Best rugged tablets 2024

Most people can make do with a case and screen protector when taking their tablets out into the world. But for some use cases — professionals in heavy-duty work environments, hikers roughing it on the trail, or even hyper-active kids at home — an actual rugged tablet is necessary. I put together the following list of durable tablets so can take all of your favorite apps with you wherever you go.

To keep your precious devices safe, you'll need waterproofing, military-grade protection against falls, swappable batteries, and other perks. Luckily, I've found a good (albeit small) collection of tablets that should handle whatever life can throw at them. These models run Android, Windows, and even ChromeOS, so you can pick the one that suits your needs the best. I've tested dozens upon dozens of Android tablets over the years, so I know what you should be looking for when it comes to durability in a tablet. Keep reading for my list of the best rugged tablets that money can buy today, with picks for every use case and budget under the sun.

Andrew Myrick

Andrew Myrick is a senior editor at Android Central. In between figuring out ways to put retro emulators on everything, Andrew thoroughly enjoys exploring what's possible with Android tablets. He's constantly looking for new and different ways to use tablets, such as replacing his laptop or turning tablets into smart home dashboards.

At a glance

Best overall

A refreshed version of the original Galaxy Tab Active Pro, the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro has the same 10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 LCD, IP68 water-resistant S Pen, removable 7,600mAh battery, 13MP and 8MP rear and front cameras, and in-display fingerprint sensor as the original.

It also brings back the same ultra-dense design with MIL-STD-810H protection that can withstand being "dropped 26 times from 5 feet onto plywood," temperatures from −40º F to 176º F, environmental conditions like "harsh rain, salt spray, and solar radiation," or being submerged in five feet of water for 30 minutes. It's not quite as fall-resistant as the lighter Galaxy Tab Active3, only handling 1.2m with a case. But it's still plenty darn rugged, and has the upside of a much better processor.

The Snapdragon 778G, found in recent popular phones like the Nothing Phone (1), Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G, and Poco X5 Pro, "delivers good performance for daily use and occasional gaming," according to our tests. Paired with up to 6GB of RAM in the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, it delivers far better performance than we're used to seeing in a rugged tablet. It makes it surprisingly competitive compared to the non-rugged Galaxy Tab S8.

Back to the Pro's ruggedness. It has built-in 5G to work anywhere you'll get a sub-6 signal. Its battery lasts 15 hours per charge, but it'll also work in "No Battery Mode," directly pulling from a power source without draining the battery's capacity. You can even remove and replace the battery if you wish. The display works with both the S Pen and with gloved fingers.

In terms of enterprise features, it works as a mobile point of sale (mPOS), able to take payments via NFC or let customers sign with the S Pen. It works as a barcode scanner, too, and can register CBRS radio frequencies.

Best compact

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 is new for 2024, and is the successor to the Tab Active3. The new model gets some notable improvements such as trendier aesthetics, 120Hz refresh rate display, and a more poweful Exynos processor. Most importanlty though, it gets Android 14 and a commitment of four OS upgrades. The tablet retains its rugged nature as it still has an IP68 rating and the MIL-STD-810H certification.

The big appeal is its compact size. The Tab Active5 is just 10.1mm thick, and weighs 433g. It has an 8-inch TFT LCD display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, and a 120Hz refresh rate. You get a high-resolution 13MP rear camera, and a 5MP front-facing camera. In terms of wireless connectivity, the tablet features 5G, eSIM, and Wi-Fi 6 for speedy communication when on the ground. It's equally tough on the inside too, thanks to Samsung Knox security platform which adds a layer of hardware-level security.

The Galaxy Tab Active5 has a 5,050mAh battery which can be easily swapped out by popping open the rear cover. There are also POGO pin connectors for charging, so you can dock multiple tablets in a charging dock in one go.

Best budget

OUKITEL has released a bevy of rugged Android tablets in recent years, including the T1, T3, and T5. Each model has jumped from Android 11 to 12 to 13, while also slowly upgrading in terms of performance and other specs. The OUKITEL T5 gives you recent software, a larger and slightly brighter display, more RAM, and other perks.

In terms of ruggedness, OUKITEL promises the T5 will withstand falls below 1.5 meters, about the same as the Galaxy Tab Active5, as well as 30 minutes underwater and dusty environments — with military-grade ratings for water, dust, and shock.

