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Handheld Nautiz X6
Looks like a smartphone, acts like a tablet — a rugged, handy solution for when, on the job, a phone just isn't quite enough
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer; photography by Carol Cotton and Handheld Group; also see Nautiz X6 summary review)
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On January 30, 2019, the Handheld Group introduced the Nautiz X6, a new member of the company's Nautiz product line that includes both conventional rugged handhelds with keypads as well as toughened-up PDAs that can handle almost anything. And now the lineup also includes a phablet, which Handheld describes as phone plus tablet, a device that merges the big-screen functionality of a tablet with the go-anywhere mobility of a (in this instance very rugged) smartphone. In this report we are analyzing the Nautiz X6 in detail and present our findings and impressions.
When it comes to phones and tablets it's always good to know how big (and heavy), exactly, such a tweener product is, and where it fits into the overall scheme of things. Well, the Handheld Nautiz X6 is a beefed-up 6-inch Android device with a footprint of 7.5 x 3.5 inches, which is half again as much real estate as an iPhone XR. It is (a svelte) half an inch think and weighs 13.4 ounces.
 This means the Nautiz X6 is at the high end of smartphone screen sizes (you can actually get phones with even larger screens, but those are also considered phablets), and at the very low end of small tablet size and weight.
The image to the right shows how the Nautiz X6 fits into the Handheld Group's current Nautiz product line. The new phablet has the biggest screen and the most modern smartphone-like appearance:
Do not, however, mistake the Nautiz X6 for just a fashionably large ruggedized smartphone. While Handheld certainly put the immensely popular smartphone look to good use here, we're talking a Shaquille O'Neill-sized implementation of the concept.
No "oh, our bezel is so thin, it barely exists!" here. There is a bezel, because that means you can actually hold the device in your hand without touching the screen and inadvertently issue some command. And that bezel also includes substantial padding and protection. The can't-do-without protective case of every slender smartphone is built-in here. What's more, the Nautiz X6 is available with a replaceable battery that packs three times the punch of the one glued inside an iPhone XS. Let that sink in.
 On the software side, the Nautiz X6 comes with Android 8.0 "Oreo" with all the GMS (Google Mobile Services) apps. This is the most recent Android version with a major installed presence.
Further, the Nautiz X6 is one of the relatively rare enterprise handhelds with Google GMS (Google Mobile Services) certification. This means it's been certified by Google, comes with Google-branded apps (such as Maps, Gmail, Drive, etc.), and has access to the Google Play store. Handheld also mentions Android for Enterprise, a Google-led initiative to enable the use of Android devices and apps in the workplace. That means APIs and other tools for developers to integrate support for Android into enterprise mobility management solutions.
But that's not all as far as enterprise suitability goes. There's also the Handheld Group's MaxGo suite of Android apps that allows easy configuration of staging and security settings (see YouTube intro to Handheld MaxGo].
How to design a tough handheld computer for the field?
Designers of ruggedized handhelds have faced a difficult challenge ever since the birth of the modern smartphone. While smartphones have become an almost unimaginable success, increasing device literacy and technology adoption far  beyond expectation, translating all of that into opportunity for makers of enterprise, industrial and other vertical market handhelds has been tough.
That's because smartphones have become so ubiquitous and so powerful that the temptation is to use them where they really should not be used. Because current smartphone design mandates glossy, glitzy devices that are as light and slender as possible. Which makes them uniquely unsuitable for use in the field. Even if they are in a case.
Doesn't that present a great market opportunity for tougher devices that can handle getting dropped, rained on, or whatever else happens to small electronics during a typical day on the job? One would think so, but in reality it's amazingly difficult to succeed in that market. The lure of shiny, trendy stuff is very strong, and few want to pay extra for something that's tougher and won't break as easily.
Add to that the fact that ruggedized phones are tools for real jobs. That can mean industrial grade components that take extra space, larger batteries that can be replaced during a workday, special ports or controls, and perhaps extra hardware and software security provisions. All of that adds extra cost, size and weight.
So in order to have a chance at commercial success, the designers of a rugged handheld device must a) skillfully apply popular design concepts and features onto an underlying much more rugged platform, b) have a credible (if not incredible) spec sheet that gets the job done, and c) sell it at a price that convincingly confirms that its total cost of ownership is indeed lower than the consumer market if-it-breaks-just-get-another approach.
