Apple’s iPad might be beautiful, but it doesn’t mix well with the outdoors. While it can resist a few bumps and scrapes, it’s not exactly prepared to dive off a cliff. That’s where these new tablets come in handy. Designed for outdoor use, they’re rugged enough for any of your adventures.
GETAC F110 ($2,899)
Best For: Long battery life
If you want a tablet with a long battery life, check out the , which comes with two replaceable batteries for up to 13 hours of use. The rugged tablet can withstand minor drops, and the 11.6-inch display uses a technology called LumiBond, which the company claims is durable and easy to read even in the sun. The three-pound tablet runs Windows 8, but can be downgraded at the factory to Windows 7. The downside? You can’t submerse it in water.
Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 ($2,099)
Best For: Portability
ճ, which fits in your palm, has a seven-inch screen and weighs about a pound. The daylight-readable display uses touch technology that works even when you’re wearing gloves. Drop-, shock-, and water-resistant, the մdzܲ貹-1 can put up with some serious outdoor abuse, but take note that it’s not fully waterpoof. It will last about eight hours with the standard battery pack.
Earl ($299)
Best For: Backcountry survival
Earl is the . The six-inch tablet comes packed with extra features and uses a grayscale, sunlight-friendly flexible display. It has a weather radio that will send alerts over the SAME (Specific Area Message Encoding) network, a two-way radio, and detailed topographic maps. Earl is fully waterproof and lasts about 20 hours on one charge. Plus, there’s a solar panel on the back for charging up in the backcountry. This crowd-funded product should come out this spring.
GammaTech Durabook CA10 ($1299)
Best For: Bluetooth-capability
ճ has a 10.1-inch screen that’s bright and easy to use. The tablet can withstand drops, vibrations, and splashes, but it isn’t fully waterproof. The Bluetooth-capable gadget can sync with fitness trackers, and like the ҷմ110, the Gammatech CA10 has two removable batteries good for about eight hours of use.
Sony Xperia Z2 ($TBD)
Best For: Outdoor entertainment
ճ, announced last month, is fully waterproof and thinner than a pencil. A successor to the original Xperia, the Z2 lasts ten hours with one charge and uses a new screen technology called Live Colour LED to make videos and photos pop even when you’re outside. The Z2 also has new noise-cancelling headphone technology to improve music playback.