The pictures below show the various ways the Getac K120 can be used. As a traditional notebook, as a pure tablet, as something for doing presentations, and as a true convertible where one can go back and forth from table to notebook in seconds.

It's in the inherent nature of hybrid solutions that they are compromises, neither completely fish nor fowl. If that is acceptable to a user, a 2-in-1 device can address the needs of those who really want both — a tablet and a laptop all in one. And that is what the Getac K120 is. It is a full-function rugged tablet, and with the keyboard dock it is a full-function rugged laptop, albeit one that is more complex than a traditional laptop.

2-in-1 detachable solutions aren't new. The concept goes back pretty much to the beginnings of pen computing and tablets back in the early 1990s. Many computer manufacturers offered detachables over the years, but most of those early designs didn't work well enough to catch on.

In order for a 2-in-1 detachable to really the following criteria must be met:

• The keyboard must be as solid and functional as a standard laptop keyboard.
• The keyboard must be full-scale.
• The keyboard must have strong hinges for stability and reliable connection.
• The tablet and keyboard must easily and reliably fit and work together.
• In laptop mode, the device must be stable and not tip over.

What's new in the 2nd generation K120?

Getac K120 generations

Model	K120 G2 (2021)	K120 G1 (2018)
CPUs	Intel 11th gen	Intel 8th gen
Max RAM	32GB DDR4	32GB DDR4
Mass storage	Up to 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD	Up to 1TB SATA SSD
Display	12.5-inch 1920 x 1080, 1200 nits	12.5-inch 1920 x 1080, 1200 nits
Max battery	2 x 49.7 watt-hour	2 x 49.7 watt-hour
Temp range	-20° to 145°F	-20° to 145°F
IP rating	IP66	IP65
Wi-Fi/BT	802.11ax/BT 5.2	802.11ac/BT 4.2
USB Type-A	1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2	2 x USB 3.0
USB Type-C	1 x Thunderbolt 4	1 x USB 3.1
HDMI on keyboard	1 x HDMI 2.0	1 x HDMI 1.4
Video on keyboard	1 x DisplayPort	1 x VGA

The K120 was a well-designed product right from its start three years ago. There wasn't any need for fundamental design changes. So for the most part this second generation comes with a variety of technology updates as well as some changes in ports.

Physically, the capacitive touchpad on the optional keyboard now offers more real estate for navigation and supports Windows PTP (Precision Touchpad) functionality, i.e. Windows sees the touchpad as a touchpad and not just as a mouse.

The big change is the processor upgrade from Intel 8th generation "Kaby Lake R" to Intel 11th generation "Tiger Lake" Core processors. That's a three generation skip and means a significant increase in processing performance, significantly more powerful graphics, and support for Thunderbolt 4 with USB 4. Getac also switched from SATA-based solid state disk to much faster PCIe NVMe SSD, faster Wi-Fi, a newer version of Bluetooth, and there is a variety of other tech upgrades both in the tablet and on the keyboard.

As of late, Getac has been going out of its way to provide their customers with the latest state-of-the-art technology. Just a few months after Intel announced their "Tiger Lake" 11th generation of Core processors, Getac had them already in their S410 semi-rugged laptop, leaving some of the competition generations behind. Intel considers these 11th gen mobile chips with their new Iris Xe graphics "a major leap forward in real-world processor performance and the best laptop processors we have built," while Getac's product press releases spoke of "blisteringly fast performance." All true.

Note that it is not just the new processors that make the second gen K120 a powerhouse. The PCIe NVMe-based solid state storage that replaces the slower SATA SSDs in the first generation also makes a big difference. In fact, PCIe NVMe-based storage technology alone can make a major difference. Combine it with much more powerful processors, and the performance increase is quite dramatic.

In terms of competition, while the Getac K120's most direct competition is the very similar Panasonic Toughbook 33, there are also the larger rugged tablets from Durabook, DT Research, Mobile Demand, Winmate and others in the 11.6 to 13 inch class. For customers seeking a rugged tablet from a Tier One vendor that also offers a dedicated keyboard option to turn the device into a full laptop, the Getac K120 will definitely be on the short list.

In essence by designing the K120 as a tablet first. Whereas some detachables rely on the keyboard for full functionality, the K120 doesn't need the keyboard. It's designed to be a tablet computer; the keyboard is just an option.

Below you can see what the K120 tablet looks like from the front and all for sides.

Measuring 13.0 x 9.4 inches and being just under an inch thick, it's a substantial machine with a footprint 57% larger than that of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. But that's comparing apples and oranges. The K120 is a rugged machine that can survive six-foot drops and other serious punishment. Form follows function here. Each surface of the K120 has a job to do.

