The 5 Best Rugged Tablets for Manufacturing in 2025

We evaluated the top rugged tablets based on four key criteria that are essential for a successful factory deployment.

• Ruggedness (IP Rating/Drop Spec): Can it survive drops, vibrations, dust, and even water jets?

• Battery Life: Will it last a full 10- or 12-hour shift without needing to be recharged?

• Screen & Usability: Is the screen bright enough for a well-lit factory floor and responsive enough to be used with gloves on?

• Connectivity & Features: Does it have reliable Wi-Fi, an integrated barcode scanner, and a good camera for documenting repairs?

Here are our top picks for tablets that are built to thrive in a manufacturing environment and empower your team.

1. Zebra ET40/ET45: Best All-Rounder

Hardware Strengths: The Zebra ET40/ET45 is a true enterprise-grade tablet that offers the perfect balance of ruggedness, features, and price. It has an integrated barcode scanner, an optional hot-swappable battery to ensure zero downtime, and a tough Gorilla Glass screen.

Why it's Great for Fabrico: This is an ideal choice for a full CMMS and OEE rollout. The integrated scanner makes it incredibly fast for a technician like Tom to scan an asset tag and instantly pull up its entire maintenance history and all open PMs in the Fabrico CMMS app.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab Active Pro: Best for Durability & Value

Hardware Strengths: Samsung's rugged tablet offers military-grade (MIL-STD-810G) durability and a powerful, long-lasting battery in a familiar Android package. It's a true workhorse designed for tough environments at a very competitive price point.

Why it's Great for Fabrico: Its large, bright 10.1-inch screen and powerful processor make it perfect for displaying a real-time Fabrico OEE dashboard right at the production line. This gives operators a clear, live view of their performance targets without needing to squint at a small screen.

3. Panasonic TOUGHBOOK G2: Best for Extreme Environments

Hardware Strengths: The TOUGHBOOK name is legendary for a reason. The G2 is the gold standard for extreme ruggedness, fully sealed against dust and water (IP65) and built to withstand serious abuse.

Why it's Great for Fabrico: For maintenance teams working in wet food processing plants or gritty fabrication shops, this device is unbeatable. A technician can confidently use the Fabrico CMMS mobile app to close out a work order with wet or greasy hands, knowing the device is fully protected from the elements.

4. Dell Latitude 7230 Rugged Extreme: Best for Power Users

Hardware Strengths: This is a full Windows-based tablet with a powerful Intel processor and a hot-swappable battery. It's a true laptop replacement, designed for managers and engineers who need maximum power in a go-anywhere format.

Why it's Great for Fabrico: For a manager like Mike, this is the ultimate mobile command center. He can be on the factory floor and still have the full power of the Fabrico web platform to analyze complex OEE trends, manage his maintenance budget, and assign work orders without being chained to his desk.

5. Apple iPad with a Rugged Case: Best for Lighter Environments

Hardware Strengths: For less demanding environments like cleanroom assembly or quality inspection areas, a standard iPad in a high-quality rugged case (like an OtterBox Defender) can be a very cost-effective option. The simplicity of iOS makes it incredibly easy for teams to learn.

Why it's Great for Fabrico: The legendary ease of use of the iPad makes it perfect for operator-focused tasks. You can mount it at a station and have operators use the Fabrico app to easily categorize downtime events or follow a digital SOP with just a few intuitive taps.

 What is an IP rating?

An IP rating (e.g., IP65) measures a device's resistance to solids (like dust) and liquids (like water). The first digit (6) means it's fully dust-tight, and the second digit (5) means it can withstand jets of water, making it suitable for washdown environments.

Do we need a tablet with a built-in barcode scanner?

While you can use the camera on any device, a dedicated barcode scanner is much faster and more reliable, especially in low-light conditions. For maintenance teams that will be scanning asset tags frequently, an integrated scanner is a major quality-of-life improvement.

Should we choose Android, Windows, or iOS?

The best choice is the one that can reliably run your core software. A modern, flexible platform like Fabrico offers a full-featured app that works seamlessly across all three operating systems, so you can choose the hardware that best fits your budget and environment.

The tablet you choose is important, but it's only as good as the software it runs.

The real ROI comes from the complete system: a reliable device in the hands of your team, running a powerful and user-friendly platform that connects your problems directly to your solutions.

Ready to see the mobile-first CMMS and OEE platform that makes these rugged tablets a true asset?

Book a personalized demo of Fabrico today.