It also helps to have a track record of providing great products and excellent service (see what their customers have to say!), and being able to point at an attractive, cohesive product lineup and clear brand identity, all of which Sweden's Handheld Group has.
I should mention that Handheld Group CEO Jerker Hellstrom is an outspoken advocate of ruggedness from the ground up, rather than just putting consumer products in a case. Both approaches have their supporters, but Handheld's position is very clear. They deal in ruggedness inside and out.
Attractive hardware
So let's look at Handheld's Nautiz X6. Unlike many toughened handhelds that hide their size and bulk behind a consumer smartphone front so as to appeal to customers used to sliver-thin consumer products, the Nautiz X6 certainly pays homage to the current consumer tech design credo while still showing, in no uncertain terms, that it is a tough and rugged machine.
While, with the help of bezel-less designs where the display takes up the entire front of a device, the latest big-screen consumer smartphones look and feel amazingly small, the Nautiz X6 uses no such tricks. Its flush frontal glass extends well beyond the perimeter of the actual LCD display, as should always be the case with a capacitive multi-touch device. That makes the device easy to hold without the constant fear of inadvertently issuing a touch command.
The generous frontal side also allows a camera without the infamous Apple "notch," four physical buttons beneath the display, as well as actual physical protection in the form of a slightly raised bumper band going around the entire device. Makes perfect sense.
As always, the Handheld Group paid much attention to the look and feel of the product. All Handheld devices, no matter their size or style, share a common design language and a common color palette. As for the latter, the company's consistent use of their signature black and light gray color scheme enabled the Swedish company to build a cohesive and instantly recognizable brand identity that has undoubtedly contributed to their ongoing success.
As a pure Android device, the Nautiz X6 has no need for physical buttons beyond basics like power and volume up/down. Physical buttons can come in handy in rugged devices where it may be wet or users wear gloves, and so the Nautiz X6 has a programmable button on the left side (most likely used for the optional scanner or PTT functionality), and three programmable function buttons below the screen in the front.
What about the (frequently changing) standard Android buttons? In Android version 8 "Oreo," there are three, an upside-down return symbol for step back or ESC, a little house for Home, and a rectangle for a scrolling list of active apps. These three buttons are implemented in software and take up part of the display where they remain visible and available in any application.
While the Nautiz X6 is relatively large, between good ergonomics, grippy materials, and users having adapted to big screen handhelds, the Nautiz X6 feels quite handy. It does weigh almost 14 ounces, what with its big battery and rugged build, but it fits into most hands and pockets and, definitely, purses.
What it amounts to is that the Nautiz X6 is indeed a phablet, a small tablet with smartphone good looks but a definite tilt towards ruggedness, durability and functionality for the job.
The technology under the hood
Assessing the technology and performance of an Android device is quite different from that of a Windows/Intel device. Those are fairly easily pegged. After reviewing and benchmarking Wintel devices for decades, one look at the spec sheet is usually enough to get an idea of where a device fits into the performance landscape.
 Smartphones and Android-based handhelds may come with processors from Qualcomm, nVidia, Samsung, Mediatek and numerous other licensees of the ARM architecture that dominates smartphones. And there seems to be little of the brand loyalty that can be seen in desktops and laptops. Handheld itself uses several different CPU vendors for its current Nautiz models.
 For the Nautiz X6, Handheld chose an octa-core Cortex-A53 MSM8953 processor from Qualcomm, the same chip used in Samsung, Motorola, Vivo and Meizu smartphones and tablets as well as Zebra's rugged M60 tablet. The MSM8953 chip is based on the ARMv8-A 64-bit instruction set, and the Cortex-A53 is the successor to the popular Cortex-A7. For graphics, the MSM8953 includes an Adreno 506 GPU running at up to 650MHz.
Qualcomm introduced the Snapdragon 625 mobile platform, of which the MSM8953 is a part of, as a robust, power-efficient processor platform for high-end smartphones. It includes an integrated X9 LTE modem with very fast upload speed as well as advanced Wi-Fi and assisted GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo). The platform supports 4K video, dual SIMs, realistic 3D imagery and the latest graphics APIs. (See Snapdragon 625 brochure)
In our benchmark testing (AnTuTu and PassMark Mobile), the Handheld Nautiz X6 did very well, scoring roughly three times as high as the Handheld Group's older Nautiz X2 and twice as high as the ultra-rugged Nautiz X9.
