Modern, handy, versatile 10-inch tablet for those who need Windows on the job, wherever and under what environmental conditions that may be
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Swedish Handheld Group announced the Windows 10-based 10.1-inch Algiz 10XR tablet computer on November 3, 2022, as an all-new complement to the company's existing Algiz 10X. The tablet combines high durability with robust field performance, 5G and future-proof features, all invaluable in target markets such as logistics, mining, public transport, public safety, waste management or GIS.

For a brief intro, the Handheld Group offers two primary product lines, those being the Nautiz branded rugged handhelds and the Algiz branded rugged tablets. By now, all of the Nautiz handhelds are on Android. On the Algiz side, the Handheld Group supports both Android (the Algiz RT8 and Algiz RT10) and Windows, with the new Algiz 10XR the newest. The image below shows the Windows-based Algiz 8X and 10XR on the left, and the Android-based Algiz RT8 and RT10 on the right.

Though it follows Handheld's distinct design language, the Algiz 10XR is an all-new product, building on the existing Algiz 10X whose original generation dates back to 2012. The original Algiz 10X had a resistive touch screen and a different display aspect ratio. In 2015 the second generation doubled performance with a switch from the original Intel Atom N2800 to an Intel Celeron N2930 as well as faster wireless communication. The third generation brought a more modern design in 2017. That design is modernized and refined yet again in the new Algiz 10XR, as is evident in the visual comparison between the new Algiz 10XR on the left and the existing Algiz 10X, which will continue to be available for some time, on the right:

And now here's what's new and what stayed in the latest version of Handheld's 10-inch Windows tablet platform:

• While the footprint of the new Algiz 10XR is slightly larger than that of the Algiz 10X, the new tablet is thinner and volume is down 9%. The 10XR is also a bit lighter, making for an overall handier feel. Handheld also took the opportunity to further standardize the design language of all of their tablets, from buttons, to looks to slight color differentiations between Windows and Android tablets.

• The display still measures 10.1 inches diagonally, and resolution remains at 1,920 x 1,200 pixel, but maximum display luminance rose from 600 nits in the 10X to 850 nits in the new 10XR. That's a noticeable difference, and one that will be appreciated by customers who mostly use their tablets outdoors.

• The new Algiz 10XR comes standard with the Enterprise LTSC version of Windows 10. LTSC stands for Long Term Servicing Channel. In essence, that means instead of constantly being updated (and often at inconvenient times), the LTSC version receives less frequent but more comprehensive updates.

• Like most new designs, the Algiz 10XR ditched older interface ports in favor of the smaller and reversible USP Type C ports that can support multiple functions. The new tablet still has a legacy USB Type A port, but the RS232, RJ45 and VGA ports have given way to two powered USB Type C ports that support data transfer, charging, as well as DisplayPort video and more.

  

• For positioning, the new Algiz 10XR switched from a u-blox NEO-M8N to a u-blox NEO-M8U with triple-concurrent multiband GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou and SBAS support. This means that the receiver has more satellites at its disposal, which improves positioning accuracy under adverse conditions. The M8U also supports untethered dead reckoning for accurate positioning even with weak GNSS signals.

• While the older Algiz 10X had just a single 5 megapixel rear-facing camera, the new Algiz 10XR has both a rear-facing 12 megapixel documentation cameras as well as a 5 megapixel user-facing camera. That enables video conferencing and potentially biometric access control.

• The older Algiz 10X had an optional active capacitive stylus. That came in handy when extra precision was needed (like mapping, legacy apps, etc.). The new specs don't say if the active stylus is available for the new tablet as well. It'd be good, since Windows often benefits from it.

The table below shows the major differences between Handheld's new Algiz 10XR and the older Algiz 10X rugged tablets:

Handheld	Algiz 10XR	Algiz 10X
Launched	November 2022	September 2017
CPUs	Intel Atom x6413	Intel Celeron N2930
Display	10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 pixel (226 ppi)	10.1-inch 1920 x 1200 pixel (226 ppi)
Display aspect ratio	16 : 10	16 : 10
Display luminance	850 nits	600 nits
Size	11.1 x 7.1 x 1.0 inches	10.8 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
Volume	78.1 cubic inches	86.8 cubic inches
Weight	2.7 lbs.	2.9 lbs.
RAM	8GB DDR4	4 or 8GB DDR3
Mass storage	128GB	128GB
Wi-Fi	802.11ac	802.11ac
Bluetooth	v5.0	v4.0
Battery	40.66 or 72.40 Whr	39.22 or 78.44 Whr
Cameras	Rear 12mp, front 5mp	Rear 5mp
USB Type A	USB 3.0	USB 2.0 + USB 3.0
USB Type C	2 x USB 3.0	NA
RS232	NA	yes
Ethernet	NA	yes, RJ45
GNSS	uBlox NEO-M8U	uBlox NEO-M8N
External video	DisplayPort (via USB-C)	VGA
Sealing	IP65	IP65
Transit Drop	4-feet	4-feet

There's a substantial change under the hood. The quad-core Celeron N2930, which initially made its appearance in the 2015 update of the Algiz 10X, has been replaced with a much newer Intel "Elkhart Lake" Atom x6413E (see specs for both). The new chip uses much more miniaturized photolithographic process technology for gains in both performance and economy.

Handheld claims the 10XR offers "measurably faster" performance compared to the older 10X, and has twice the graphics performance. A question one might ask is why Handheld didn't just go all the way up to Intel Core processors, which is what most of the fully-rugged 10-inch competition is using.

RAM of the new tablet is of the faster DDR4 variety, but mass storage stays at 128GB. The hot-swappable 40.66 watt-hour battery packs a little more punch than before, the optional extended 72.4 watt-hour battery a bit less.

As before, the new Algiz 10XR offers the kind of toughness expected from a fully-rugged tablet.

The Algiz 10XR can handle a very wide operating temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, making it suitable for deployment in freezers as well as deserts. It carries IP65 sealing where the "6" means the computer is totally protected from dust, and the "5" that it is protected against low pressure jet of water from all directions. The Algiz 10X also passed the MIL-STD-810G test of 26 drops to concrete.

RuggedPCReview.com hasn't had hands-on with the new Algiz 10XR. In the Handheld Group's media release, Johan Hed, Chief Product Officer, summed it up as follow: "The Algiz 10XR will bring some great performance gains for our partners and customers who rely on Windows tablets in the field. We've worked with this segment for decades now and are confident that we've developed a device with not only great specs, but a complete accessory package to help our customers with their fieldwork."

That seems on the mark, and while the Algiz 10XR doesn't directly compete with Intel Core-based high-performance systems, it's absolutely an attractive proposition for anyone who needs a modern, fully rugged 10-inch Windows tablet. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, November 2022