Samsung announces Tab Active3 ruggedized Android tablet with removable battery

Ruggedized smartphones are fairly rare in today’s market, and rugged tablets are rarer still. There are still a few tough tablets out there, including a new device from Samsung.

The Tab Active3 is a new ruggedized Android tablet from Samsung. Featuring a 1.7 GHz octa-core processor (boost up to 2.7 GHz), 4 GB of RAM, and 64 GB of expandable storage, the 8-inch FHD+ tablet is powerful enough for most work-related tasks. It’s unlikely to win any gaming awards, but the Tab Active3 is designed for frontline workers who are often in difficult environments.

The Tab Active3 runs Android 10 and has a programmable button, S-Pen support, and NFC. The tablet also supports wireless DeX, Samsung’s pseudo-desktop feature that allows users to connect their Samsung device to a monitor and run a desktop version of the company’s One UI.

One of the most intriguing features is its removable 5050 mAh battery. The tablet can continue operation without a battery if it’s plugged into a wall, allowing users to (sort of) hot-swap batteries. Samsung has promised “up to three generations of Android OS upgrades.” Samsung doesn’t have the best track record when it comes to Android upgrades, so time will tell if the company keeps this promise. Samsung also promised up to 5 years of security updates.

The Samsung Tab Active3 starts at US$489.99 for a WiFi-only model (WiFi 6). An LTE model sells for $589.99.

Purchase the Samsung Tab Active3 LTE on Amazon.