Modern industrial businesses need a flexible, reliable, and mobile computer solution. The choice may seem to lie between consumer vs. industrial tablets, but when you understand their differences, you’ll see that there’s no choice at all.
What Defines a Consumer-Grade Tablet?
Consumer-grade computer tablets are the products that are widely available online and at physical retailers. If you go to an electronics store, you’ll see consumer-grade devices on the shelf. This ubiquity does have its advantages; employees are more likely to be familiar with consumer-grade devices, and they should be compatible with other off-the-shelf devices.
Not Designed For Industrial Settings
However, consumer-grade tablets are just that, consumer-grade. They’re meant for the average, baseline consumer, not the specialized working environment of a factory floor or warehouse. A consumer-grade tablet may offer some degree of drop protection for its casing and screen scratch resistance, but it won’t be designed to withstand constant, harsh vibrations or feature a waterproof front bezel. This means a consumer-grade tablet is far more likely to fail and break down, disrupting operations and forcing you to pay for repairs or a replacement.
Lack of Customization Options
Additionally, purchasing a tablet off the shelf means you only get what’s on the shelf. This means no customization options, no chance to fine-tune your device to your specific needs. This means there is no choice in what CPU or memory the tablet uses, or the operating system it relies on. This means that if you rely on a particular software program or tool, a consumer-grade device might be incompatible with it. If you need a specific physical feature, such as an anti-glare screen or integrated RFID reader, you may be completely out of luck.
What Defines a Rugged Industrial Tablet?
On the surface, a rugged tablet does not look that much different from a consumer-grade device. It is a handheld computer with a touchscreen interface designed to be small and lightweight, allowing a worker to carry it with them throughout their shift. The key defining features of a rugged industrial tablet often lie under the hood, in its construction and the features it includes.
Engineered for Harsh Environments
The most significant defining feature of rugged industrial tablets is that they are designed, tested, and manufactured specifically to handle the rigors of the industrial sector. By using trusted standards such as MIL-STD-810G and IEC 60068, tablet manufacturers can test their devices for parameters such as shock resistance, vibration, extreme temperatures, and more. A rugged tablet will also include features such as chemically treated glass for the touchscreen to prevent cracks and scratches, as well as solid-state drives that can better withstand impacts.
Another major issue in most industrial working environments is liquids and dust, which can easily damage a computer’s components if they get inside the case. This is why rugged tablets will feature ingress protection (IP) measures, with the most common rating being IP65. This means that the tablet’s front bezel and screen block out dust completely and can withstand water jets for several minutes without any water getting inside the case.
Customizable and Flexible
Another significant difference between industrial vs. consumer tablets is the customization options available. Dedicated industrial computer tablets are typically manufactured by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), a company that has full control over its design and production process. This means that they can integrate peripheral devices, alter I/O port options, and upgrade processing and storage capabilities as per the needs of the customer.
For example, if you want to use your tablet for inventory management, an integrated barcode scanner lets you add and remove packages from your database with ease. If you need your tablet to interface with older legacy equipment, you can have legacy I/O ports such as serial ports integrated alongside more modern options like USB. Need more processing power? Spring for a stronger CPU. This makes industrial tablets far more flexible and easier to integrate into pre-existing workflows.
Comparing Industrial vs. Consumer Tablets
Now that we understand the key differences between consumer and industrial tablets, we can go through them, point by point, as well as other factors that have not yet been discussed.
- Durability: As previously noted, rugged industrial tablets have a massive advantage in terms of reliability, especially in strenuous work environments. With reinforced casings and vibration protection, they can handle working in close proximity to heavy machinery or being mishandled by employees.
- Customization: Purchasing industrial tablets directly from an OEM gives you the chance to have them customized to your exact specifications and requirements. On the other hand, purchasing consumer models off the shelf drastically limits your options.
- Battery Life and Recharging: Consumer-grade tablets rely on rechargeable batteries that are permanently sealed inside the casing. This means that if you run out of charge, you have no choice but to plug the tablet into an outlet and wait for it to recharge, potentially leaving you without your computer tools. An industrial tablet can implement hot-swappable batteries, which can be exchanged as needed. When a battery runs out, simply swap it with a fresh replacement and continue working while it recharges.
- Customer Support: Consumer-grade products purchased off the shelf often have feeble customer support. Typically, the retailer you purchase a consumer-grade tablet from will not have technicians on staff; this means that if your purchased tablet breaks down, you will have to send the device to the original manufacturer or a third-party service provider for repairs. This can add weeks, even months, to the turnaround time and potentially hundreds of dollars to the cost. Purchasing an industrial tablet directly from the OEM guarantees that if something goes wrong with the device, you can have it serviced quickly by in-house professionals.
- Warranty: Most consumer-grade tablets only come with a one-year warranty. This may be acceptable for the general public, but industrial companies typically want to get years of service out of their equipment, tablets included. The higher degree of design and engineering that goes into industrial-grade tablets means they can offer longer warranties, up to five years in some cases.
As all of the above points show, rugged tablets are far and away the superior choice for any serious industrial work environment.
Rugged Industrial Tablets from Cybernet Manufacturing
While choosing a consumer-grade computer tablet may seem tempting due to their ubiquity, rugged industrial tablets are the better option, thanks to their reliability and flexibility. Partnering with an OEM also gives you full access to their manufacturing expertise, which is invaluable if you require specialized solutions or customer support.
If your company needs rugged and reliable computer tablets to support its industrial operations, contact Cybernet Manufacturing. We’d be more than happy to explore the advantages that our industrial computers offer, as well as other solutions we can provide.