Rugged Smartphones in the Enterprise 2015 Buyer’s Guide Rugged Smartphones in the Enterprise: 2015 Buyer’s Guide Are you considering purchasing rugged smartphone devices for your business? If so, this 2015 Buyer’s Guide will help you make the best decision, taking into account specific use case and industry needs. We’ve analyzed some of the most popular rugged smartphones in the market today, outlined important specifications, highlighted the advantages and disadvantages of each device and pulled together the details to make clear recommendations for different types of businesses. Advantages of Rugged Smartphones 1 More Functionality 2 Lower Total Cost of Ownership Rugged smartphones offer businesses greater overall A main advantage to using rugged smartphones in the functionality to meet IT needs. Dedicated, purpose-built enterprise is the reduction of Total Cost of Ownership devices are designed to solve a single business problem. (TCO). VDC Research and other industry research firms Smartphones—unlike dedicated hardware—provide have established1 that environmental sealant and employees with access to telephone, GPS, email and military drop protection ratings can drastically lower enterprise mobile apps that make them many times more the TCO of mobile hardware. Rugged smartphones valuable in the workplace. Why purchase a dedicated are far less expensive than rugged mobile computers, barcode scanner and an employee smartphone, when making them an effective replacement for outdated you can leverage two devices for the price of one? mobile devices. Honeywell Kyocera Brigadier Motorola MC3190 Dolphin 70e 2 2 2 Lifetime TCO ~1478 USD ~4244 USD ~7578 USD Device Cost ~399 USD ~765 USD ~1364 USD Description Rugged Smartphone Industrial Smartphone Rugged Mobile Computer Scanner Type Scandit Dedicated Imager Dedicated Imager Internet Capable Battery Life (talk time) 20 hrs 6 hrs Unknown Storage Capacity 16GB (before SD Card) 1GB (before SD Card) 1GB Durability IP68 - Fully Rugged IP54 - Semi-Rugged IP54 - Semi-Rugged Rugged Smartphones in the Enterprise: 2015 Buyer’s Guide Camera Built-in cameras Battery Life make scanning Extended battery life barcodes fast gets you through a and easy with hard day's work the right software Waterproof Certified to resist Performance water and keep you working in The latest * processing any environment speed and performance to power your enterprise Shockproof Designed to withstand drops and shocks Ergonomic in the workplace Rugged designs that give the grip you need to get things done * Only when IP58 or higher certification 3 Unparalleled Ease-of-Use 5 Durability Smartphones are much easier to use than dedicated Today’s rugged smartphones meet the same hardware, providing a smoother user experience that ruggedness ratings that dedicated barcode scanners doesn’t require the training or learning curve dedicated feature. This makes rugged smartphones ideal for devices present. Because most employees already own device replacement in key use cases across the logistics and use a personal smartphone, it is much easier for healthcare and retail industries where older, heavy and them to operate rugged smartphones running Android, clunky devices are not optimal. Many of the devices or iOS devices using ruggedized cases covered in this guide can withstand concrete drops, submersion under water and heavy amounts dirt or dust, meaning you now have a choice when it comes to 4 Scanning Speed and Accuracy rugged IT device deployment. In the past, only handheld mobile computers equipped with laser scanners could be trusted by businesses to deliver the speed and precision necessary to power enterprise operations. Today, thanks to vast The rugged smartphone market is improvements in mobile hardware and camera rapidly emerging as mainstream technology, our software-based barcode scanner can provide indistinguishable performance for a fraction smartphone vendors such as of the cost —without the need to purchase additional Samsung and Sony are incorporating hardware components. With rugged smartphones, “ employees can scan barcodes using built-in cameras features such as water and dust in the toughest environments, like warehouses and resistance and protective/durable packaging facilities, without having to rely on expensive, bulky dedicated hardware. displays. ” - VDC Research 6 Rugged Smartphones in the Enterprise: 2015 Buyer’s Guide Choosing a Rugged Smartphone Device There are many options to consider when deciding upon a rugged smartphone device. First you must decide whether you’d like to purchase a rugged device or a rugged case. Rugged smartphones tend to be designed with the enterprise in mind, while rugged cases provide the means to protect consumer smartphone devices. Both strategies have distinct advantages and disadvantages, which we cover in this guide. Once you’ve figured out which levels of ruggedness you require, and have decided upon a case or device strategy, you’re ready to pick your device. Rugged