There's 16GB of internal mass storage, which can be complemented with up to 128GB via microSDXC card. For navigation, the spec sheet suggests that the Nautiz X6 supports not just the American GPS, but also the GLONASS, Beidou, and Galileo satellite systems. Access to more satellites can increase reception in difficult areas.
Built rugged from the ground up
One of the great mysteries of our time is why smartphones — devices that are used and abused by billions every day everywhere and anywhere — are so slender and so fragile that almost all of them will spend their lives encased in a protective case. And why the Apples and Samsungs of this world continue to consider the glossy slender fragility of their phones such a wonderful thing. It is not. Handheld knows that and has always been a very strong proponent of building their devices rugged from the ground up, and from the inside out.
 Compared to the unfortunate fashion plate fragility of consumer phones, the Nautiz X6 is a tank. A serious, grown-up, logical implementation of am Android phablet.
And compared to the universal monolithic design of virtually every contemporary smartphone and tablet today, the Nautiz X6 features an interesting and nicely contoured design.
On the backside it's instantly clear where the camera, flash, and speaker are, where the expansion port and the antenna pass-through are, and how to access the battery.
Another fallacy of most consumer phones and tablets is integrated batteries that are usually difficult, costly, and sometimes impossible to replace. Given that batteries last a limited number of charge cycles (500-1000), customers will appreciate the Nautiz X6's replaceable and externally accessible battery.
The polycarbonate battery compartment cover has its own precision-cut replaceable silicone pressure seal that neatly sits in its channel. As long as that seal is in good condition, this is a good solution to to keep liquids out. That is imperative here as the inside of the battery compartment houses the unit's card slots and is open to the interior of the device.
The battery compartment cover snaps into place and is then additionally secured by a couple of slider locks.
The Lithium-Ion battery is a 3.8 Volt, 8,000 mAH design that delivers 30.4 watt-hours, three times the battery capacity of Apple's big iPhone XR. The spec sheet doesn't provide an estimated run-time on a charge but states that the battery allows to "work even multiple shifts on a single charge." We guess that could be around 20 hours.
Inside the battery compartment, located above the battery, are the Nautiz X6's dual nano-SIM slots as well as the unit's microSD card slot. The microSD card is of the SDXC variety and can handle storage cards up to 128GB.
In terms of construction, the Nautiz X6 employs an interesting design. It consists of a shallow box that the front half with the display and all electronics fits into. 16 Torx T5 screws tightly secure the two pieces together, with a replaceable red pressure seal keeping liquids out.
There should hardly ever be a reason to take a Nautiz X6 apart. If the need does arise, it's best left to a professional service facility due to a hard to reach/disconnect USB Type-C ribbon cable. That, by the way, is the only wired contact between the halves. Everything else inside the Nautiz X6 connects surface mount pressure contacts.
 Unlike most of Handheld's products, the Nautiz X6 doesn't have an integrated industrial-grade scanner. Scanning is available, though, as a snap-on accessory that works with the phablet's expansion connector.
From the looks of it, the scanner engine Handheld chose is the highly regarded Honeywell N3680 2D imager. It allows quick and accurate point and click scanning, with a scan range from two to 15 inches depending on the symbology used.
Overall, the insides of the Nautiz X6 reveal a clean and simple layout with nothing in sight that may get in the way or come loose. This latest Nautiz rugged mobile computer looks as good inside as it does outside.
Excellent display
Display technology doesn't get the respect it deserves. It's always all about processors and how much RAM and storage and what OS and which version. That's weird because the quality, technology and sharpness of the display are as much or more important to the overall user experience and user satisfaction.
That starts with the proper size. The 6-inch display on the Nautiz X6 would have been unthinkable on a handheld just a few years ago. For many years, screens on handheld devices were tiny.
The first iPhone launched with a 3.5-inch screen in 2007, and it wasn't until 2012 that Apple introduced the iPhone 5 with a larger 4.0-inch screen. Since then, the displays on consumer smartphones have been growing ever larger, to the extent where there are now phones with 6.5-inch screens and beyond.