The front with the display is large enough to not only accommodate the spacious 12.5-inch display, but also has the kind of flush margin around the LCD display that capacitive multi-touch needs (early iPads and iPhones had that, but no more). There's also room for a front camera that doesn't eat a notch out of the display and has a manual privacy slider cover, and room for two programmable function buttons, up/down buttons, Windows and power/sleep button, two user-facing speakers, and also a fingerprint reader.

The sides have interface ports (we'll get to those in more detail), the top has room for an optional 1D/2D barcode scanner, and the bottom has the docking connectors and antenna pass-throughs for the keyboard and the locks for the two battery compartments.

It isn't easy to design a tablet whose backside also has to serve as the top of a notebook computer when used with the detachable keyboard. Getac solved that issue elegantly, using the company's trademark matte black and gun-metal gray color scheme and its contoured, sculpted and tough-looking design language.

As far as wired connectivity goes, the Getac K120 offers a lot. Along the left side of the tablet (shown below with protective port covers removed) are from left to right:

• A Kensington lock slot

• The optional SmartCard reader

• A quick-release SSD canister that contains the solid state drive
• Beneath the SSD on the right, the Thunderbolt 4 port with USB-C connector
• Beneath the SSD on the left, a PowerShare USB Type A port

• A (optional) micro-SIM card slot covered by a protective metal plate
• Beneath the micro-SIM, an HDMI connector
• A microSD card slot
• Beneath the microSD card, a 3.5mm audio jack

On the right side of the tablet (shown below, again with protective port covers removed) you can see from left to right:

• The stylus/pen holder
• The fan/heat exchanger vent intake
• A USB 2.0 Type A OR DB9 RS232 serial port
• An RJ45 LAN jack
• The security lock for the power jack
• The power jack

The bottom of laptops is usually where you find access doors to the various components that can be added or replaced. That's a bit different in rugged tablets which are generally more compact, more integrated, and have as few ports and openings as possible. But unlike iPads where almost all electronics are integrated into one tiny little system board, the K120 is still a high-performance Windows PC with a traditional, albeit very compact, PC system board and components. And that means you have to be able to get to those modules and components.

With the Getac K120 you do that by removing a large panel on the backside of the tablet. It's held in placed with nine small Phillips screws and you need to remove the batteries to get to some of the screws. The panel has ventilation slots in it for the K120's small cooling fan. But isn't the K120 a largely waterproof device? It is, and the panel design is such that the actual interior of the tablet is sealed via a tongue-and-groove design including a rubber o-ring secured to the underside of the panel. So if the K120 were sitting in water, liquid can get into the fan, but the fan doesn't mind. Water can also get into the battery compartment and that, again, is no problem since the battery contacts are also sealed. However, what this design means is that it's imperative to check the seals and o-rings whenever batteries or that access panel are removed and reinstalled.

Below you can see the backside of the K120 with the cover panel removed. This allows access to the two RAM sockets as well as components such as the tablet's WiFi/Bluetooth and mobile broadband modules. Also visible is the quick-release solid state disk module inside its protective metal canister.

One thing that has been a central matter in the design of high-performance Windows tablets for many years is their thermal management strategy. PC electronics, and especially processors, generate a lot of heat and that heat must be dissipated reliably to guard against overheating and meltdowns. Heat can be removed either actively with fans or it can be passively removed with heat spreaders and heatsinks.

Fans don't weigh or cost a lot, they can move a lot of air, and fan speed can be actively managed. But fans are also noisy, they can get clogged, and like all mechanical things, they can fail. Heatsinks don't make noise and they don't need to be managed, but they are heavy and can get quite hot.

Older rugged Getac laptops had big fans to handle the heat generated by their standard voltage, hot-running processors. The K120 has a tiny fan because, like virtually all mobile Windows computers, it uses an "ultra-low voltage" processor that runs much cooler than those old Intel chips. The images below were taken while the K120 was running the full PCMark 10 performance benchmark with our FLIR ONE Pro thermal camera that visually depicts surface temperature.

The thermal images show which parts of the K120 are heating up under load. You can see that the tablet, which includes the computer, heats up a lot more than the keyboard case that includes few electronics. From the front, the screen heats up some. On the back you can clearly tell where the system board is. What is amazing is how little the K120 heats up. While running the heavy load of the benchmarks, the fan barely came on, and when it came on it was almost silent. That's interesting, as the much larger and louder fan on the Getac S410 laptop we recently tests came on often.

