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Winmate M900Q8
Full rugged compact Android tablet suitable for any number of field, data collection, logistics and vehicular applications
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, June 2021)
While Android has a dominant global marketshare in smartphones, the situation is different when it comes to tablets. Small tablets are generally Android, mostly because Android lends itself so well to small displays. Apple's iPads are strong in mid-size and larger tablets, and Microsoft has a good presence in larger and more enterprise/business oriented tablets. With rugged tablets it is not unusual for manufacturers to offer both Windows and Android in the small class of tablets, and sometimes even in the same hardware and design. That's the case with Winmate's 8-inch M900 series of rugged tablets. The M900P runs Windows 10, the M900Q8, which is the subject of this review, runs Android. Both have their place.
The M900Q8 measures 10 x 7.75 x 0.8 inches, which is relatively large for an 8-inch tablet. The extra size buys room for five physical buttons along the right side of the display. It also affords a generous glass margin beyond the perimeter of the actual LCD, always a good thing with a capacitive multi-touch screen. No need, of course, for a "camera notch" in the screen, and the larger footprint also allows for a lot of extra protection.
The physical home and three programmable function buttons come in handy for use in vehicles and under adverse outdoor conditions. Sometimes push buttons are better than onscreen touch.
The image below shows the front of the M900Q8 as well as its side-mounted I/O. On top you can see the optional 1D/2D barcode reader window. In the Windows version of the M900 tablet that space can also be used for an optional RFID reader; the M900Q8 doesn't need that as it comes standard with NFC. On the right side is an I/O block that includes a USB 2.0 Type A port, a reversible USB Type C port, an audio jack, and power. All these sit behind a protective cover. Next to it is an optional D-Sub connector to link to a vehicle gateway (covered in the sidebar).
The M900Q8's battery is an externally accessible rechargeable 7.6V 4,200mAH 32 watt-hour Li-Ion unit that snaps flush into the backside of the tablet. This type of design relies on a rubber pressure seal around the battery contacts, and in this case also the SIM and micro SD card slots that sit inside the battery compartment right next to the contacts. Flush-mounted batteries make optional extended batteries possible.
Performance and design
For processing, the Winmate M900Q8 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660, which was initially designed to pack the performance smartphone customers required from a high-end phone into a highly integrated module.  Technological advances are as fast and furious on the ARM/Android side as they are on the Windows side. The Snapdragon 660 is no longer the latest news, but as of mid 2021 it remains a quick and competent favorite used in many leading rugged Android tablets and handhelds. There's 3GB of RAM and 32GB of mass storage. Additional storage can be added via an SD card.
Should there ever arise a need to open up an M900Q8 tablet, it's easy. Undo 11 Philips screws, disconnect the LCD/touchscreen ribbon cable, and it's done. Sealing between the two Polymer halves is via a tongue-and-groove design where the tongue presses against a replaceable red rubber seal in the groove.
Once open, you immediately see why the very compact tablet weighs a relatively substantial two pounds: it's because of a thick, solid cast aluminum chassis/heat sink that keeps the tablet and its electronics cool no matter what. Below you can see the inside front of the Winmate M900Q8 tablet (click on it for a full-size image).
The insides of the tablet are heavily componentized, with a separate I/O daughterboard, cameras and optional barcode reader, 4G/LTE mobile broadband and more. Since many M900Q8 tablets may see vehicle duty where vibration is a given, Winmate puts generous dollops of white silicon glue on any connector that might rattle loose.
As far as battery life goes, the Winmate spec sheet suggests 10 hours, a couple of hours more than the Windows version of the tablet.
In terms of performance, the M900Q8 scored 2851 in Vellamo Metal, 3839 in Vellamo MultiCore, 5457 in Vellamo Browser, and 5924 in the PassMark Mobile benchmarks. That's in line with the performance we recorded in the Panasonic TOUGHBOOK A3, Juniper Mesa 3 Android, RuggON VIKING and other SD660-based rugged tablets.
Ruggedness
As far as ruggedness and durability go, the Winmate M900Q8 is far, far tougher and more durable than any consumer or even enterprise tablet. The device is well protected, materials used are grippy and won't get scratched or dented, and ergonomics are excellent for use out in the field, even with gloves on.
The tablet's 5-foot drop spec means it won't break if it slips out of a user's hands. The -4 to 140 degree Fahrenheit operating temperature range allows deployment in a very wide range of settings.
