Tough, rugged and highly customizable 8-inch Android enterprise tablet
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

On November 19, 2018, global data collection technology provider Unitech announced the Android-based 8-inch Unitech TB85 tablet computer. Designed for multifunctional business deployments, Unitech says the new TB85 "looks and feels like the latest Samsung or Apple tablet, but it's so much more." And, built from the ground up to be a rugged device that can take a beating, that it is.

Unitech — albeit primarily concentrating on enterprise handhelds, scanners and peripherals — has been testing the tablet waters for some time now. In 2012, Unitech's TB100 was one of the industry's first rugged enterprise tablet. The TB100 was followed three years later by the TB120, an Android data collection tablet with integrated scanner and physical keypad. Those two initial efforts were both of the 7-inch variety, the size that was initially believed to be a smaller, handier alternative to standard-size (i.e. iPad class) tablets.

Times, however, they are a-changin' and ever-larger smartphones are now usurping that low-end tablet size. Which means compact tablets are moving up into the 8-inch range, and that is exactly where the new Unitech TB85 is. An 8-inch screen with enough margin around it to comfortably hold it (which has become nearly impossible with the latest "no bezel" smartphones) and enough rubber bumper protection to alleviate the need for a case.

So Unitech's idea with the TB85 is to provide a device that has a significantly larger display than their handheld computers (or any smartphone), that uses the latest version of Android as its OS, and one that has a physical buttons and a couple of programmable keys for reliable operation under any conditions. Unitech also designed the TB85 for easy modular snap-on expansion. Currently available are an industrial-grade 1D laser or 2D imager, or a magstripe card reader for retail deployments. This is done via a reliable 14-pin pogo extension port.

As the pictures show, the Unitech TB85 is remarkably slender for a rugged, industrial tool for the job, just 0.7 inches. Despite its substantial bezel protection, its 9.5 x 6.0 inch footprint is smaller than that of a standard iPad. The tablet weighs 1.4 pounds, less than the original (and very unrugged) iPad.

The Unitech TB85, of course, uses capacitive multi-touch. The 8.0 inch display offers 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. That means 189 pixels per inch — sharp enough for the intended applications. The display is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.

The TB85 is powered by an octa-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm MSM8953 PRO processor using efficient 14nm processing technology. This is a popular chip used in a number of enterprise and consumer handheld and tablet products from the likes of Motorola, Samsung and Vivo. There's 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard eMMC Flash. Storage can be expanded via SD cards up to 32GB. Graphics are handled by an Adreno 506 GPU.

On the communications side of things, the TB85 comes with dual-band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth 4.1, and also 4G mobile broadband. Like most modern tablets, the TB85 has a full complement of sensors, among them light, acceleration and pressure. Wired onboard connectivity is limited to a USB OTG port and a headphone jack. The tablet also includes both front and rear cameras (5mp and 13mp, respectively). The 8,200mAH (no voltage or watt-hour shown in specs) Li-Ion battery is easily swappable.

Designed for use in demanding environments, the Unitech TB85 carries IP67 sealing where the "6" means the computer is totally protected from dust, and the "7" that it is fully submersible to half a meter for 30 minutes. It can handle a wide operating temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, 4-foot drops, and has also been tested according to MIL-STD-810G procedures for shock and vibration.

The Unitech TB85 represents a rugged, well-protected, and very expandable state-of-the-art Android tabloid for deployments where even a large handheld screen won't quite do. Unitech has considerable Android experience (going back 6+ years) and this new tablet, which starts at US$1,200, is a promising, versatile tool for enterprise data collection, logistics and more.