One of the biggest changes in laptops over the past years is the switch from rotating hard disks to solid state disks (SSDs). When SSDs first became viable, their cost was high and manufacturers only offered them as expensive options with less storage capacity than hard disks.

Even when prices came down, hard disks mostly remained the low-end default. And since SATA SSDs used the same 2-1/2 inch form factor as hard disks, storage bays continued to take up space. Today, 2-1/2 inch bays are mostly gone and main storage comes in the form of much smaller PCIe modules.

Below you can see what the K120 looks like with its optional detachable keyboard. Now the machine looks like a laptop with an integrated carry handle. The side views look a bit different from a standard laptop though — what is usually the system case with the keyboard is thinner here, and what is usually the slender LCD is thicker.

Another factor that makes this keyboard more than just an accessory is the extra connectivity it brings to the K120. Below you can see both sides of the K120 keyboard with protective port covers removed for better viewing:

On the left side, the keyboard offers:

• A DisplayPort 1.2 video port
• An HDMI port
• An RJ45 LAN jack
• A USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port
• A Kensington lock slot

• Two more USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports
• An SD Card slot
• A DB9 RS232 serial port
• A power jack

What it all amounts to is that the detachable keyboard adds significantly more value to the K120 than just a way to enter data. There are situations where plenty of wired onboard connectivity is required, and the K120 with the keyboard option delivers. Unlike some detachable keyboard solutions where inserting the tablet is difficult and the connection not always reliable, the K120 tablet easily slides into the keyboard guides and snaps into place. There's also a mechanical lock and a tablet release slider. The keyboard hinge is very solid. About the only caveat, apart from the relatively high price of the keyboard, is that compared to a conventional laptop hinge it adds size and weight: the combined tablet and keyboard weigh seven pounds, considerably more than Getac's B360 fully rugged laptop with its larger 13.3-inch screen.

The K120's optional keyboard is island-style, like most laptop keyboards these days. The keys feel a little wobbly but there is good tactile feedback. The thick type and white-on-black icons make the K120 keyboard look a bit busy and cluttered. Function labels are icon-style black on white, sometimes below and sometimes to the right of the default character of the key. The whole design looks and feels much like the standard Apple keyboard, which today is as much praised for its "look and feel" as the original IBM PC keyboard was at the dawn of personal computing.

The touchpad and mouse button design and size are the same as in the Getac B360. There are two rectangular mouse keys, the pad area is slightly recessed. It uses capacitive multi-touch, works smoothly, but still has a bit too much stiction for precise movement. What is "stiction"? It's defined as "the friction that tends to prevent stationary surfaces from being set in motion." The stationary surface, in this instance, is the finger, and it takes a bit of force to move it, rather than just glide away.

K120 keyboard has an LED-based backlight that can be activated and toggled through three brightness settings via a function key combination. Illumination is red, the same as on the Getac B360 and S410 laptops. It is pleasant and clearly illuminates the keys in semi and full darkness.

One slightly distracting thing with this design remains that the illumination bleeds out around the keys in the dark. On the other hand, this also helps delineating the keyboard rather than having the labels just float in space.

Getac is making good use of the standard 12 function keys. In conjunction with the Fn key, they can engage airplane mode, do screen brightness and audio up/down, trigger the blackout function, set external display modes, and more. Having hardware buttons for these and other functions comes in handy. It's much quicker than fumbling with menus.

As of this writing (late July 2021), of the rugged tablet and convertible laptop competition, the 12-inch Panasonic Toughbook 33 and 10-inch Toughbook G2 are at the 10th generation of Intel Core processors, as are the latest convertibles from DT Research and Durabook. Other rugged tablets and hybrids lag even farther behind, going back to the 8th and even 7th generation of Intel Core processors. The Getac K120, on the other hand, is built around Intel's 11th generation of Core processors, putting it at the top of its class. Intel's 12th generation — Alder Lake — will be here soon enough, but for now 11th gen "Tiger Lake" is it.

Overall, there haven't been dramatic changes in the last few generations of Intel's Core processors. It's difficult to make gates (really transistors) smaller and smaller, and Intel has spent much time fine-tuning and optimizing their chips over the past few years. There have been milestones such as making mobile quad-core chips available in the "Coffee Lake" 8th generation. The 10th generation brought the first hexa-core mobile processors. And now we're seeing another milestone in the "Tiger Lake" 11th generation used in the Getac K120 and for an unexpected reason.

