Hardware

Review: Zebra XSLATE L10 660 Serves Mobile Apps from Anywhere

As a laptop, tablet or smartphone, this device can provide an Android platform in any environment.

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John Breeden II is an award-winning reviewer and public speaker with 20 years of experience covering technology.

The pandemic may have forced a lot of workers to suddenly begin telecommuting, but many state and local governments were already moving in that direction. Mobility initiatives can add a big boost of productivity to most environments, while also improving the quality of life for employees. But they require the right technology.

Bring-your-own-device programs can temporarily bridge the gap to mobility, but state governments looking for true efficiency need to provide their staff with a unified platform from which to work. The Zebra XSLATE L10 tablet is designed to do that.

Tablet Is Built to Endure Tough Environments

The XSLATE is a compact Android tablet with a generous 10.1-inch, brightly lit touch screen that makes it easy to read everything on the display. It’s also comes with a replaceable anti-glare screen protector for working in environments with overhead lighting or unfiltered sunlight. The screen images are accurate and the display is responsive, even if users are wearing gloves or have wet hands.

A fast, eight-core 2.2-gigahertz Snapdragon processor backed by 4 gigabytes of RAM easily handled even the most demanding Android productivity apps, never struggling as some smartphones do with complex programs. And to protect the government’s investment, the XSLATE is ruggedized and tested against the rigorous MIL-STD-810G durability standard.

The XSLATE’S battery powered the tablet for nine hours of typical use and is fully hot swappable. An extended battery is also available that is rated for 26 hours of overall use on a single charge.

Device Offers Reliable Connectivity on the Move

For connectivity, the XSLATE can use 802.11x wireless technology, which is extremely fast given the embedded multi-user, multiple input, multiple output (MU-MIMO) technology. The tablet can also tap Bluetooth 5.0. For cellular connectivity, 4G LTE options are available. The tablet is also certified to work with all public safety networks, including the new nationwide FirstNet service.

In addition to powering Android apps, the XSLATE is also a competent teleconferencing device. It has a 5-megapixel front-facing camera that makes speakers look like they are in the same room. A 13MP camera faces forward for capturing high-definition video and photos.

There is almost nothing that the Zebra XSLATE can’t do within the world of Android applications. It’s ready to serve state and local government employees whether they work in an office, from home or outside in adverse conditions.

Zebra Gets the Job Done Under Any Conditions

Any vendor can claim that its device is tougher than others. Marketing people may use words like “durable” and “sturdy” without definitions or testing to back it up. The Zebra XSLATE L10 Android Rugged Tablet doesn’t do that. It’s rated for rugged conditions, and it was tested against the rigorous MIL-STD 810G standard used by the military.

Over the years, many devices have broken on our floor or drowned in the test tank attempting to run the military testing gauntlet. We put the XSLATE L10 to the ultimate test.

Specifically, the XSLATE is designated as rugged against extremes in temperature, including thermal shock (when the temperature changes abruptly), water and sand ingress, drops, vibration, humidity and high-altitude use.

We tested it first against harsh temperatures, letting it run in a freezing environment for over an hour. It did fine, especially because it has a solid-state hard drive, which is not prone to freezing.

To test how waterproof the XSLATE is, we used Method 506.5, which simulates a wind speed of 40 miles per hour and 4 inches of rain. The device also spent time in the humidity chamber with up to 95 percent noncondensing humidity. In both cases, it came though with no ill effects.

The final test was the drop test, because that is the one that kills most devices. The XSLATE is well made, with rubberized material covering all edges and corners. The frame itself is constructed of a magnesium alloy that is both strong and good at dispersing internal heat. The display is protected with clear Gorilla Glass 3 material.

From a height of up to 6 feet, the XSLATE was dropped repeatedly onto plywood covering concrete. In many cases, the device actually bounced. At the end of the testing, the plywood looked a little worse for wear, but the XSLATE was mostly unscathed. It booted right up, making it an extremely rugged device that is ready to challenge the harshest conditions of any state in the union.

ZEBRA XSLATE L10 660

SPECIFICATIONS

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core 2.2GHz
Memory: 4GB RAM with 64GB storage
Screen Size: 10.1-inch WUXGA display
Connectivity: 802.11x wireless, Bluetooth 5.0 and/or 4G LTE cellular
Dimensions: 11x7.7x 0.88 inches
Weight: 2.7 pounds