The 12nm 2GHz MediaTek MT8788 isn't going to win any awards for performance, about on par with what you'd see on, say, a Fire HD tablet. But 8GB of RAM will give it an edge over older models, enough for standard browsing and apps. It comes with 256GB of storage, plus slots for 1TB expandable storage and a 4G SIM card.

The 10.1-inch Full-HD+ display hits a respectable 400 nits, not quite bright enough to be fully visible outdoors but good enough at this price. The high-res cameras are a nice touch, and the 10,000mAh battery gives it enough juice to last all day.

Best for kids

Rugged tablets aren't just for construction workers and retail. Kids' slippery fingers (and their general lack of care for tech) mean that you need to buy them rugged slabs that can handle chaos and minor damage.

Parents who want to give kids some screen time but don't want to give them an expensive tablet should consider one of the many Amazon devices for kids. Each Fire HD Kids tablet comes with a case and has a rugged design built to withstand damage to both the display and internal components.

The Amazon Fire 7 Kids and Fire HD 10 Kids Pro are two excellent tablets that we love, but we're instead going to highlight a device that strikes the perfect balance of size and durability: the Fire HD 8 Kids Pro (2022).

It comes with a pro-style case that can withstand falls but isn't as bulky and uncomfortable to grip as Amazon's standard "Kid-Proof case." Our reviewer noted that his kid loved the Pro more than the standard HD 8 Kids for this very reason. He also detailed how the new Pro software for older kids makes Kids+ content easier to discover, which his kid appreciated.

Amazon promises that the display has "strengthened aluminosilicate glass" to protect it from scratches and drops without a screen protector. And in terms of software protection, Amazon has some robust parental controls like requiring 30 minutes of reading before allowing for gaming or setting timed limits on usage.

Best Windows

While there is an Android equivalent of this tablet (aptly named the 10A), this version is ideal for Windows users who want to extend that familiar experience to out in the field. Featuring dual-band W-Fi, an Intel Celeron quad-core processor, and Windows 11 Professional operating system, this 10.5 x 0.7 x 7.2-inch, 2 pound tablet comes equipped with a 10.1-inch capacitive multi-touch screen, front and rear cameras, 128GB eMMC, 4GB RAM, Type-A USB, USB-C, mini HDMI, and a 3.5mm jack.

It's ultra-rugged thanks to being enclosed in a durable, protective case with corner bumpers and an oleophobic scratch-resistant screen protector. It has been drop-tested to meet the MIL-STD-810G standards for operation in extreme conditions. It conveniently comes with a carry handle and backhand strap as well.

With a 30,000mAh battery, the Flex 10B should be able to last a full workday. The screen, however, is only 1200 x 800 resolution. It also comes with two Realtek Audio speakers, and a Snap Mount Plate installed on the back for quick release when it's mounted to something; it's compatible with RAM mounting hardware, which is sold separately. There's also a keyboard option.

Best premium

The Dell Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme tablet is designed to endure the harsh conditions of professional field work like fire fighters, arctic expeditions, or search and rescue. It's drop-tested from up to four feet, and can work in termperatures ranging from −20º F to 145º F. It's also IP65 rated for dust and water ingress protection.

The 12-inch Full-HD resolution display has an anti-glare coating, and supports touch input with heavy gloves. It also has a really high brightness of 1,200 nits, making it legible even under harsh sunlight. There's plenty of power on tap thanks to the Intel 12th Gen 10-core CPU, which is accompanied by 16GB of RAM and 256GB of NVMe SSD storage. Windows 11 Pro comes loaded by default, which offers more robust security and privacy features. The tablet is also FirstNet ready, which lets first responders and safety organizations get priority LTE access (in the US). There's plenty of physical ports like two Thunderbolt 4 Type-C ports, and a configurable I/O bay which can be fitted with an extra USB-A or HDMI port.

For such a large tablet, the Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme has a starting weight of 2.8 pounds (1.3kg). All those with battery anxiety need not fear, as this tablet features hot-swappable 36WHr battery, so you can keep the work going without needing to charge it. Last but not least, Dell offers optional accessories that are specially designed for the Latitude 7230. This includes the Dell Active Pen stylus, an attachable keyboard, tablet handle, rotating hand strap, and a shoulder strap.