Before we get into that, here's a list of all the processor options available for the Getac K120 (to view the full Intel spec table for these four CPUs, see here):

2021 Getac K120: Available Intel Core processor options

Available K120 CPUs	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i7	Intel Core i5	Intel Core i5
Model	1185G7	1165G7	1145G7	1135G7
Cores/Threads	4/8	4/8	4/8	4/8
Base Clock Speed	1.20 GHz	1.20 GHz	1.10 GHz	0.90 GHz
Turbo Speed	4.80 GHz	4.70 GHz	4.40 GHz	4.20 GHz
TDP-up	28 watts, 3.00GHz	28 watts, 2.80GHz	28 watts, 2.60GHz	28 watts, 2.40GHz
TDP-down	12 watts, 1.20GHz	12 watts, 1.20GHz	12 watts, 1.10GHz	12 watts, 0.90GHz
Smart Cache	12MB	12MB	8MB	8MB
Integrated graphics	Iris Xe	Iris Xe	Iris Xe	Iris Xe
Graphics max speed	1.35 GHz	1.30 GHz	1.30 GHz	1.30 GHz
Graphics Execution Units	96	96	80	80
Relative CPU cost	1.53	1.53	1.10	1.10
Intel Stable Image Platform Program	Yes	No	Yes	No
Intel TSX-NI	Yes	No	Yes	No
Intel Trusted Execution	Yes	No	Yes	No
Intel vPro	Yes	No	Yes	No

The top processor option for the Getac K120 is the Intel Core i7-1185G7. This high-end chip offers the highest maximum turbo frequency as well as the highest frequencies at the 28 watt and 12 watt TDP-Up and TDP-down settings. Next in line is the Core i7-1165G7 (installed in our review unit). It is a bit slower overall and doesn't include some of Intel's special technologies. Next are two Core i5 chips that have only 8MB instead of 12MB SmartCache, fewer graphics execution units, as well as small clock frequency and included Intel technology differences. Note that the i3-1115G4 chip that's available as the low end in the Getac S410 semi-rugged laptop is not an option for the K120.

When deciding on a processor option for the K120, what may make a difference in certain applications is the availability of four special Intel technologies (vPro, TME, SIPP, and Trusted Execution) included in the i7-1185G7 and i5-1145G7, but not in the other two processors. Here's what that means:

• The extra security and manageability capabilities of vPro, especially, are required in many enterprise deployments.

• TME (Total Memory Encryption) ensures that all memory accessed from the CPU is encrypted, including customer credentials, encryption keys, and other IP or personal information on the external memory bus.

• SIPP (Stable Image Platform Program) allows deployment of standardized, stable image PC platforms for at least 15 months, and

• Trusted Execution technology provides security capabilities such as measured launch and protected execution, and may thus also be an enterprise requirement.

To see what kind of performance the new quad-core Getac K120 can achieve, we ran our standard benchmark suites, Passmark Software's PerformanceTest 6.1 and 9.0 that include dozens of tests covering CPU, 2D graphics, 3D graphics, memory, and disk and then computes scores for each category and an overall PassMark scores. We also ran our second benchmark suite, CrystalMark, to provide some clues as to overall single core performance. We're also showing results of three other major benchmark suites that we've recently added to out test program: PC Mark 10, GeekBench 5 and one of the most often used 3DMark graphics benchmarks, Time Spy.

To provide an idea where the K120 stands in terms of overall performance, the below table also includes results of the fully rugged Getac B360 as well as some other prominent rugged and semi-rugged competition.

Even so, between the excellent power management of Intel's 11th generation Core processors, Windows' much improved power management, and the Getac K120's extensive power management settings, the K120 can offer reasonable battery life even with the smallish standard batteries.

Bright and very good 12.5-inch display

The Getac K120's 12.5-inch display is large for a tablet and acceptably big for a rugged laptop. The display offers 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution which makes for a 176 pixels per inch. The display is very bright, too, with a maximum luminance of 1,200 nits.

The Getac K120 display's 16:9 aspect ratio gives the screen a contemporary look. Compared to the 1024 x 768 pixel XGA resolution that was the standard in rugged notebooks and tablets for many years, the screen's full HD resolution is certainly much appreciated.

That said, time has moved on. With smartphones and consumer tablets now offering very high resolution, customers more and more expect the same from tablet screens — perhaps a reason why Panasonic gave its Toughbook 33 a 2,160 x 1,440 pixel screen for a crisper 216 pixels per inch.

