Tablet comparison for demanding environments: Rocktab L210, Rocktab U210, Rocktab U210 Pro and Rocktab S510
Increasing digitization across all industries offers many benefits and makes everyday work easier. Capturing documentation in the field, streamlining communications, or controlling machines autonomously are just a few of the possible applications for tablets. But when it comes to working in harsh environments, tablets need to offer much more. In addition to performance, criteria such as ruggedness, durability, usability, protection and more play an important role in the decision-making process. Here we take a closer look at four of our rugged tablets, compare their features and highlight the differences. Different usage scenarios are also discussed. We compare the Rocktab L210 – a rugged tablet with a large battery, the Rocktab U210 – a compact format with many features, the U210 Pro – the big brother and the Rocktab S510 – an extra rugged tablet for harsh environments. All models are designed for use in demanding environments, but differ in some features.
Robustness, ergonomics and protection
All models are dust and waterproof to IP65 for use in harsh environments. All tablets have been tested to military standards. Of particular note are the Rocktab L210 and Rocktab U210 Pro, which not only meet but exceed military standards. The Rocktab S510 withstands drops from up to 1.2 meters, placing it last in the comparison. The Rocktab U210 and Rocktab U210 Pro offer more protection, withstanding 26 drops from up to 1.5 meters and 40 drops from one meter. The Rocktab L210 achieves the best results with 100 drops from one meter and 26 drops from 1.5 meters. All models have an extended operating temperature range for optimal indoor and outdoor use. In addition, all rugged tablets have rugged enclosures with rubberized covers to protect ports from dust and water ingress. There is a difference in the cooling of the Rocktab L210, which is completely closed and fanless. The Rocktab U210 Pro performs worse in comparison due to its fan cooling, but with IP65 protection.
In order to be able to carry the rugged tablets around with you all day, weight plays a crucial role. The Rocktab U210, Rocktab U210 Pro and Rocktab S510 score well here with a low weight of no more than 1.1 kg. The Rocktab L210 was the worst performer with a weight of just under 1.5 kg.
Another important consideration is battery life. The Rocktab L210 stands out with a battery life of up to 16 hours for long working days. While the Rocktab U210 scores with a battery life of up to 10 hours, the Rocktab S510 has a battery life of up to 9 hours. The latest Rocktab U210 Pro brings up the rear with a battery life of up to 8 hours. Thanks to the replaceable batteries, the battery life of each model can be extended for continuous performance throughout the day. The Rocktab U210 and Rocktab U210 Pro have a hot-swap feature that allows you to change the battery while the device is running. The Rocktab S510 can also be used without a battery.
Depending on the application scenario, ruggedness and protection requirements may influence the purchase; not every environment requires maximum drop resistance.
Performance, operating system and specifications
All models shown are Windows compatible. The following section takes a closer look at each processor and shows which models can run Android.
The Rocktab L210 is equipped with the Intel Pentium N6415 with four cores and a maximum clock speed of 3 GHz. It supports up to 8 GB of RAM. The Intel Celeron N4120 in the Rocktab U210 has four cores and can be clocked up to 2.60GHz. Like our Rocktab L210, the Rocktab U210 is also equipped with 8 GB of RAM. If you choose the Intel Pentium Silver N5030, which can also be installed in the Rocktab U210, the clock rate increases to 3.10 GHz. The Rocktab S510 offers two processor options. One is the Intel Celeron N5100, also with 4 cores and 2.80 GHz, or the Mediatek® Helio G99 8-core processor with up to 2.2 GHz. On the other hand, it scores with up to 8 GB of RAM, enough space for pictures, documentaries or the like. In comparison, the Rocktab U210 Pro, equipped with an Intel Core i5-1335U, 10 cores and a maximum clock speed of 4.60 GHz, has a higher performance than the other models. This is currently the most modern processor in our tablets and is also equipped with 16 GB of RAM (alternatively 8 or 32 GB are also possible).
All models support Windows 11 Pro, Windows 10 IoT Enterprise and Windows 11 IoT Enterprise. The Rocktab S510 can also be equipped with Android 12 or Android 12 GMS. On the other hand, Ubuntu can also be selected as the operating system for the Rocktab U210, Rocktab U210 Pro and Rocktab L210 models. The Rocktab U210 and Rocktab S510 come with integrated Intel® UHD graphics and the Rocktab U210 Pro with Intel® Iris® Xe graphics.
Finally, we take a closer look at the individual specifications and expansions. The Rocktab S510 has a system memory of 128 GB and is not expandable. The system memory of the Rocktab L210 can be expanded from 256 GB up to 1 TB via a micro SD card. Other memory sizes are available on a project basis. The Rocktab U210 can also be expanded from 128GB SSD memory up to 1TB via Micro SDXC card. The Rocktab U210 Pro can be expanded by 256 GB via micro SD card with removable M.2 NVMe 256, 512 GB or 1 TB.