Rating Definition Protected from limited dust ingress. IP58 Protected from long term water (semi-rugged) immersion (1m ) up to a specified pressure. Protected from total dust ingress. IP67 (rugged) Protected from immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter in depth. Protected from total dust ingress. IP68 (rugged) Protected from long term immersion (1m ) up to a specified pressure. IP69 (rugged) Protected from total dust ingress. Protected from steam-jet cleaning. Android Devices SONY XPERIA Z1 COMPACT DEVICE COST (MSRP) $379 3 RUGGEDNESS RATING IP58 BATTERY LI-ION 2300 MAH BATTERY, UP TO 18 H (3G TALK TIME) MEMORY AND STORAGE 16 GB, 2 GB RAM CAMERA SPECS 20.7 MP, 5248 Х 3936 PIXELS, AUTOFOCUS, LED FLASH ADDITIONAL FEATURES NFC, MICRO SD CARD SLOT, BLUETOOTH, GPS, WI-FI Pros: The Sony Xperia Z1 Compact provides a powerful processor, 20-megapixel camera and long-lasting battery life. It also has an IP58 environmental sealant rating that makes it dust, dirt and water-resistant for up to 30 minutes submerged underwater (1m). Cons: A major weakness of this device is that it is not shockproof, and has a glass front and back, which could be a deal breaker for many rugged usage scenarios without an additional purchase of a shockproof case. Additionally, with a 4-inch, 720p display it doesn’t possess the same screen size that other 8MP+ semi-rugged models reviewed in this guide offer. Performance Camera Indoor Use Conclusion: This is a lower cost, semi-rugged smartphone that provides high performance capabilites. It’s ideal for indoor or low intensity environments where drops, shocks or scratches aren’t as likely to occur, such as in retail Waterproof Battery Life Frequent and healthcare industries. The Z1 Compact makes a good choice for frequent Scanning barcode scanning scenarios (due to the 20MP camera). SAMSUNG GALAXY S5 ACTIVE DEVICE COST (MSRP) $659 3 RUGGEDNESS RATING IP67, MIL-STD-810G BATTERY LI-ION 2800 MAH BATTERY, UP TO 29 H (TALK TIME) MEMORY AND STORAGE 16 GB, 2 GB RAM CAMERA SPECS 16 MP, 3456 X 4608 PIXELS, AUTOFOCUS, LED FLASH ADDITIONAL FEATURES NFC, MICRO SD CARD SLOT, BLUETOOTH, GPS, WI-FI, ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION Pros: With sturdy IP67 and Military Standard 810G ruggedness ratings, the S5 is resistant to minor shocks, dirt, dust and water and can be submerged for up to 30 minutes (up to 1m). It also has a quad-core 2.5 GHz processor, HD display, 8MP+ and long battery life. Camera HD Screen Battery Life Cons: Slippery to hold, especially when wet. Conclusion: The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is a very fast, rugged consumer Waterproof Shock Proof Frequent smartphone that can withstand dust, water and minor shocks. It’s a good choice Scanning for indoor use and some low-intensity field service environments where major drops and shocks aren’t a concern. The S5 is also a good choice for frequent barcode scanning scenarios (due to the 16MP camera). Performance Android Devices SAMSUNG GALAXY XCOVER 2 DEVICE COST (MSRP) ~$250 3 RUGGEDNESS RATING IP67, MIL-STD-810G BATTERY LI-ION 2200 MAH BATTERY MEMORY AND STORAGE 8 GB, 1.5 GB RAM CAMERA SPECS 5 MP, AUTOFOCUS, LED FLASH ADDITIONAL FEATURES NFC, MICRO SD CARD SLOT, BLUETOOTH, GPS, WI-FI Pros: This rugged smart phone provides IP67 and Military Standard 810G ratings, making it dust, dirt, and water-resistant—for up to 30 minutes underwater. It also features Android soft keys that allow easy button access while wearing gloves. The Xcover 2 also has a lower price point compared to other devices in this series. Cons: While it’s got rugged capabilities, the Xcover 2 does not have the performance, camera or battery capacity possessed by other Galaxy phones we’ve reviewed in this guide. 8MP+ Camera Waterproof Conclusion: The Xcover 2 is a rugged smartphone that is ideal for indoor and low intensity work environments, such as retail and healthcare industries. It’s a mid-range performer that isn’t as powerful as some other rugged consumer smartphones we have reviewed in this guide. This device is a good choice for Shock Proof Indoor Use occasional barcode scanning scenarios (due to the 5MP camera). CAT B15 DEVICE COST (MSRP) $395 3 RUGGEDNESS RATING IP67, MIL-STD-810G BATTERY LI-ION 2800 MAH BATTERY, UP TO 29 H (TALK TIME) MEMORY AND STORAGE 16 GB, 2 GB RAM CAMERA SPECS 5 MP, 3456 X 4608 PIXELS, AUTOFOCUS, LED FLASH ADDITIONAL FEATURES NFC, MICRO SD CARD SLOT, BLUETOOTH, GPS, WI-FI, ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION Pros: This fully rugged smartphone has an IP67, and Military Standard 810G ratings which make it resistant to major shocks, dirt, dust and water. It also has an anodized aluminum and hardened rubber body that can survive drops from up to 6 feet. The B15 has a longer battery life and a lower cost than other comparable rugged devices in its class. Cons: The CAT B15 has a lower resolution screen than the average rugged smartphone in its class and doesn’t have an LED flash.