The top 5 Unbreakable pieces of Hardware Money can buy

In a normal business day there is a possibility that your tablet, laptop or smartphone may fall, get knocked over, or liquid may fall over it. Moreover while travelling or in a work area which is exposed to harsh conditions the odds of mishaps are quite high. Experts believe that this happening to conventional tablets is almost one out every five tabletsat a workplace. Hence many prefer using rugged hardware at the workplace.

The most ultra rugged devices need to meet the gold standard for ruggedness set by Military Standard 810G rating (also known as MIL-STD-810G) as these devices were initially developed for military use. Luckily for the average consumer, rugged products aren’t just for the military use anymore; and there are plenty of consumer-level products which comply with the military standards. So if you are looking for something which you don’t need to be overly careful with; then here at some unbreakable pieces of hardware money can buy.

Kyocera Brigadier

The handset featuring a 4.5-inch HD display is a ruggedized smartphone that comes with a rating of IP68. This means it is not only dustproof but also waterproof and can be submerged in 1.8 meters of water for up to 30 minutes. Being MIL-STD-810G certified the handset display supports touch operation using gloves and even wet fingers.

It has a GPS receiver, E-compass, barometer and a 3-axis accelerometer. It also has a decent built-in camera with a capacity of 3100mAh. The primary 8MP camera comes with LED flash and the handset also has a 2MP secondary front-facing camera. On the downside the phone only runs exclusively to Verizon’s 4G-LTE data network.

Sonim XP6

Powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor that is backed by 1GB RAM and 8GB of internal memory the Sonim XP6 is an extremely tough smartphone that has both a physical keyboard and a capacitive TFT display. It sports an8.1mm thick body with a long-lasting 4820mAh battery; which results in a relatively higher weight of 9.52oz.

The handset can be exposed to the toughest of conditions and is both dust and waterproof having been qualifiedas IP68, IP69. Passing the MIL-STD-810G certifications it can withstand other rough conditions such as extreme temperatures and considerable impacts. Other specifications of the phone include a 5MP rear camera, but no front facing camera. The only drawback of this phone is that it too can only run exclusively on AT&T network supporting its LTE and mobile hotspot service.

Panasonic Toughbook 31 

This one is the sixth generation of rugged laptops made by Panasonic and is the toughest one they have made till now. While the latest Toughbook looks pretty much the same as its Toughbook 28, 29 and 30 predecessors, this is by far the fastest Toughbook due to the switch to Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors resulting in a much improved performance.The new LED backlight is even brighter and less sensitive to low temperatures.

Panasonic Toughbook 31 has been engineered to meet the highest military standards and certifications. Drops, shocks, slams and intense vibrations will not alter its performance. It can withstand some of the worst environmental conditions, like 6 inches of rain at 70mph winds as well as 6 feet fall when closed and off and a 3 feet one while open. It comes with a sunlight viewable touch screen, backlit keyboard and has a better-than-normal 18-hour battery life (27 Hours with Optional Media Bay 2nd Battery).

Getac F110

If your work requires a big-screen rugged tablet, then this device is strong enough to provide years of reliable operations. It boasts of a large screen of 11.6-inches, good performance and dual battery packs. The tablet has a textured polycarbonate case that's built on a firm magnesium frame; around its edge, polycarbonate and ABS plastic bumpers are molded into the case. The screen is made of Gorilla Glass II. The ports are covered, and there's a sealed docking connector on the bottom.F110 is built to withstand various extreme conditions being tested and certified byMIL-STD-810G, IP65 and MIL-STD-461F standards; and also has a three-year warranty that includes accidental damage.

While the 2160mAh batteries can keep it powered for 7 hours and 40 minutes of continuously playing HD videos from a USB key; its 5-megapixel back-facing camera can be GPS tagged for location, making this very useful for a variety of employees, like an oil rig repair crew. On the downside it's rather heavy and highly priced being roughly a pound heavier than the Panasonic Toughpad listed below, and is three times as heavy as an iPad Air 2. The display is also 27% darker than the Panasonic Toughpad and less usable in direct sunlight than the Panasonic. Moreover the bumpers rise 0.1 in. above the display, hence writing or drawing on the screen can be uncomfortable at times and we much preferred the Panasonic's near-flush case.

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

Though its three-year warranty unfortunately doesn't include accidental damage, this tablet is a good choice for those who want a tablet that is as close to indestructible as is possible. It provides good performance; sturdy metallic case; high-quality display; screen flush with case, making it easier to use and a variety of optional accessories

Panasonic's Toughpad FZ-G1 provides great protection;that's because rather than using a plastic skin, the Toughpad is built around a sturdy magnesium frame and case, while its major components have been flexibly mounted to absorb the shock of an impact. The tablet has a 10.1-in. screen made of Gorilla Glass II, offers 1920 x 1200 resolution and offers pretty good images even in direct sunlight. It meets all the MIL-STD 810G tests and has an IP65 waterproof rating.The Toughpad's 4400mAh battery pack can power the tablet for six hours and 11 minutes of continuous playback of videos from a USB key.Its bumpers protrude only slightly above the screen, making the Toughpad easier for writing, drawing or just checking off Web forms. The only hitch is that it tends to run hot while operating.

Conclusion

These unbreakable pieces of hardware come with reinforced frames, tough skins, watertight seals, hardened glass, soft corner bumpers and major components that are shock-mounted. There are some which can be dropped, shaken, soaked but will still maintain optimum performance along with great battery life.

But as the saying goes “to gain something; you have to lose something”; so does it imply here, as hardware devices are not only much larger and heavier than their consumer counterparts, but also two or three times higher in price.