The Winmate M900Q8 has an IP65 ingress protection rating where the first "6" indicates the unit is totally dustproof an the "5" that the unit can also handle low pressure jets of water, so the tablet can handle much more than just a bit of rain. For a full description of Winmate's rugged design philosophy, see here.
Cameras
Virtually all contemporary tablets have integrated cameras, and the Winmate M900Q8 is no exception with its front (8-megapixel) and rear (13-megapixel) cameras. Both cameras have much higher resolution than the 2- and 8-megapixel cameras in the Windows-based Winmate M900P. On the software side, the tablet comes with the Snapdragon Camera app.
The purpose of cameras integrated into tablets designed to be used on the job is to eliminate the need to carry along a dedicated camera or use a smartphone for taking pictures. The cameras in the Winmate M900Q8 can do that with features such as GPS location, various selectable exposure, ISO, countdown timer, white balance settings, and more. The images below were taken with the Snapdragon Camera app's highest quality and resolution setting (4160 x 3120 pixels, or 13mp). Click on the sample picture compilation to see it in full size.
The M900Q8 can not only shoot high resolution still images, but also video up to 4k. In lower resolutions the camera can record video in up to 240 frame per second slow motion.
Overall, the M900Q8 documentation camera is capable of shooting very good pictures, much better than your average rugged handheld or tablet. The front-facing vidcam is also better than most. The Snapdragon Camera app is competent and much better than the Windows camera app, but it can't really take full advantage of the powerful camera hardware; we recommend downloading some of the many available more comprehensive camera apps available for Android.
Display
Display quality and brightness are important in rugged tablets that may be deployed in a wide variety of settings and environments. The Winmate M900Q8's 8-inch screen offers significantly more display real estate than any of the smartphones most Android apps are designed for, and the extra space can be put to good use on custom applications. The display offers 1280 x 800 pixel resolution, which translates into 189 ppi (pixels per inch). That's sharp enough for its intended purpose.
Since tablets are used outdoors as well as indoors, display brightness is crucial. The Winmate M900Q8's display is rated at 510 nits luminance (we tested 502), on par with most premium consumer tablets and also with the 8-inch rugged tablet competition.
Display viewing angle is important in tablets and handhelds used in the field, and somewhat less important in vehicle-mount deployments where they are fixed and will generally be viewed from the same angle. As is, the M900Q8's 85 degree viewing angles from all directions is plenty good enough. When viewed from some angles, brightness varies a bit, but there are no color and contrast shifts. Like all glossy transmissive LCD displays, there can be reflections outdoors. Overall, the display is excellent.
Bottom line: Winmate M900Q8
The Winmate M900 Series is one of the few available 8-inch fully-rugged tablet platforms that can be had in both Android and Windows 10 versions. The versions share design, construction, an excellent display, programmable buttons and an exceptionally robust build that also offers excellent ergonomics and grip. There are minor differences in ports and options, and the Windows version runs on an Intel chip whereas the Android version runs on an ARM processor.
What sets the M900 line further apart is the availability of the dedicated Winmate VG100 vehicle gateway that provides CAN bus, RS485, digital I/O and vehicle power to the tablet. This extends the M900 line's deployment potential into SAE J1939, OBD2, CANopen and many other CAN bus-based applications, with an example shown below. -- Conrad Blickenstorfer, June 2021
Winmate, founded in 1994, is a Taiwanese company with a worldwide presence. Specializing in industrial display technologies and solutions, Winmate also branched out into Tablet PCs, digital signage, rugged Mobile PCs, embedded automation controllers, marine grade displays and computers, and Panel PCs such as the Stainless Panel PC shown here.