Display size, though, isn't everything. Most rugged laptops and 2-in-1s, including the K120, will be used outdoors and sometimes in bright, direct sunlight. Standard transmissive LCD displays, however, wash out in daylight, and that's why over the past few years, sunlight-readability has become a major selling point in the rugged notebook sector. The currently most popular way of making a notebook screen readable outdoors combines various optical treatments to control internal reflection with a strong backlight.

A few words about screen brightness here: A standard notebook backlight is in the 250 nits luminance range (1 nit = 1 candela per square meter) range. Some manufacturers up the brightness in their rugged products, usually into the 300-400 nits range. Industrial monitors used outdoors generally have 400 to 500 nits. High end rugged notebooks offer anywhere from 500 to over 1,000 nits, with Getac offering as much as 1,400 nits in its B360 ultra-rugged. What this means is that the 1,200 nits backlight of the K120's 1920 x 1080 display is much brighter than any consumer notebook.

But aren't bright backlights bad for battery life? Yes, and that's where programmable function buttons come in handy: K120 users can quickly toggle between "sunlight readable" on and off by assigning that function to the P1 or P2 function button. Having that hardware button is the key to keeping power draw in check: when you need the extra-strong backlight, switch it on. When you don't need it anymore, turn it off. That's much easier with a button than via menus or function keys (both of which are also available in the K120).

A few additional comments about the K120 display. While we described it as glossy above, semi-gloss would best describe it. Reflections on it are far more muted than those of most consumer laptops and tablets, almost all of which have high-gloss displays.

And there's another quality the K120 display has: it's remarkably immune to the smudges and fingerprints that quickly mar almost all glossy displays.

Viewing angles are important. Both horizontal and vertical viewing angles of this 2nd generation K120 screen are very good, without any color shifts even when viewed at extreme angles.

Multi-touch and an very good narrow-tip capacitive stylus

On a laptop, touch is nice to have but not absolutely necessary. On a tablet, touch is mandatory. The K120 is both laptop and tablet, and so the K120 comes with 10-point capacitive multi-touch. Also available is a dual mode touchscreen that combines capacitive multi-touch with an active digitizer and pen. This means K120 users can have the best of both worlds — the elegant, effortless tapping, panning, pinching and zooming we've al become accustomed to, and also a very precise active pen that doesn't need batteries.

That said, even after all these years, while capacitive multi-touch works great on tablets and with all those iOS and Android apps specifically developed for handhelds and tablets, Windows 10 remains a work in progress as far as touch goes, especially when using the legacy desktop and legacy Windows software that still has all those tiny check boxes, screen borders and scrollers. Microsoft has made efforts to make Windows more touch-optimized, but it'll likely take a few more changes to Windows before it's truly touch-optimized. And whether reaching over a full-scale keyboard to touch a display will ever become fully natural is anyone's guess.

But Windows is Windows. As is, Getac nicely addressed the tough predicament by offering both remarkably smooth and responsive capacitive multi-touch, and the optional very precise active digitizer and pen.

A word about the active pen stylus. Digitizers with active pens have been around since the very dawn of tablet computers over 30 years ago. Almost all early pen computers used the Wacom digitizer and pen that used electromagnetic resonance technology. That technology did not require a battery to power the pen, allowing for a sleek pen design and no worries to run out of battery at inopportune times.

Another feature of this type of active pen is "hovering." Since the digitizer senses the tip of the pen, here's no need to make actual contact with the display; the cursor follows the tip of the pen even when the pen is up to half an inch away from the screen surface. This means no accidental menu or action selections as is often the case with finger or capacitive pen touch. In addition, Microsoft offers comprehensive support for this type of active pen. If you have/get a Getac K120 and intend to make the best use of the active pen, make sure you locate and download all those active pen utilities.

Works with gloves and when it's wet

Another issue with capacitive touch is that in its generic form it only works with human fingers or, to a lesser extent, with capacitive styli. Standard capacitive touch doesn't like rain and it won't accept gloves. Unfortunately, wetness and the need for gloves is exactly what one often encounters where ruggedized computing gear such as the Getac K120 is used. Getac knows that and was one of the first to address that issue years ago in their early V110 and F110 models. Ever since, most rugged Getac devices have a G-Manager "Touch" tab where users can select "Touch," "Glove," or "Pen."

Touch" — Drops near the hand on the "Touch" icon suggest that touch continues to work "with direct exposure to rain." That is something regular capacitive displays struggle with. Water is so conductive that it affects the capacitance between two electrodes, which is the concept upon which projected capacitive touch is built.

