What Is the Difference Between Rugged Android Devices and Consumer Android?

Many people think that rugged Android devices, like those used in the energy, public safety, or manufacturing industries, are made for very tough conditions. The word "ruggedized" might even make you think of ultra-rugged handheld computers that can't do much more than scan barcodes or collect data. Handheld mobile scanners and ultra-tough tablets for workers in the field are both examples of rugged Android, but they aren't the only options.

In the rugged Android devices category, there are a surprising number of device types and possible uses. For example, there is hardware that is very slim and light for use in hospitality, retail, education, and healthcare. In this blog, you'll learn how rugged Android compares to other devices and how to figure out what kind of hardware will work best for you.

What are Rough Android Devices?

Rugged Android devices include tablets, smartphones, and other hardware that is made to be resistant to moisture, dust, temperature, and other harsh conditions and has long battery life. Rugged devices must pass military-grade, unbiased durability tests, like the IP rating, to prove that they are strong and work well in different conditions.

Android devices that are made to be tough come in many shapes and sizes, including smartphones and tablets that are surprisingly smart, light, and sleek. Even though rugged Android can be different, it can be made to be resistant to:

• Moisture, from a few drops to being completely submerged.
• Dust, both big chunks and small, fine particles.
• High and low temperatures.
• Effects, such as:

1. Damage caused by falls.
2. Hits from things.
3. Pressure from outside sources, such as vehicles.
4. Gets damaged.
5. Wear and tear from being used too much.

• Batteries that last longer.
• Able to be used with PPE, like gloves.
• Uses of Rugged Android in the Business World

Ruggedized devices aren't just for making things, getting energy, or keeping people safe. They are a good choice for many business situations where devices are used a lot by the public or are dropped or spilled on. Rugged devices are made to not break down, so they are perfect for mission-critical situations where availability and performance are important.

The logistics and transportation

Push-to-talk buttons can be programmed into rugged devices so that logistics workers can talk to each other right away. Some rugged Androids even have CBRS, a wireless band for short-range data communications that don't require a license.

Workers in transportation and delivery can use 4G LTE's always-on data connection and better readability in different kinds of light. Rugged Android is a great choice for customized transportation ELDs. Locking tablets to multi-app Android kiosk mode can reduce distractions and increase driver communication and productivity.

Hospitality

Hotel and hospitality staff can send out services to guests in real-time by using location tracking to know where staff members are and sending out services in real-time. For better customer service on the go, mobile hotel staff can enjoy having full access to smartphone and tablet apps, such as guest databases. Last but not least, rugged Android tablets or phones with high-quality auto-focus cameras can be used to take pictures of maintenance requests.

Rugged Android is also a good choice for guest-facing mobile devices like self-service check-in or room tablets with anti-microbial and break-proof screens.

Retail

With mobile devices that can connect to external monitors and keyboards to make the register work like a PC, retail workers can give customers quick and easy service. For Android mPoS with a stylus pen for getting customer signatures and a card reader, a rugged device is the best choice. Retail workers can also answer questions about stock and place orders in real-time with the help of NFC-enabled devices that pull up stock information when they are close to a smartphone or tablet.

Ruggedized Android tablets and kiosks are perfect for customer-facing devices because they can handle being dropped, spilled on, lost by accident, or stolen.

What are some things you can use instead of Rugged Android Devices?

The rugged Android category includes both business-grade and consumer-grade hardware that is made to withstand heavy use or a wide range of conditions. Its performance has been confirmed by military-grade or IP rating tests.

Some Android devices made for consumers are IP-rated, which means they are tough. Not all enterprise-grade Android devices are ruggedized. And to make things even more complicated, some Android devices are sold as "durable" or "waterproof" even though they haven't been tested for ruggedness and may not be strong enough for your needs.

Between 2020 and 2027, the enterprise mobility market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 29.3%. Android is also gaining market share as the leading mobile operating system for businesses. This is because it is easy to customize, cheap, and open source, and it is used all over the world. Because of this, businesses now have more hardware options than ever before. Ruggedized devices can be a good choice for many businesses because they are rated and tested by people who don't work for the company.

How do you test a rugged device?

Tests are done on rugged devices in 29 specific danger zones, and then they are given an Ingress Protection (IP), or International Protection, rating. With these tests, a device is pushed to its limits until it passes or breaks. This is a precise way to measure how long something will last under certain conditions.

Let's look at a few of the tests that rugged devices have to go through.

