Demand for smart devices that can withstand daily rigorous use has been rising exponentially in the last five years. According to a global market survey, the rugged tablet market grew at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 7% between 2014 and 2019. Source. That number is due to increase gradually over the next several years to serve the needs of the modern mobile workforce.

Rugged tablets are essentially smart devices that have been designed and built to sustain extreme and harsh environmental conditions. These devices are largely manufactured with reinforced frames, hardened glass and tough shells. They not only boast the qualities expected of a smart device but with the added benefit of being resistant to water, vibrations and damage caused by falls or temperature changes.

In essence, these smart devices have been specifically designed to help frontline workers in the field to increase efficiency and boost productivity in challenging environments. Whether it is indoors, on the road or in the field, these devices can withstand rigorous pressure to continue functioning at their optimum capabilities.

It goes without saying that the Covid-19 pandemic has had an adverse effect on the way businesses operations are conducted. With many workers now out in the field and on the frontlines, there has been growing demand for industrial-specific tablets.

Samsung has been servicing the rugged space for several years with its range of devices that are purpose-built for demanding environments. Samsung Mobile's Enterprise Rugged Device Range includes the Galaxy XCover Pro and the Galaxy Tab Active Pro. They are now joined by the Galaxy Tab Active3, Samsung's latest tough tablet.

The beauty of these devices is that they not only deliver the capabilities expected of a smart device but are also resilient and durable enough to withstand harsh environments. Best of all, these devices can be tailored to suit specific industries and sectors such as public safety, manufacturing and supply chain. They are also designed to be deployed and managed easily in fleets, such as in the field of transport and logistics.

The arrival of the Galaxy Tab Active3 is undoubtedly a boon for frontline workers as well as businesses, as it offers military-grade ruggedness in a sleek, lightweight and powerful tablet. With new enhancements for a seamless workflow and a growing partner ecosystem, the Tab Active3 sets a new standard for rugged devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3 is a compact, hardwearing, next-level smart device designed specifically for field-based operatives, outdoor employees and the frontline workforce. It is equipped with everything one expects from a strong and resilient tablet, along with high-quality technological features.

Samsung's latest rugged smart device brings back capabilities of its predecessor, the Tab Active2, along with enhanced features. It is designed specifically for modern businesses, with an emphasis on improving employee productivity and safety.

Features such as Touch Sensitivity are designed to help professionals, such as first responders, who use gloves for working safely in the most challenging environments and conditions. The performance and productivity features are perfect for field-based employees, especially as it is MIL-STD-810H-certified to handle some of the world's toughest jobs in the most extreme environments.

The Galaxy Tab Active3's enhanced shock absorption is able to withstand drops of up to 1.5m and is IP68-rated dustproof and water-resistant. The device is also equipped with an Exynos 9810 processor and features 4GB of RAM, up to 64GB.

Equipped with a long-lasting, replaceable 5050mAh battery, the device supports fast charging, which affords more uptime for users. For businesses that want to use the Tab Active3 in fixed locations like kiosks or in-vehicle use like trucks, the device also supports "No Battery Mode".

No Battery Mode allows the Galaxy Tab Active3 to stay on and powered even without a battery. This is especially useful when the device is kept in a high heat environment such as a vehicle or kiosk, as the feature keeps the tablet powered while avoiding the possibility of a swollen battery. Simply plug into a power source directly and continue with the tasks at hand.

To cater for the needs of today's highly mobile digital environment, the Tab Active3 is equipped with WiFi 6 connectivity with MIMO for greater data transfer speeds. The device also boasts Samsung DeX, affording dual-screen functionality so tasks can be picked up from virtually anywhere.

The built-in feature ushers in a new era of mobile-powered desktop computing, transforming the Tab Active3 into a PC. Via the DeX platform, you can connect it wirelessly to a Smart TV and other displays that support Miracast for presentations, and also to work on spreadsheets and reports for greater convenience.

The device also arrives with a slew of important features that cater specifically for business-to-business (B2B) operations. This includes a 13MP rear camera for taking pictures or scanning detailed documents and a 5MP front camera for video or conference calls.

Touch Sensitivity allows professionals to use the device while wearing gloves. The IP68-certified S-Pen also functions perfectly in a gloved environment. Boasting the highest level of IP certification available for consumer devices, the S-Pen is both water- and dust-resistant for greater durability.

It is ideal not only for capturing signatures and managing complex documents, but also functions impeccably in harsh conditions. With the S-Pen, users can sign off under the rain and make sketches or notes in dusty environments such as construction sites.

The device offers augmented reality support through Google ARCore and a quick access Active Key for instant access to apps, programmes and emergency calls. The Galaxy Tab Active3 is optimised for the retail space, with camera-based barcode scanning to help retailers easily manage their inventories and scan products for purchase. The model supports NFC with EMV Level 1 for payments.

With safety an important aspect of the digital business, Samsung has equipped the Tab Active3 with Samsung Knox. The defence-grade mobile security platform is installed on the device during the manufacturing stage, providing real-time device protection from the moment you turn it on, thus protecting businesses that use the device.

Samsung Knox can be customised by IT administrators to manage the programmes and apps used across the business. The added advantage of this solution is that it allows IT administrators to efficiently deploy enterprise devices, providing greater control to manage programmes and apps used across the business.

This not only helps customise the device to better suit the business nature and operation but also affords the business or administrator complete control over the mobile fleet, allowing employees to focus on the job at hand.

For more information on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3, please visit the Samsung website at (https://www.samsung.com/my/business/tablets/galaxy-tab-active3-t575/) or email the Samsung Team at [email protected]