Best rugged tablets for use with comma CMMS (and other apps)

Published 2023-08-21 by Rui J Alves (a 6.8 minute read) | Back to the main page

While developing the comma CMMS android client we focus on what is most important for the technicians in the field: work order contents, task lists and required spares among other aspects. The main target for the comma CMMS android application are mobile phones not tablets, so why am I going to write about tablets then? Well, in some cases, full access to the system on a bigger screen is advantageous and can prove to be more efficient. It is unlikely that on-site technicians will need to tweak system configuration options on the go, but perhaps full access as fast as possible to new features such as the checklist module is important (this module is available on the web app but not yet on the android version at the time of writing) or perhaps the ability to see the full equipment description and parameters all at the same time on the screen will make the technician’s job easier. For these reasons and others (I’ll just add one more: loading and viewing pdf files), we will sometimes recommend the use of tablets to access the full web app version of comma CMMS.

So, what devices should you get? On this article, I’ll go through some modern and durable tablet options that can potentially be used with comma CMMS by technicians in the field, whatever industry you may be in. Here’s some basic requirements, specs and comments for what we are looking for:

• Rugged enough (water resistant, shock and dust proof) hopefully up to recognized standards.
• Wi-Fi connectivity to access the system in case there is wide network coverage throughout the premises.
• LTE connectivity to be used in locations with no access to Wi-Fi.
• No need for included keyboard, stylus and other accessories but nice to have as an option.

With all this in mind, let’s get started:

Oukitel RT1 rugged Android tablet

The cheaper option on this list is the Oukitel RT1. This is a 10.1-inch rugged tablet that runs on Android 11 and supports dual SIM and 4G connectivity. This tablet has a massive 10Ah battery that supports OTG (on-the-go) charging, meaning you can use it as a power bank to charge other devices. It also has two speakers (not that important unless you plan to play some tunes while you work…), a 16MP rear and front camera, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, plenty enough for most cases. There is no SD card expansion slot. The Oukitel RT1 is IP68 and IP69K rated, meaning it can resist water, dust, drops and shocks. It also has a Gorilla Glass 3 screen that is scratch-resistant and anti-glare. The best part is that this tablet is very affordable, costing only $249.99 on the manufacture’s site.

Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro (Unlocked)

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro is a 10.1-inch tablet that runs on Android 9 and comes with an S Pen stylus that works even when the screen is wet. It has a removable 7,600mAh battery that can last up to 15 hours of video playback (useful if you are watching how-to maintain equipment videos :-) ). It supports fast charging and wireless charging. It has a 13MP rear and 8MP front camera and comes with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro is MIL-STD-810G compliant, meaning it can survive extreme temperatures, humidity, vibration, and drops. It also has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. The tablet costs $679.99 on Samsung's website (this is after you select the LTE option which will ensure you always have high-speed connectivity and is one of the requirements we set).

Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet

The Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet is an impressive 11.6-inch tablet that runs on Windows 10 Pro. It has an Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage (this can be configured though). It has an 8MP rear and 5MP front camera, and supports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, GPS, and optional LTE connectivity. The Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet is MIL-STD-810G and IP65 certified, meaning it can withstand shocks, drops, dust, water jets, and salt fog. It also has a bright display that can be viewed in direct sunlight and glove touch capability. We selected the options that we believe make the most sense (specifically the Wi-Fi and the 4G card module) for use with comma CMMS and we came to a total price of $1,614.98 at Dell’s website.

Our recommendation

The three options listed here are purposefully spread through a range of prices that goes from the cheaper Oukitel to the $1,600 Dell. Our recommendation is right smack in the middle: the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro. Accessing comma CMMS through the browser (Microsoft Edge or Chrome for Android, recommended) is easy and works well, especially if used in landscape mode.

For most applications the versatility and power that you can get from the Dell Latitude tablet is not required and the relative obscurity of Oukitel as a brand is not in its favor despite the extremely attractive price tag. The Samsung is rugged enough, popular enough, reliable enough and just makes more financial sense in my view.

Obviously, the devices I list here should not limit you in any way; there are plenty more options out there. On the expensive side, matching prices and quality up there with the Dell Latitude tablet, you cannot go wrong with the Toughbook line of devices from Panasonic (take a look at the available options here). On par with the Samsung features and price there’s some other options too although they do come from rather obscure brands that would require a more in-depth analysis which might not really be worth it – it could simply be that they are niche brands, not known by the average consumer which is the perspective I think most maintenance departments decision-makers will have. Some examples of these are the MobileDemand xTablets and the Vanquisher Industrial Rugged tablet.

You will probably note the absence of the iPad until this point and there are a few reasons for this. The iPad is really a consumer grade device and simply not rugged enough for industrial use. You can certainly purchase rugged cases for it, but even so I think that it simply is not the right tool for the application. On top of that, there are some slight incompatibilities with Safari and comma CMMS widgets that, although useable, have their efficacy diminished making it a device I do not recommend.

I hope this article is of some guidance to you in case you’re looking to take your comma CMMS experience to the next level and if, for some reason, the existing Android mobile app is not for you. On a future article I will look at some options for rugged mobile devices and assess the feasibility of purchasing common consumer-grade devices and protecting them with after-market rugged cases (something that I do not recommend for larger devices such as tablets but that might just work for smaller phones). I think that topic can be of some value to some of you so keep posted for that.