What can be done is switching from a standard mutual capacitance mode to self-capacitance where the capacitance between one electrode and the ground is measured instead of the capacitance between two electrodes. The K120's active digitizer pen works in this mode, but the default passive pen probably doesn't, which would point toward a self-capacitance solution (unlike in the Getac V110 where the passive pen continues to work in wet mode), but Getac says they used controller sensitivity to handle the job.

"Glove" allows the K120 to be operated with gloves. That is usually done by increasing the sensitivity of the touch controller, so that it can recognize a finger even a brief distance away from the screen, as in the distance that the material of a glove adds to the finger's distance from the screen. That's the way Getac seems to have done it, as not only do gloves work in this mode, but the cursor now follows the finger even when it is a short distance away from the surface, and touch operations no longer require a firm touch. The active digitizer pen works in this mode.

"Pen" is optimized for use with the pen, but finger touch works as well. The purpose of this mode is when one doesn't want for fingers to accidentally trigger an action.

Thunderbolt 4

Almost every new laptop or tablet has a USB-C port these days. Unlike the original USB Type A port where the plug would only go in one way, the smaller USB-C port works no matter which way you plug it on. Not every USB-C port, however, is the same — it depends on what version and generation of the USB standard it supports.

To make matters a bit more confusing yet, a USB-C port may also be a Thunderbolt 4 port. Thunderbolt started as a joint effort between Intel and Apple, combining the PCI Express and DisplayPort signals. The latest version, Thunderbolt 4, uses the USB-C connector, supports charging upstream and downstream, USB 4 with very fast data transfer (up to 40 Gbit/s), as well as dual 4K displays. And the Getac K120 has one of those Thunderbolt 4 ports with a USB-C connector.

We gave the K120's USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port a workout and here's what we could do:

• Drive a 2nd screen via USB-C to DisplayPort cable
• Drive a 2nd screen via USB-C to HDMI cable
• Do very fast file transfers (we used the Anker cable as well as an Accell USB4 40Gbps cable)
• Drive and power an external DVD reader
• Use a USB key or card reader via USB-A to USB-C adapter
• Drive a mice and/or keyboard
• Charge a phone or tablet

Intel emphasizes that Thunderbolt 4 offers tablet and laptop users a true "one wire" solution. Here's the way that's envisioned: bring your tablet to the office and plug it into an external Thunderbolt 4 dock. That dock will then charge the tablet or laptop upstream and your phone(s) downstream, and also support a mouse, keyboard, USB keys, DVD drives, one or two external screens and whatever else you'd like to plug in. Just one cable needed, that between the tablet and the Thunderbolt 4 dock. No need to even use the tablet's power brick.

We put that to the test by connecting the Getac K120 to an Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock, a handy 5 x 3 x 0.75 inch box with three powered USB Type-C downstream ports, a 10Gbit/s USB Type-A port, and an upstream port to connect to the computer that delivers 40 gbit/s data transfer, dual display support, and up to 85 watt charging power.

We tried the Anker dock with the Getac K120 and here's what we could do:

• Drive TWO extra screens via USB-C or HDMI cables
• Plug in USB docks
• Plug in USB keys
• Power and use an external DVD reader
• Connect mice and keyboards either through dock Type-A or Type-C ports
• Charges phones and tablets

The Getac K120, however, would not charge through the Anker dock. The problem initially seemed to be that the K120 requires 90 watt charging and the Anker dock only supplied 85 watts. Apparently, the Thunderbolt 4 "handshake" between the computer and the dock is such that if wattage requirements and perhaps other settings are not met exactly, charging will not happen. However, even with a larger Anker Thunderbolt 4 dock that did supply 90 watts of upstream charging power, the K120 did not charge via its Thunderbolt port. It's possible that this was due to a glitch in our pre-production K120, and we informed Getac of it.

We consider the upstream charging capability of Thunderbolt 4 a valuable feature because, theoretically, it'd allow charging with pretty much any USB charger. As is, there may be limitations, and customers interested in upstream charging must make sure their charger or dock is supported.

Cameras

Given the incredible quality of the pictures and video that today's smartphones can generate — let alone the ease of use of those smartphone cameras — we don't expect many K120 customers to use a large rugged tablet as their primary camera. In addition, while rugged Android devices are generally capable of taking good images and video, cameras integrated into mobile Windows, devices have rarely fared nearly as well. It is not clear why that is, as the actual camera hardware is often similar or the same.

Below is a selection of test images taken with the K120 8MP documentation camera at its highest 3264 x 2448 pixel setting. Click on the image to see a full resolution version.

Security

Like most mobile hardware these days, the K120 offers various levels of hardware and software security to prevent unauthorized access as well as theft. That includes multifactor authentication via passwords, fingerprint reader, Smart Card reader, HF RFID reader, and Windows Hello face-authentication camera.