Contact Winmate:
Web global: www.winmate.com
Web North America: winmate-rugged.com
Email global: sales@winmate.com.tw
Email North America: NASales@winmate.com.tw
OEM/ODM Contact: ODM@winmate.com.tw
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 Specifications Winmate M900Q8
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Status
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Reviewed 06/2021
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Form-factor
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Fully rugged tablet
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OS
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Android 9.0
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Processor
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Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
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CPU Speed
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2.2GHz
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Graphics
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Adreno 512
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Standard/Max RAM
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3GB
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Disk/drive
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32GB solid state drive (SSD)
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Display type
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TFT LCD, 510 nits, optical bonding
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Display size/res
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8.0-inch, 1280 x 800 pixel (189 ppi)
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Digitizer
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Projected capacitive touch, capacitive stylus available, supports hand, gloves and rain moded
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Card slots
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1 x SIM, 1 x micro SD Card
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Keyboard/scale
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Onscreen QWERTY, power, home, 3 x function key
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Operating temperature
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-4° to 131°F (-20° to 50°C)
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Sealing
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IP65
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Vibration
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MIL-STD-810G Method 514.6 Procedure I
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Humidity
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10 to 90% RH, non-condensing
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Shock
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MIL-STD-810G Method 516.6 Procedure I
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Certifications
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CE, FCC
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Housing
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Polymer front and back with cast aluminum chassis, fanless design
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Size (WxHxD)
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10.0 x 7.75 x 0.8 inches (226 x 148 x 21 mm)
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Weight
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2.0 lbs (900 grams)
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Power
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Removable 7.6V, 4200mAh, 32whr Li Polymer Battery ("10 hours")
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Data Collection
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Optional 1D/2D barcode reader, HF RFID, MSR & Contact EMV card reader
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Sensors
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Ambient light, ecompass, gyro, acceleration, automatic screen rotation
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Cameras
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8mp webcam + 13mp AF rear camera with LED light
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Interface
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1 x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1 x USB 3.0 Type-C OTG, 1 x DB15, 1 x audio in/out, power, dock
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Wireless
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Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS/AGPS, NFC, optional 4G LTE WWAN
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List price
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Inquire
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Web
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Winmate M900Q8 web page
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Data sheet
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 Winmate M900Q8 rugged tablet spec sheet
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User Manual
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Winmate M900Q8 User Manual
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Winmate VG100 vehicle gateway
Adding CAN bus, digital I/O and vehicle power to the M900Q8 tablet
Winmate offers a special accessory that extends the functionality of the M900Q8 from being "just" a tablet to being a device that fully integrates into vehicle networks. The Winmate VG100 vehicle gateway does that by providing a CAN bus interface to the tablet, in addition to digital inputs/outputs, another USB port, and RS485 functionality.
What is CAN bus?
The spec sheets of vehicle-mount and other industrial computers often show CAN bus support or the presence of a CAN bus port. What is CAN bus?
The "CAN" in CAN bus stands for "Controller Area Network," and CAN bus is a wired communications bus standard used in vehicles. CAN bus origins go back to the 1980s when German electronics company Bosch developed it to simplify vehicle wiring in an era of rapidly expanding vehicle electronics. In essence, CAN bus allows communication between nodes such as microprocessors, controllers, sensors and other electronics.
Note that CAN bus is not limited to vehicles. It can also be used for marine deployments, industrial and building automation, various Internet of Things applications and more. Likewise, CAN bus supports a variety of different standards.
Among the most common ones are:
- SAE J1939, the general standard for in-vehicle networks in buses, trucks and oter industrial and heavy-duty vehicles;
- OBD2, the on-board diagnostics system used for self-diagnostic and reporting capabilities in all newer cars; and
- CANopen, which is used in vehicle fleet management, fuel optimization, and proactive vehicle diagnostics applications.
What is the VG100?
The VG100 itself is a small 5.2 x 3.1 x 1.5 inch black box that looks like a miniature industrial PC. It uses the same construction as most IPCs, i.e. a circuit board mounted inside a milled, finned aluminum with steel cover and fascias. Most of the 5 x 2-7/8 inch circuit board is taken up by a DC/DC converter that can handle a wide 9V-36V input and, on the other end, provide 12V output, up to 60 watts. And that means the M900Q8 can run on vehicle power, via the VG100.
As far as I/O goes, the VG-100 connects to the M900Q8 tablet through a special 15-pin connector. The VG-100 also includes a Type A USB 2.0 port that could be used for an external camera, a keyboard or mouse, or any other USB device. On the vehicle side of the VG-100 is a 3-pin terminal block power connector and a custom cable that provides two digital input pins, two digital output pins, the CAN bus grounded twisted-pair wiring, and also RS-485 wiring.
But why not just get a CAN bus adapter? One can, but those don't come with digital I/O, probably not with RS-485, and definitely not with a power supply for a mobile device.
What does it mean?
The availability of the VG100 vehicle gateway as a dedicated peripheral/accessory means that the M900Q8 tablet can directly talk to vehicle and industrial networks. This greatly expands the functionality of the M900Q8. It can serve as a Human-Machine interface with networks regular PCs cannot directly access. It can serve as a node in such networks. It can issue digital outputs to those networks and receive digital inputs from them. This can streamline business processes, increase productivity and improve public safety service. The application potential is literally endless.
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