If basic tablets are too delicate for your line of work-- rejoice! Samsung's new 8" Galaxy Tab Active2 is made for you.
With a rugged design featuring rubber non-skid bumpers all around this Android tablet is made for outdoor and construction-type environments.
I've reviewed Samsung's Android tablet before, so I'm not going to spend a lot of time on the operating system and the apps and functions. Instead, I'll focus on what makes this one different. it's that ruggedized design.
How rugged is Galaxy Tab Active2 ?
In addition to the special wrap on this tablet, the device can survive drops of up to 1.5 m...
This device passed United States military testing which puts it through 10 specific tests, including drops from 4.9 feet, extreme temperatures, dust, shock/vibration and low pressure/high altitude. My tests probably aren't going to be that extreme, but here goes...
It's water and dust resistant..
The Galaxy Tab Active2 and S Pen are both IP68* rated so it can stand up to the kind of dirty, tough work field engineers face in the field. Not to mention accidental spills in the office.
By the way... IP68 rated and that means is can beat being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minute
It can withstand extreme temperatures
And it's got 11 hours of battery life, you can replace the battery which is backwards compatible with the previous Tab Active, and it comes with the stylus, or S-pen.
Security
There's several security options for how you can access the tablet; choose from fingerprint recognition, face recognition, plus pin, or pattern access.
Various Sensors for AR Experience
Some special sensors have been built into this tablet; there's a gyroscope and geomagnetic sensors which are said to help folks like field engineers with site inspection or virtual training. Working in logistics of supply? The improved camera and barcode reading abilities plus an NFC sensor means you can scan products, ID cards and more.
The Galaxy Tab Active2 's specs look like this:
3GB RAM and a 1.6GHz Octa-core processor powerful enough to speed up usage when performing multiple tasks such as real-time data management and on-board navigation. It can also handle Augmented Reality applications. it runs Android 7.1 Nougat.
The tablet comes the standard apps like email, calendar, a web browser the G-suite of Google productivity tools and Word and Excel too. Of course other apps can be downloaded from the Play Store.
Samsung S-Pen
This tablet has the Samsung S-pen built in. Stashed in a dedicated and very secure slot on the top of the tablet, it's handy for those who like writing, or prefer the feel of a stylus for inputting into forms. As I've written before, the pen feels nice and tactile on the surface of the tablet; it doesn't feel like metal on glass like some styluses. it's nice and natural and is skims nicely across the surface, making accurate script.
Photo and video quality
The photos and videos taken with this device are vibrant and detailed, and they're definitely what we've come to expect from Samsung, who've made a great camera a priority in their devices.
This camera is an improved 8MP autofocus rear camera and ... (switch shot) there's a 5MP front camera. These cameras are said to be made for swift ID and passport scanning for companies that need that kind of functionality.
Overall thoughts:
This tablet is rugged, and definitely built for those who need durability in their tech. if that's you, and you're looking for an Android tablet for what you do for a living, you'll be pretty pleased with the Tab Active 2.