Our system included Intel Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0 hardware security for enhanced boot process integrity, and to create and manage computer-generated digital certificates. Combined with the Windows Hello software in Windows 10, it can encrypt biometric data. In addition, TPM can be used to create certificates that can be used to:

• Send and receive secure email,
• Set up the browser for client identification,
• Sign Word macros,
• Encrypt individual files or entire folders, and
• Create secure network connections.

Fingerprint registration software works with the K120's optional fingerprint scanner that now uses capacitive technology so users can just place their finger on the scanner rather than swiping.

All of this can get pretty involved. Some users may never implement TPM, fingerprint scanning or even passwords, whereas others may be set up in accordance with their company's IT security procedures, or they may configure an individual system for maximum security.

Over all this, don't forget physical security and get a Kensington locking cable to use with the Kensington slot on the side of the unit. It is inexpensive insurance against physical theft.

Additionally, depending on the processor, K120s can be configured with Intel vPro, a set of technologies to remotely access and control computers securely. And Absolute DDS (stands for Device & Data Security, formerly known as CompuTrace) is also optionally available. The way that works is that there's a constant two-way between device so that risk can be monitored and assessed remotely, and the device disabled if need be.

Docking and vehicle mounting

Rugged tablets such as the Getac K120 are often used in vehicles. To that extent, Gamber-Johnson and Havis are offering docks and cradles both for the K120 tablet as well as for the K120 with its keyboard. These can be mounted in numerous ways, using the dock manufacturers' solutions or the vast variety of RAM ball and joint components.

The K120 has separate antenna pass-throughs for GPS, WLAN and WWAN. These are supported by the vehicle docks, which makes roof-mount antennae possible. A set of pogo docking pins on the bottom of the K120 allow the docks to provide port duplication and additional I/O functionality.

Ruggedness

The Getac K120 is billed as a fully rugged device. That includes IP66 sealing and a very wide operating temperature range of -20 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as the claim to be "certified to MIL-STD 810H." Getac also claims an incredible 6-foot drop resistance. Three feet is generally enough to let a unit survive a fall from a desk. Four feet is sort of the gold standard with rugged mobile computers, because that's about the height they fall from when operated while walking around. Six feet goes well beyond that.

Getac says the second gen K120 can operate between -20° and 145° Fahrenheit (-29° to 63°C). That's the same as the first generation K120 and makes the tablet suitable for use in almost any environment. The wide range comes in handy in several targeted deployments, such as closed vehicles or around freezers.

As far as sealing goes, there's been progress. The original K120's IP65 rating provided ample protection. Yes, everyone talks about IP67 that can handle full immersion. And almost all premium smartphones today are actually IP68 and you can safely take them underwater. But the K120 is a big, complex rugged tablet with lots of ports, buttons, a fan, externally accessible batteries and so on. That makes sealing quite difficult.

The switch from IP65 in the first gen to IP66 in this second gen means the difference between holding up to a low-pressure jet of water from all directions to strong jets of water. Out there in the field you never know what one might encounter, and not every blast of water is gentle. So yes, IP66 is better.

That said, It always takes a bit of a leap of faith to submerge a costly, complex piece of equipment in water while testing and reviewing. But we did it, and the K20 never missed a beat. That warrants a few words about the protective port covers. Those covers are essential as they keep liquids from getting inside the computer. That makes them both very important and also quite a challenge to design. Users must be able to open and securely close/lock them easily.

Most rugged computer manufacturers have changed their designs many times over the years, and Getac is no exception. The current design of those covers uses hinged doors with rubber pressure seals inside. The covers slide one way to lock and the other way to unlock. Each cover as a white arrow on it, which leaves room for interpretation. A small thing, but important. We'd like to see a clearer lock icon.

Likewise, we'd like to see more information on what ruggedness tests the unit was subjected to and passed. Simply referring to MIL-STD-810G or 810H certification is not enough information. These are rugged machines that customers choose because they must hold up to all sorts of environmental conditions and abuse. It must be totally clear in the specs and brochures what testing was performed and what levels a machine passed.

Bottom line: the Getac K120

The Getac K120 is a fully rugged Windows 10 based high performance tablet computer with a 12.5-inch display. The K120 can be used as a tablet or, in conjunction with a keyboard dock that offers additional functionality, as a laptop computer.