 As is, in this new world of large-screen handhelds the Nautiz X6 display looks just about right — not as large as to make the device too big and tablet-like, but large enough for real work.
The screen's 1080 x 1920 pixel resolution makes for 367 pixels per inch. That's super-crisp and beyond what Apple initially introduced as "retina" resolution (the iPhone 4's 330 ppi display). It's also much, much sharper than the original iPhone (163 dpi), and even all the currently available iPads. And it's an IPS (In-Plane Switching) screen, which means it has perfect viewing angles from all directions, without any color or contrast changes.
The display is also bright enough for comfortable outdoor use. Light emitted by a display backlight, i.e. what makes it readable bright environments, is given in a unit called candela per meter squared, or cd/m2. It's usually just called "nits." Standard laptops generate about 200 nits. Modern tablets and smartphones between 500 and 600 nits. The table to the right shows our measurements of the light emitted by the Nautiz X6 display. The 550 nits we measured on our review unit is right where we'd expect a competent mobile computing tool for the job to be.
The picture below shows an outdoor comparison between the Handheld Nautiz X6 and an iPhone 7 Plus, both at full brightness. The iPhone 7 Plus we used had a maximum screen brightness of 645 nits, compared to the Nautiz X6 display's 550 nits. Under most conditions, the Nautiz X6 looks as, or almost, as bright. The image below was taken in early July, early afternoon, on a sunny day. Like virtually all handhelds and tablets today, both devices have glossy screens.
The two picture sets below show the two devices sitting on the ground under different lighting conditions. On the left, they are facing the open sky, with reflections very noticeable on both. On the right, they are in a shaded area with less reflection. Brightness seems again quite similar.
The two pictures below simply show what billions of smartphone users know: glossy screens make for beautifully vibrant displays that "pop," but they also mean reflections. At some future time that may no longer be the case. But for now we just have to live with it.
Given that iPhones aren't rugged devices specifically designed for outdoor use, shouldn't the Nautiz X6 have beaten the consumer phone outright? No. All modern handhelds are designed for outdoor use, there are hard technology limits, and hanging with an iPhone is high praise indeed.
Camera for use on the job
Here at RuggedPCReview we've long been critical of the very marginal quality of cameras integrated into rugged devices, be it handhelds, tablets or laptops. For years it seemed doubtful that cameras built into rugged handhelds would ever become useful enough to even warrant their inclusion.
And yet, it happened. The camera in the Nautiz X6 is way better than we'd ever have expected. It's as good or better than what you'd get from your average dedicated point-and-shoot camera. How did that happen? Because smartphones have almost totally replaced stand-alone dedicated point-and-shoot cameras. Between smartphones' big display, the great software, the easy communication and uploading, and the good image quality, it's just so much more convenient. More and more field service and other professionals are doing likewise. No, cameras built into handhelds are still no replacement for a digital SLR. But if they are as good as those in the Nautiz X6, they can get a lot of imaging and documentation jobs done.
The Nautiz X6's integrated documentation camera can take images with resolutions of up to 13 megapixel. It also has an LED illuminator that you can turn on and off via software to add extra light. It's not a flash in terms of power, but certainly helps taking better pictures in marginal lighting conditions. The user-facing camera offers 5 megapixel resolution.
One thing that sets Android devices apart from Windows-based units is the camera software. Compared to the dreadful Windows Camera app, Android is light years ahead. There are plenty of settings, configurations, shooting modes and special features, and unlike on dedicated cameras, everything is simple and straightforward. The below screen captures show some of the menus of the Nautiz 6 camera.
The Camera app that came with our review unit allows rear camera shooting of 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, and 13 megapixel stills in three different picture qualities and in a dozen scene modes. Setiings include HDR shooting, time delay, face detection, redeye reduction, white balance, ISO, exposure compensation and more. Tap anywhere on the picture and the camera will focus there, with a green marker indicating when focus is locked in. There is also a panorama mode and users can not only apply filters (mono, negative, sepia, etc.) to pictures that have already been shot, but also to live shooting.