In summary, the more cores and the more power a tablet has, the faster the battery life decreases. So it is important to know what I need the tablet for. Do I need maximum performance? Do I need long battery life because it may be difficult to recharge? Do I need high graphics performance? How much memory do I need?
Display quality and usability
All models feature a 10.1-inch display and a 10-point capacitive multi-touch screen. This allows for easy operation and fast response times. All displays are scratch-resistant to withstand harsh environments and ensure a long service life. A major advantage of this technology is that it is waterproof, easy to clean and more resistant to chemicals and dirt. In addition, all models offer high image resolution, ideal for editing documents.
For optimal usability, the Rocktab U210 and Rocktab U210 Pro can optionally be equipped with a suitable active digitizer pen to accurately capture signatures, drawings or similar. In addition, all models can be combined with universal (active) input pens to avoid fingerprints and for precise typing, writing and drawing.
One disadvantage of capacitive multi-touch screens is that they can only be used with bare fingers or very thin gloves. The Rocktab U210 Pro’s glove mode is therefore an advantage for outdoor work.
Harsh environments include not only indoor environments, but also outdoor environments. An important factor when choosing a rugged tablet can be readability in direct sunlight. The Rocktab U210 and its big brother, the Rocktab U210 Pro, are convincing in this respect. With 800 cd/m² they offer ideal conditions for outdoor work.
Again, the question is: What are the requirements for my tablet? Do I need long battery life? Sunlight readability? Outdoor tablet requirements? For high-resolution requirements, such as in architecture, high image sharpness is required. For outdoor use, a suitable display with sunlight readability is required.
Connectivity and Network Capabilities
While the Rocktab L210 and Rocktab S510 are WiFi5 certified, the Rocktab U210 and Rocktab U210 Pro upgrade their communication to WiFi 6E for high-speed connections. All models feature 4G LTE high-speed Internet for fast connectivity and download speeds. The Rocktab S510 goes one step further and reaches up to 400 Mbps. All models support Bluetooth, but even here there are differences. While the Rocktab L210 supports Bluetooth 5.1, the Rocktab S510 scores with Bluetooth 5.2. The latter is also supported by the Rocktab U210. The Rocktab U210 Pro supports Bluetooth 5.3. Ethernet is supported by all models and can be connected to other peripherals via numerous ports. The optional office docking station for the Rocktab U210, Rocktab U210 Pro and Rocktab L210 turns these rugged tablets into a full-fledged office workstation.
Additional Features and Expansion Options
A bar code scanner is essential in many environments. All our models are equipped with a scanner or can be optionally equipped with a scanner. The Rocktab S510 can be optionally equipped with a 2D barcode scanner with a short range of up to 38 cm. All other models have an integrated high-end 2D barcode scanner with extended functionality. These rugged tablets deliver extremely high scanning performance with a standard reading distance of up to 80 cm. All popular 1D and 2D bar codes can be read with these scanners.
GPS modules are very important in certain environments. Each model is supported by GPS modules, making it ideal for forestry or rescue operations.
Integrated sensors can make demanding jobs easier. While the Rocktab S510 only has a tilt sensor, the other models score with additional sensors. In addition to the sensors already mentioned, the Rocktab L210 has a proximity sensor, a brightness sensor and a gyro sensor. The Rocktab U210 and Rocktab U210 Pro come with an additional accelerometer. All models can be upgraded with an optional NFC module.
Conclusion
All of our tablets are IP65-rated for dust and water, making them suitable for use in harsh environments. In addition, all models have rubberized ports for extra protection against dust and dirt. If you are looking for maximum ruggedness, the Rocktab L210 and Rocktab U210 Pro, which exceed even military standards, are the right choices. The Rocktab L210, which is the best in the comparison in this respect, is convincing when there is a risk of falling. Weight plays an important role in long term use. The Rocktab U210, the Rocktab U210 Pro and the Rocktab S510 impress with their low weight of less than 1.1 kilograms. If you are looking for a combination of a rugged tablet and a full-featured office workstation, the Rocktab U210, Rocktab U210 Pro or Rocktab L210 is the solution for you. The Rocktab U210 Pro with integrated Intel Core i5-1335U offers state-of-the-art performance. The Rocktab U210 and Rocktab U210 Pro are ideal for outdoor work due to their high readability even in direct sunlight.
The rugged tablets compared offer rugged protection for use in harsh environments. Due to the differences between the models, there is an optimal solution for every application scenario. We would be happy to find a solution for your application scenario. Click HERE for a no-obligation consultation today.