Addressing the demands of customers who like the functionality of a traditional laptop but not the extra weight and bulk when in the field, Getac's goal with the K120 was to create a light and handy standalone tablet that combines with its optional keyboard to provide, uncompromising laptop functionality. The tablet itself weighs four pounds, the tablet and keyboard dock combined add up to seven pounds.

The K120 is available with several Intel "Tiger Lake" 11th generation processor options. Our test unit, equipped with a Core i7-1165G7 processor turned in superior benchmark performance. Despite its excellent performance, the 120 offers acceptable battery life from its two small batteries. Between rich onboard I/O, optional port configurations, and a the additional ports available on the optional (and very highly recommended) keyboard, the K120 offers exceptional versatility and functionality.

Of special interest may be the K120's Thunderbolt 4 USB-C port that provides very fast data transfer, down-stream charging and the ability to drive two additional displays as well as mice, keyboards, USB keys, data readers and so on.

Overall, with the second generation of the K120 rugged tablet that also serves as a detachable laptop, Getac pulls ahead of its direct competitor, the Panasonic Toughbook 33, on the processor and interface front. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, July 2021

Getac K120 Gen 2 (2021) fully-rugged tablet Specs

Type	Fully-rugged tablet
Introduced	Introduced April 2021
Processor	Intel Core i7-1185G7 Intel Core i7-1165G7 Intel Core i5-1145G7 Intel Core i5-1135G7
Max CPU clock speed	i7-1185G7: 4.80 GHz i7-1165G7: 4.70 GHz i5-1145G7: 4.40 GHz i5-1135G7: 4,20 GHz
CPU Smart Cache	i7-1185G7: 12MB i7-1165G7: 12MB i5-1145G7: 8MB i5-1135G7: 8MB
Thermal Design Power	12/28 watts (all)
Graphics	Intel Iris Xe graphics
OS	Windows 10 Pro
Memory	16GB or 32GB DDR4 in two sockets
Display	12.5-inch/1920 x 1080 pixel (176 ppi) Lumibond 2.0 TFT with semi-matte surface and protection film, sunlight-readable (1,200 nits)
Digitizer	Capacitive multi-touch; optional: Dual mode touchscreen (multi-touch and active digitizer)
Keyboard	Tablet: Power button and five tablet programmable buttons Keyboard: 88-key full-scale water-resistant LED backlit membrane keyboard
Storage	256GB PCIe NVMe SSD; optional: 512GB / 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD, optional 256GB/512GB/1TB SATA SSD 2nd storage
Expansion slots	1 x MicroSD Card, optional Smart Card reader
Housing	Getac ABS+PC and magnesium alloy
Size	Tablet: 13.0 x 9.4 x 0.94 inches (330 x 238 x 24 mm) Tablet + Kbd: 13.4 x 12.1 x 1.85 inches (340 x 308 x 47 mm)
Weight	Tablet: 4.00 lbs as tested Tablet + Kbd: 7.00 lbs as tested
Operating temperature	-20° to 145° Fahrenheit (-29° to 63° C)
Ingress protection	IP66
Drop	6-foot drop
Humidity	95% RH, non-condensing
Other environmental	e-Mark certified for vehicle usage; optional: ANSI / UL 121201, CSA C22.2 NO. 213
Power	Hot swappable dual 11.1V 2,100 mAH 23.3 whr Li-Ion batteries; optional dual 14.4V 3,450 mAH 49.7 whr Li-Ion batteries
Security	TPM 2.0, cable lock slot; optional: fingerprint reader OR smart card reader OR HF RFID reader, optional Windows Hello face-authentication camera
Camera	Front-facing FHD webcam; 8mp auto-focus rear camera; optional: front-facing Windows Hello face-authentication camera
Interface	Tablet: 1 x headphone out / mic-in combo, power, 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1 x Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, 1 x RJ45 Giga LAN, 1 x HDMI, 2 x 16-pin docking; optional RF antenna pass-through for GPS, WLAN & WWAN Keyboard: power, 3 x USB 3.2 Type-A, 1 x RJ45 Giga LAN, 1 x HDMI, 1 x DB9 serial, 1 x DisplayPort 1.2,; optional RF antenna pass-through for GPS, WLAN & WWAN
Wireless	Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX201, 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2; optional dedicated GPS, optional 4G LTE multi-carrier mobile broadband with GPS
Price	Inquire
Contact	GETAC us.getac.com
Contact	K120 web page
Contact	K120 spec sheet (PDF)
Warranty	3 years Bumper-to-Bumper
Contact	GetacSales_US@getac.com www.getac.com/us 949.681.2900 Getac, Inc. 15495 Sand Canyon Ave., Suite 350 Irvine, CA 92618

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