Video resolution can be set from QVGA all the way up to 4k UHD, you can use the LED light to illuminate recordings, vid clips can be as long as you want (space permitting), there is white balance setting, and even image stabilization.
Overall, the standard camera app is good enough to make downloading a third party camera app almost unnecessary. If you do want to experiment with even more settings, we recommend Mark Harman's excellent and free Open Camera app from the Google Play store.
With Android's Gallery app, users can do fairly extensive editing right on the Nautiz X6. There is a wealth of functions available, including color effects, filters, cropping, straightening, different aspect ratios, and as well as numerous light and color controls. The camera app can also send/share images via Messaging, email, Photos or whatever other social media apps you have on the device.
Below are some sample shots we took with the documentation camera. Click on the picture to load a full-size version.
Overall, the Nautiz X6 camera is capable of taking very good pictures, much better than we generally see from industrial handhelds. There is very good sharpness and image detail, and virtually none of the massive compression that in the past marred the pictures from such integrated cameras. The lag and occasional hiccups that made older onboard integrated cameras nearly useless are gone.
Video is also much better than what we used to expect from cameras integrated into rugged devices. Having 4k/30fps UHD recording right on an industrial phablet can really add to documentation quality and detail.
What this means is that Nautiz X6 users don't need to take along a dedicated camera or even their smartphone to take pictures and video. The onboard cameras are plenty good enough.
Ruggedness: no need for a protective case
Like all the Handheld Group's rugged mobile computers, the Nautiz X6 was designed to be used on the job without needing extra protection in the form of a case. It's built tough enough to never bend or twist, it doesn't have any glossy metal surfaces that could scratch or dent, and the device is grippy enough to lessen the chance of it slipping out of your hand. In addition, the very slightly raised bezel protects the strengthened glass display in case of a drop.
According to its specs, the Nautiz X6 can handle a very wide operating temperature range from -4 to 131 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 55 Celsius). That's good enough for most deployments, except for extremest heat or cold. It carries IP67 sealing where the "6" means the computer is totally protected from dust, and the "7" that it can handle full immersion into water down to one meter. The Nautiz X6, per specs, survived six drops from five feet onto a concrete surface. What does all this mean?
As far as operating temperature goes, the device can be used in most environments where someone would be expected to work with a computer. The folks at the Handheld Group's native Sweden know a thing or two about ice and snow and working in the cold, so we're sure they have low temperature suitability covered.
  As far as the phablet's ability to handle 5-foot drops go, that's more than the four feet the US government military standard suggests in its testing.
Why is five feet important? Four feet is what rugged tablets and laptops must be able to handle in the MIL-STD-810G because four feet is about the height they may fall while being used in a standing position. But anything that can also be used as a phone, and the Nautiz X6 is in that category, may easily be dropped from five feet when the device is being used for a call without the speakerphone. And that's why the five feet drop spec is important.
IP67 protects a device even against immersion into water to a depth of about three feet. We consider that a very good thing and pretty much mandatory for a handheld device that will be used in the field. Why? Because there's always the chance that it will fall into a puddle or get soaked in some other way. Knowing that it can handle that, and more, brings peace of mind. As is, we had our review Nautiz X6 sitting in water and, as expected, it neither leaked nor stopped operating normally.
Vibration resistance was tested as described in MIL-STD-810G, Method 514.6, Procedure I, for general vibration in a fixed mounting test, but there is no detailed description. This would be good to have as many Nautiz X6 devices will likely see their share of being rattled and bopped around. The Nautiz X6 can handle operating altitudes up to 15,000 feet. This is relevant not only for use in mountainous areas, but also in unpressurized airplanes. The device was also tested according to MIL-STD-810G, Method 507.5 for humidity resistance.
Both in specs and in daily use and operation, the Nautiz X6 phablet is a remarkably rugged device that is capable of handling a substantial degree of abuse, far more than any consumer smartphone or tablet.
Summary: Handheld Group Nautiz X6
What, overall, does that make the Handheld Group's Nautiz X6? It is a product for the time. Users love big screens and the look and feel and power of a modern smartphone. But they don't want to baby their device and stick it in a case. With the Nautiz X6 customers don't have to.
