Modern rugged mobile PDA gets updated tech and Android 11.
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

On November 10, 2021, almost four years after the initial release of the company's Nautiz X9 rugged mobile PDA, the Handheld Group introduced a significantly updated and more powerful version of the popular device that's part of a quintet of Nautiz-branded handhelds.

The tough and brawny Nautiz X9 was conceived as a handheld computer that provides the ease of use of a contemporary Android device but also allows heavy-duty data collection in all sorts of work environments.

As an enterprise-class Android mobile computer, the Nautiz X9 measures 6.6 x 3.3 x 1.00 inches, weighs about 13.5 ounces, has a 5.0-inch capacitive multi-touch screen with direct sunlight reading capability, and is available with an industrial grade scanner.

That makes the Nautiz X9 a competent, modern handheld computer as well as a powerful data collection tool for the shop floor or the field. The image below shows how the X9 fits into the Handheld Group's recent Nautiz product line:

The Nautiz X9 takes smartphone convenience in a tough package to a new level. It is a modern Android device — now with Android 11 GMS — but it is, and looks, intentionally as different from a consumer phone as a modern SUV is from a more conventional sedan.

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 phones, the Nautiz X9 presents itself as what it is, a no-nonsense well-protected handheld with a big battery and industrial grade components. The image below shows the Nautiz X9 from the front and back and all sides. It's an honest, purposeful design.

Even as a fully rugged handheld computer, the Nautiz X9 has footprint barely larger than that of a modern smartphone. Its 5.0 inch display is smaller than those of big-screen smartphones, but still large enough for work done out there in the field. The screen is of the IPS variety, which means it has virtually perfect viewing angles from all directions. Its 1280 x 720 resolution translates into 294ppi (pixels per inch) — sharper than that of Apple's "retina" iPads. And there's of course, capacitive multi-touch with glove and rain modes.

What about the tech specs of this updated model? RAM went up from 2GB to 3GB. And there is now 32GB of onboard storage, twice as in the original model, and it can be complemented via a card slot that now supports the microSDXC standard.

Wireless communication has been upgraded to 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth is now at version 5.0 LE. Integrated positioning now supports not just GPS and GLONASS but also Galileo. More satellites is always better, especially in places where some satellities are blocked from view.

There is much more processing power as well. The upgraded Nautiz X9 goes from the 1.3GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6735 to a more recent 2.3GHz octa-core MediaTek MT8768. Notebookcheck.net reports PCMark for Android scores twice as high for the new chip than for the old. That is a very noticeable difference.

While many industrial handhelds have an often unsightly "scanner bulge," the roomy Nautiz X9 doesn't need one to accommodate an optional Honeywell N6703 2D imager (see here). And there is a user-replaceable battery with a large 18.24 watt-hours of capacity. That's plenty enough to last through any shift.

On the software side, the Nautiz X9 comes with Android 11. This is the most recent Android version with a major commercial presence. According to the gs.statcounter site, Version 11 already has a 33% marketshare, the most of all Android versions as of October 2021 (see here). Unlike some industrial handhelds, the Nautiz X9 comes 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 (we still wish Google would change the name of its app store! It's far more than play).

The true purpose of the Nautiz X9 is that of being a handheld computer unaffected by the bumps and grinds and spills of a typical workday. The Nautiz X9 can handle 5-foot drops, has an very wide operating temperature range of -4 to 131°F, and carries IP67 sealing where the "6" means it's totally dustproof, and the "7" that it can be fully immersed in water. It also passed MIL-STD-810G/H tests for vibration, humidity, and altitude.

What, overall, does that make the upgraded Nautiz X9? More than ever, it's the modern rugged handheld come of age, one with its own form, style, and purpose. It's handy, useful, and with this new version up-to-date in its technology as well. There's one less reason to use fragile consumer tech on the job, even if it's in a bulky case. I should also mention Handheld's MaxGo Suite of software and utilities to facilitate quick configuration, deployment, troubleshooting and updating of all Handheld Android devices — it makes running a productive operation so much easier.