Rugged tablets are entering a new era. Once reserved for the harshest environments, enterprise-grade rugged tablets have become foundational to a fully connected frontline. The global market is accelerating in 2025, driven by large-scale refresh cycles, AI-enabled workflows, edge intelligence, and renewed investment across military, public safety, manufacturing, retail, transportation, and logistics.
This year marks a defining industry milestone. After years of incremental growth, WAN-activated rugged tablets have officially surpassed Wi-Fi-only models, signaling a shift toward always-on mobility. By 2029, 56 percent of all rugged tablet shipments will ship with integrated cellular connectivity, reflecting the rising demand for uninterrupted communication, real-time data access, and dependable performance in motion.
Although still early innings, the adoption of AI, edge computing, and private 5G is intensifying this shift. Organizations are connecting frontline workers to mission-critical systems enabling automated dispatch, UAV remote control, digital evidence capture, predictive maintenance, and dynamic field operations. Rugged tablets now sit at the center of many of these high-value workflows.
This evolution is also reshaping device engineering. OEMs are accelerating development of platforms that can withstand extreme conditions while delivering stable performance under constant network load. The next generation of rugged tablets must optimize durability, thermal management, battery longevity, and advanced connectivity without sacrificing user experience. Vendors that fail to design for a fully connected, AI-driven future risk falling behind as frontline modernization accelerates.
Our recent report assesses the forces redefining the enterprise tablets market. The report explores emerging product design strategies, OS diversification, regional demand shifts, and competitive dynamics across rugged tablets and 2-in-1 devices. It features vendor profiles on Advantech, Dell Technologies, DT Research, Durabook, Getac, Havis, Honeywell, MilDef, Panasonic, RuggON, Ruggtek, Samsung, Urovo, Winmate, Zebra Technologies, and other leaders shaping the market trajectory. For organizations planning their next wave of mobility investments, these insights are essential.
Read the Executive Brief to see where the rugged tablet market is headed and what the next phase of the ecosystem will demand.