Temperature

Not only are devices tested in temperatures from 0°C to 50°C, but they are also tested with “temperature shocks,” in which the device is suddenly exposed to these extremes.

Moisture

Moisture is a broad term for a lot of different things that all have to do with liquid getting in. Whether they were exposed to fake rain, put in water tanks, sprayed with hoses, or just left to sit in a high humidity environment.

Fungus

When it's wet, fungi can grow. The growth of microorganisms from these life forms can kill seals.

Small particle

Small particle tests look at how dust, sand, and salt fog affect the seals of a device.

Light

Machines are exposed to a lot of solar radiation (sunlight) to make sure they can handle the most common long-term environmental hazard found outside.

Acceleration

Many things have sensors that can tell how they are turned, where they are, and how they are moving. Testers can find out if these fragile systems could be damaged by a fall or other fast motion by giving them very strong accelerations.

Vibration

People rarely think about this when they use a piece of equipment. If there is no protection against variable shock, electronics, screens, and even housings can be cracked, loosed, or even broken.

Because of the IP rating scale, most people don't need to know much about these tests. The best way to figure out how rugged a device is is to understand how the scale works.

Most of the time, IP 67 or IP 68 devices are the most durable. There are two parts to this. The first number is solid or particle ingress. The second is liquid ingress. The higher each number, the more rugged and resistant to solids, particles, and liquids the device is overall.

A device may have an IP 60-63 rating if it is strong against particles but not waterproof. In the same way, the rating would be IP 08-38 if the opposite were true.

A rating of IP 00 means that there is no protection against particles or liquids getting in.

What are the benefits of a ruggedized Android?

The benefits of rugged devices depend on how they will be used and where they will be used. Rugged use cases aren't the only reason to choose ruggedized Android. Employees and customers can drop, spill, and get germs on devices as they use them every day.

As was already said, different ratings show different skills. Let's look at some of the good things about Android devices that are made to be tough.

Benefit #1 – Longer Lifespan

Under the same conditions, ruggedized devices tend to last longer and be used for a longer time than consumer-grade devices. Manufacturers of devices often stop making off-the-shelf equipment. Ruggedized devices, on the other hand, can be used for many years, which can mean that updates and support from the manufacturer come less often or take less time. The device should only need to be changed every 5 to 10 years.

Benefit #2 – Longer Battery Life

Since ruggedized devices are made to be used out in the field, they usually have much longer battery lives. This gives users more time to use it, which makes them more efficient and productive. It also lets you save money on portable charging equipment or extra batteries if your business has a lot of devices. Last but not least, batteries in ruggedized Android hardware are usually easy to change.

Benefit #3: More extras and features are available

Most ruggedized devices are made for business use. Enterprise-grade Android hardware can have better features that, when used correctly, can lead to noticeable increases in productivity, better device performance, and better device security.

Standard features are often amplified on ruggedized devices. On a regular device, a biometric scanner may need to be used in full light, at a certain angle, and at room temperature to avoid scanning mistakes. A ruggedized device can be made to scan biometrics accurately even when it's dark or cold outside.

Other new features include the ability for employees to use push-to-talk in warehouses, logistics, transportation, or any other situation where it would be helpful.

When you add more industries to the mix, the number of customizations goes up. A device for a warehouse may need to be able to handle bumps and scan in low light. A hospital might need screens that kill germs and thermometers that work together. Employees in public safety may need to be able to handle liquids, sunlight, and shocks. Retail may need all of these things, especially if customers will be using the devices.

Benefit #4: Better business support

This has everything to do with where you have your device made. Depending on the device, different manufacturers will offer different warranties and customer service. All devices could get extra protection from the same company.

The standard warranty and support for ruggedized devices are usually between 3 and 5 years, which is a lot longer than the standard warranty and support for off-the-shelf models.

Benefit #5: Better reading of the screen

Many rugged Android devices have better screen technology that makes them easier to read in any light, whether it's dark or bright. Rugged Android can be easier to read and more comfortable to use for a wide range of users in any lighting. Screens that can be read in sunlight can be helpful for devices that are used outside, or they can make it easier for customers and employees to read screens in any lighting.

Are you the right person for a ruggedized Android device?

Your mobile transformation roadmap can go faster if you choose the right Android hardware for your use case. In general, your company can benefit from some kind of ruggedization if you use Android devices often for any kind of work. There are a lot of different shapes and sizes of rugged Android hardware, and it works well in a surprising number of situations in healthcare, education, retail, hospitality, and other fields.

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