Samsung launches its latest rugged tablet: the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro

Many of us enjoy our portable tech devices — phones, tablets, wearables, etc. — and mainly use them for entertainment and social interaction, with a touch of productivity here and there. But it is easy to forget that there is a plethora of such products, specifically designed to help workers do their job more effortlessly and efficiently.

Today, Samsung released a brand new tablet, the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, which is specifically intended for those of us who need a rugged device while in the field or working at the frontlines of a business. So, what is the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro made of? Let’s see for ourselves!

Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro specs:

A nice blend of toughness and practicality

How rugged is the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro?

Since the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro is a rugged tablet, it is only natural to start with how protected it is from the environment.

The display on this elegant tank of a tablet, arguably the most vulnerable and important part, is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Samsung claims that it can withstand drops of up to 1m (3.28ft), and if you install the protective cover that comes in the box the Tab Active4 Pro should be able to handle 1.2m(3.93ft) as well.

When it comes to protection against the elements, Samsung’s latest rugged tablet also comes with IP68 certification for water, dust, dirt, and sand protection. This means that the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Salt water and pools are not as safe, though, so keep that in mind.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a real rugged device if it didn’t have some military-grade protection, so the Active4 Pro also complies with the MIL-STD-810H certification, which includes everything from high altitudes and extreme humidity to excessive vibration and salt spray.

MIL-STD-810H certification is based on standardized tests done by the US Military, however, which can be different from real-world usage scenarios, so there is no guarantee for extreme conditions. Nevertheless, it does give a slight peace of mind when it comes to the tablet’s durability.

How practical is the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro?

On the practicality side of things, the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro seems to strike a decent amount of points. It is not a particularly heavy piece of equipment for all intents and purposes, weighing in at 674g (1.48 pounds), which is about the same weight as the Active Pro from 2019. With the included protective cover and S Pen, we jump to 833g(1.83 pounds).

Additionally, there is support for key mapping, which enables companies to program the keys to quickly launch business-critical or commonly used apps with the press of a button. There is also the option to adjust the touch screen’s sensitivity so that workers wearing gloves don’t have to take them off while operating the tablet.

Last but not least, the speakers have been upgraded to have a higher maximum volume — an important detail for those who work in louder working environments like construction sites, for example.

And if all of these features are not enough, Samsung says the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro can easily be made to accommodate even more needs as it is compatible with first and third-party accessories like stands, straps, attachable keyboard covers, barcode scanners, and more.

Features and software

Rugged devices meant for field work are usually bought with the intent to last, and that also includes the software. Samsung promises 3 years of major software updates and five years of security updates for the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro, which comes with Android 12 out of the box.

In terms of connectivity, the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro comes with support for Sub6 5G networks and Wi-Fi 6. It is also ready to support CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) 13 for private network service.

Making it a viable option for retail businesses, there is also NFC onboard and a mobile Knox Platform for POS that can be used for card payments. And with the Knox Capture feature, the tablet can function as a barcode scanner for real-time tracking and checking of inventory.

One of the best parts about the Tab Active4 Pro in our opinion, however, is the user-replaceable battery (7,600mAh). You would have to buy one separately, as you might expect, but it is a great option to have for such a device.

If you have somewhere to keep the tablet plugged in, there’s also No Battery Mode, which is perfect for preventing battery health depletion. This can also pair nicely with Samsung DeX to connect the Active4 Pro to an external display.

Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro availability

The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro tablet will be available in parts of Europe starting this September, and later in 2022, it will also arrive in North America.