Best ChromeOS

If your work or computing needs primarily relies on browser-based apps, then there's no better operating system (OS) than ChromeOS. The Acer Chromebook Tab 510 (D652N) is designed for students that need a sturdy device for online learning. It has MIL-STD 810H standard durability to handle the daily wear and tear by younger students, and it even has shock absorption bumpers on the four corners to protect it from drops of up to four feet.

The tablet features a 10.1-inch 16:10 aspect IPS display, with a resolution of 1920x1200. It also has an 8MP front-facing camera for clearer images when doing remote learning. Better still, there's Corning Gorilla Glass over the display whih has special antimicrobial properties to protect the glass from germs and stains. There's a built-in USI stylus which automatically charges when docked, and supports 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity. The Chromebook Tab 510 features front-facing stereo speakers, and has a claimed battery life of up to 10 hours.

Since the OS is designed to use web apps primarily, there's limited onboard storage of just 64GB. However, this can be expanded via a microSD card. It's fairly slim, and not too heavy at around 500g. The tablet is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7c Gen2 compute platform, which should be decent for the task at hand.

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Why buy rugged?

There are a variety of reasons why you might want a rugged tablet, and what constitutes the best rugged Android tablet will really depend on that reason. If it's for work purposes because you work out in the field, in a clinical setting, or just travel often for your job and want something that can withstand the elements, you'll want something that's not just rugged to withstand drops and falls but also weather-proof. Maybe you're a photographer, for example, who goes for photoshoots during the cold winter months, bringing along your tablet to preview pics.

But if you want something rugged for a young child so they can have their own tablet to knock around without worry, all you really need is to pair one of the best Android tablets with a rugged case and a screen protector. It won't make the tablet fully waterproof like a rugged tablet, but it'll protect it against most damage.

For most users, you can't go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro. It offers plenty of features to survive the elements and features a large battery for all-day use. If you want something a bit more compact, the new Galaxy Tab Acrtive5 from Samsung is a good buy. The LTE version is a bit pricey, but you get notable improvements over the Active3 like a higher refresh rate and the latest Android version.

For younger kids, the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Pro is still a great choice to keep the little tykes entertained for hours. For older students, the Acer Chromebook Tab 510 is an excellent rugged tablet running ChromeOS and is perfect if all your communication is mostly done via a browser.

Windows users need not fret as there are two excellent options, based on your budget. If you don't need heavy processing power, the MobileDemand Flex 10B is a good option to consider. On the other hand, the Dell Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme is for field works that demand the absolute best performance from a Windows machine.

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How to choose

Unlike trying to find the best Android tablet, deciding on the best rugged tablet requires a bit more nuance. It's not as simple as finding a tablet with the latest and greatest specs, the biggest screen, or a "flashy" feature. We also have to filter out tablets that claim to be rugged, only to find out that they bend easier than an iPhone 6.

While there are some big hitters out there, such as Samsung, Dell, and Amazon, there are also companies you might not have heard of. This doesn't necessarily mean that you should avoid something like the OUKITEL RT5, just because it's from a relatively unknown brand. Instead, we would recommend doing a bit more research about the company if you like the RT5, but want to know more before buying.

From there, you'll want to decide what kind of features you're looking for in a rugged tablet. Does it need cellular connectivity? What about a stylus? Do you prefer (or need) a tablet running Android, ChromeOS, or Windows? Chances are you already have a pretty good idea of what you need, but it's important to know before making any final decisions.

However, these are also the questions that we ask ourselves when reviewing any rugged tablets that come across our collective desks, in an effort to provide you with as much information as possible.

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How we test

Although they might look and feel a bit different, rugged tablets are really no different than non-rugged tablets. That's the approach that we take when testing and reviewing rugged tablets, as these go through the same series of tests as any other device.

This includes being put through a gauntlet of various benchmarks, ranging from Geekbench to 3DMark and everything in between. In doing so, we're provided with a baseline for each device that can be used to compare performance across the board. You never know when a rugged tablet might actually outperform its non-rugged brethren.

When coming to a conclusion and score, we take into account different variables, which include the performance, but also things like the display, design, and more. Some rugged tablets might offer stylus support and LTE connectivity, while others might only offer a more durable design.

Speaking of which, how can we know for sure that a rugged tablet is actually rugged? Well, that's where we get to have a bit of fun, putting those claims to the test by tossing it around, submerging it (if applicable,) and more. All of this is important in helping you decide whether a new device is worthy of being on the list of best rugged tablets.