Samsung has also launched a new rugged tablet, the Galaxy Active4 Pro, and both support 5G networks.
Samsung will bring its second-generation rugged Android phone for frontline workers, the Galaxy XCover6 Pro, to the US next month. The upgraded smartphone is slightly larger than the original XCoverPro. It has a faster processor and improved connectivity with support for 5G and Wi-Fi 6 networks.
While Samsung launched the Galaxy XCover6Pro in other markets earlier this year, it will arrive in the US on October 20. Samsung has updated its rugged tablet with the introduction of the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro tablet, which is available now. Samsung for several years has signaled its intention to market its Galaxy phones and tablets to frontline workers.
Saurabh Shah of Samsung
Samsung’s senior B2B product manager Saurabh Shah told media and analysts the company was optimistic about the robust market. Shah said the rugged device market will reach $6 billion by 2025 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7%. Shah argued that Samsung offers a viable alternative to more expensive devices.
“There are consumer devices that are rugged, but only with the case,” Shah said. “On the other hand, you have more traditional rugged devices that are much heavier [and] over-engineered. Because of this, they are expensive. We believe we are in a unique position.
Samsung Jiin Park
Jiin Park, senior director of B2B product marketing at Samsung, said its partners have played an important role in the company’s entry into the robust market. “Our partner ecosystem is a huge advantage for businesses,” she said. “Through our partner ecosystem, companies can integrate applications specific to their industry specifications and requirements. And there’s the flexibility to customize the solution to meet those unique business needs.
Samsung introduced its first rugged phone, the Galaxy XCoverPro, in January 2020, just before the pandemic. Officials at the time said Samsung’s first rugged phone resembled its mainstream Galaxy phones. But Samsung designed the XCoverPro to withstand drops or moisture and added a push-to-talk walkie-talkie feature. Samsung and Microsoft have also teamed up to integrate Teams with the device’s push-to-talk option.
XCoverPro 6 Specifications
Samsung’s Galaxy XCover6 Pro rugged phone
Unlike Samsung’s mainstream phones, the company has also introduced a replaceable battery in the upgraded XCoverPro 6. The new device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 778G processor and comes with more memory, 6GB instead of 4GB. Samsung has doubled the internal storage to 128GB (and micro-SD card support 1 TB, compared to 512 GB). Samsung has also increased the size from 6.3 inches to 6.6 inches. It is rated IP68, MIL-STD-810H.
Samsung also said it will support the phone through four full Android OS updates. It will ship with Android 12, which means Samsung will support the device up to Android 16. Samsung is also offering its Knox mobile device management tool for free for the first year.
The Galaxy XCoverPro 6 now also supports Samsung DeX, as does the Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro. Samsung DeX allows users to connect their devices to an external display, keyboard, and mouse. Samsung also allowed the new devices to mount in an mPOS dock for point-of-sale environments.
Samsung didn’t disclose pricing, but when the company launched the XCoverPro in 2020, the starting price was $499.
Tablet Tab Active4 Pro
Samsung’s Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro tablet
The Galaxy Tab Active4 Pro supports Sub6 5G and Wi-Fi 6 and has optional Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) private network capability. Samsung said it offers enhanced near-field communications (NFC) and the company’s Knox mobile point-of-sale platform for retail point-of-sale use. This includes Knox Capture for scanning barcodes.
Samsung will support the Tab Active4 Pro through three OS versions, which means it will remain supported up to Android 15. Powered by a Qualcomm SM73255 processor and an Octa Core processor, the Tab Active4 Pro is rated MIL-STD 810H and can withstand drops of 3 feet. It supports Wireless DeX, compared to the XCoverPro 6, which requires a wired connection. Samsung also offers five years of security maintenance releases.
It’s available now in a Wi-Fi-only and 5G-capable configuration, with a starting price of $699. Versions with 5G support are now available through T-Mobile and Verizon. Samsung said AT&T support will come later this year.
