’s MIL-STD-810G certified and survived 26 repeated 4-foot drops, thanks to protective corners for additional impact resistance and covered ports. Bottom line: This is one rugged Windows 10 Professional tablet. The case includes a Snap Mount plate for mobile or fixed mounting applications.
How to find the best rugged tablet (for you)
Rugged tablets are a lot like regular tablets, so you'll need to consider a few questions before you invest:
- How will you use it? Work tablets need to be extra rugged, but tablets for play can cater to your design preferences a little more closely. Work tablets should be IP-rated for water and dust resistance and drop tested for sufficient durability.
- Battery life versus storage? Gaming tablets need a lot of storage, but they'll be shorter on battery life. If you use one for work applications, you'll need a tablet that offers an all-day battery life so you aren't constantly looking for a recharge. Fast-swapping depleted battery capability is another plus.
- Is your tablet compatible? Do you have work or hobby applications that must run on your tablet? Make sure they're compatible. Tablets on our list run Windows or Android operating systems, so check your specifications closely.
Why do you need a rugged tablet?
Rugged tablets move with you. The tablets above are functional yet ultra rugged. They'll keep up with your job, your children, and your lifestyle without sacrificing the essential features you need. These options offer good memory, and most are drop tested and water resistant. You'll have a tablet that you don't worry about and can use the way you need to… finally.
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