 Although officially Handheld calls it a phablet and it is larger than even the largest current smartphone, the attractively styled Nautiz X6 remains manageable in size and weight. It's quite pocketable and gets high marks both in ergonomics and functionality.
The bright and vibrant 6-inch sunlight-viewable capacitive multi-touch screen IPS display is very sharp and offers perfect viewing angles from all directions, without any color or contrast shifts. The touch screen is as quick and responsive as on any smartphone. And the device can be used with many gloves.
Unlike consumer smartphones and small tablets, the Nautiz X6 is more than rugged enough to be used in any environment, without even needing a protective case. The onboard reversible USB Type-C port handles charging and all I/O. The very powerful battery is replaceable in seconds, and the Nautiz X6 has a microSD card slot for extra storage.
The unit provides excellent wireless functionality (WiFi, WWAN, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC). the An integrated 13-megapixel documentation camera is capable of very good images as well as 4k video, and there is also a very good 5-megapixel user-facing camera. Industrial-grade integrated scanning is available in the form of a snap-on peripheral.
Overall, the Handheld Nautiz X6 clearly is a product of the time. Users love big screens and the look and feel and power of a modern smartphone. The Nautiz X6 delivers that, but in a state-of-the art package that is far better protected and far more durable. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, July 2019
Handheld Group Nautiz X6 Specifications:
| Status |
Added 01/2019, full review 07/2019
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| Type |
Ultra-rugged Android phablet
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| Processor |
Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 626, MSM8953 |
| Processor speed |
2.20GHz |
| OS |
Android 8.0 "Oreo" (GMS) |
| Graphics |
Adreno 506 GPU |
| RAM/ROM |
4GB RAM/32GB Flash |
| Display type |
Sunlight-readable 550 nits TFT with glove/rain modes and Corning Gorilla Glass |
| Display size and resolution |
6.0"/1080 x 1920 pixel (367 ppi)
|
| Digitizer/Pens |
Projected capacitive multi-touch |
| Keyboard |
Onscreen, 3 function buttons on the front, power, volume up/down, function button on the side |
| Expansion |
1 x microSDXC (128GB), 2 x Nano-SIM |
| Housing |
PC+ABS polymer |
| Operating temperature |
-4° to 131°F (-°20 to 55° Celsius), MIL-STD-810G, Method 501.5/502.5 Procedure II
|
| Shock |
6 drops from 1.5m, concrete surface IEC 68-2-32:1990
|
| Vibration |
MIL-STD-810G, Method 514.6 Procedure I
|
| Enclosure Class |
IP67, MIL-STD-810G, IEC 60529 60529 |
| Altitude |
15,000 feet (4,572 meters)
|
| Hazardous materials |
unknown |
| EMC/EMI |
MIL-STD-461F: CE101, CE102, CS101, CS114, CS115, CS116, RE101, RE102, RS101, RS103
|
| Size |
7.5 x 3.5 x 0.5 inches (192 x 91 x 14.5 mm)
|
| Weight |
13.4 ounces (380 grams)
|
| Power |
3.8V, 8,000mAH, 30.4 whr Li-Ion, field-replaceable
|
| Camera |
Rear-facing 13mp auto-focus camera with LED flash, front-facing 5mp
|
| Scanning |
Optional snap-on 2D imager (works with expansion connector in the back)
|
| Sensors |
Gyroscope, compass, accelerometer, pressure, proximity, ambient light
|
| Interface |
USB Type-C, USB OTG, Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0, GNSS antenna connector, expansion connector
|
| Communications |
Dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, WWAN (2G, 3G, 4G LTE), uBlox GNSS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou)
|
| Price |
Starts at US$999
|
| Product brochure |
 Nautiz X6 brochure |
| Web page |
Handheld Group Nautiz X6 web page |
| Contact |
Handheld Group AB
Kinnegatan 17A
531 33 Lidköping, Sweden
Tel: +46 (0) 510 54 71 70
Fax: +46 (0) 510 282 05
Web: www.handheldgroup.com
Email: info at handheldgroup.com
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HHCS Handheld USA Inc.
33870 SE Eastgate Circle
Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
Tel: (541) 752-0313
Fax: (541) 752-0338
Web: www.handheld-us.com
Email: info at handheld-us.com
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(copyright 2018 RuggedPCReview.com)
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