Durabook U11I-EX and R8-EX launch as new Windows 11 tablets for explosive environments

Like many other Durabook slates, the U11I-EX and R8-EX feature the MIL-STD-810H- and IP66-rated durability against 1-meter (6 feet) drops and dust/water/dirt ingress respectively. However, unlike their predecessors, the 2 new PCs can be used in the presence of potentially explosive "gases, vapours, dust, and other substances" as well as thrown around the factory floor with impunity.

The tablets are now officially ATEX- (Atmosphères Explosibles) certified for use in "Zone 2/22" environments, and could thus also be kept around "ignition sources" such as lightning strikes, mechanically generated sparks, open flames, static electricity or sources of "stray" current. 

Accordingly, Durabook asserts that their new EU certification renders them ideal for use in industries such as oil, gas or pharma. They also still have the brand's signature DynaVue technology optimized for use with gloves, damp hands or pens for their displays, which range from 8 inches in the R8-EX to 11.6 in the U11I-EX.

Both screens are driven by 12th-gen Intel processors, which also confer Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi 6E, Thunderbolt 4 support and optional 4G/LTE on both tablets, with 5G for some U11I-EX SKUs. Both slates also pack Coolfinity fanless cooling and swappable batteries. 

There are 2 kinds of those available for the latest Durabook tablets: standard or extended-capacity. Those for the R8-EX are rated to last up to 8.5 hours or 17 hours per charge, whereas those of the larger model might last 10 to 20 hours.

Pricing and sales info are currently available through the OEM. In the meantime, Durabook tech is also circulating in forms such as the Tiger Lake-powered S14 laptop listed on Amazon.