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Honeywell Dolphin CN80

Making the transition to Android a whole lot easier
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Honeywell launched the Dolphin CN80 ultra-rugged mobile computer with a very clear mission. That mission is to help logistics, warehouse, and field-mobility organizations transition as painlessly as possible from the old world of Windows CE and Windows Mobile/Embedded Handheld devices to the heir-more-than-apparent, Android. That means capacitive touch and all the Android goodies, but also with the keypads still required for so many legacy applications. Smart. Very smart.

No longer a compromise

While conceived to facilitate transitioning, the Dolphin CN80 also represents a major step forward. That's because the platform has a clear mission and clear direction, something that earlier CN series handhelds didn't have.

The predecessor Dolphin CN75, for example, introduced just last year as a replacement for the venerable CN70 that began life as an Intermec design back in 2011, still was a hedge-the-bets product available in a Windows version (because you can't just ditch Microsoft while Microsoft still makes up its mind) and an Android version (because Android was kind of coming on very strong).

That predicament is no longer an issue. Microsoft is no longer in the mini OS market, and Android rules the non-Apple handheld market now. As a result, the CN80 did not have to be a compromise product. It is a fully optimized Android device. Just one that has keypads so it's optimal for old legacy apps, too, until those have all been brought over to touch.

Great tech

So let's look at the new Dolphin CN80. Measuring 8.1 x 3.1 inches, the CN80 has the footprint of a longer iPhone 8 Plus. At 19 ounces it's not an insubstantial device either, but that's the size and weight of a very rugged touch screen handheld with a full hardware keypad and your choice of industrial-grade barcode scanning.

The CN80 can be ordered either with a 23-key numeric or 40-key alphanumeric keypad, both backlit and offering programmable and shiftable keys to add functionality and access function keys. Talk about having your cake (a modern Android handheld) and eat it too (with those keypads).

The CN80's touch implementation is particularly impressive. Honeywell not only addressed one of the iffier aspects of capacitive touch — its use in the rain and with gloves on — but did so with auto-detection and switching between mutual and self-capacitance modes for water rejection and use with many off-the-shelf gloves. Kudos!

For scanning, the CN80 uses the N6603R area imager with Honeywell's Adaptus 6.0 technology or the Honeywell EX20 near/far imager, depending on the intended type of application. There is also an integrated 13-megapixel auto-focus digital camera option with flash. No fewer than six different sensors allow for a wealth of advanced applications, indicating that this is, truly, not your father's handheld.

On the wireless side, the CN80 has integrated Class 1.5 Bluetooth Version 5.0 and dual band 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi. Optional integrated mobile broadband supports virtually all wireless standards and major carriers, with super-fast CAT13 LTE downlink speed, FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, dual nano-SIMs and extensive legacy support. For positioning functionality, the CN80 supports simultaneous GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and Beidou, which means it has far more satellites at its disposal. The removable and rechargeable Li-Ion battery packs a hefty 22.3 watt-hours.

The display measures 4.2 inches diagonally — perhaps a tad small for optimal touch functionality — and offers 854 x 480- pixel resolution, making for a nicely crisp image with 233 pixels per inch. Under the hood sits a state-of-the-art octa-core 2.2GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. With no more need to also support Windows Mobile, Honeywell had far better processor options than before.

It goes without saying that the Dolphin CN80 is a very rugged device. We're talking an 8-foot drop spec, IP67 sealing, a wide -4 to 122 degree Fahrenheit operating temperature range, and the ability tho handle more one-meter tumbles than any device will ever encounter.

As for Android, it's version 7.1 "Nougat." And to ease fears over Android's dreaded version fragmentation, Honeywell offers an extended product lifecycle across four generations of Android, from Android Nougat to Oreo and then the as of yet unavailable Android P and Android Q.

Transition away!

All of this is very impressive. In a world that has fully and completely embraced ever more powerful smartphones, industrial handhelds have lagged behind in terms of technology and features. Some is unavoidable due to considerations for ruggedness, legacy support, purchasing life cycles and so on. And part was undoubtedly due to the years of wondering what Microsoft might do (nothing).

With that latter issue resolved, Honeywell has now shown that the days of holding back are over. The Dolphin CN80 seems uniquely well positioned to help with the transition from legacy Microsoft-based devices and systems to the burgeoning Android economy. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, June 2018

See the Honeywell Dolphin CN80 page

Specifications Honeywell CN80
Added/changed Added 05/2018
Form-factor Ultra-rugged mobile computer
CPU Speed Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660/2.2 GHz
OS Android 7.1 Nougat, upgradable through Android Q
RAM/ROM 3GB/4GB RAM/32GB Flash
Card slots 1 x Micro SDXC/SDHC Card Slot (user-accessible, up to 512GB), 2 x micro-SIM
Storage 32GB Flash
Display type Backlit outdoor-viewable, optically bonded LCD
Display size/res 4.2-inch/480 x 854 pixel (233 ppi)
Digitizer/pens Capacitive touch panel with automatic glove/water detection via mutual and self-capacitance modes
Keyboard/keys 23-key numeric or 40-key alphanumeric backlit keypad, dual side scan triggers, volume up/down, camera, power
Navigation Onscreen and directional control
Housing Impact-resistant plastic
Operating Temp -4° to 122°F (-20° to 50°C)
Sealing IP65/67
Drop 8-foot drop to concrete per MIL-STD 810G
Tumble Exceeds 2,000 1.0 m (3.3 ft) tumbles per IEC 60068-2-32 specification
Vibration Unknown
ESD +/-15 kV air discharge; +/-8 kV direct discharge
Regulatory Safety: cULus Listed, BSMI; EMC: Class B - FCC/ICES/EN, GOST-R Radio: FCC w/HAC, Industry Canada, CE, A-tick (AU), NCC, IDA, ICASA, POSTEL, NTC, ETA, SIRIM, ANATEL
Size (WxHxD) CN80 with N6603R: 8.03 x 3.07 x 1.31 inches (204 x 78 x 33 mm); CN80 with EX20: 8.08 in x 3.07 in x 1.56 inches (205 x 78 x 40 mm)
Weight 19.4 oz. (550 grams) with battery
Power Removable, rechargeable 3.85V, 5,800 mAH 22.3 whr Li-Ion
Sensors Ambient light, proximity, accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, pressure
Camera 13MP camera with autofocus, LED flash
Data collection Honeywell N6603R 1D/2D imager or Honeywell EX20 near/far 1D/2D imager
Interface Custom connector (USB 3.0, power), optional 13.56MHz RFID reader/writer
Wireless Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/r WiFi, Class 1.5 Bluetooth 5.0, WWAN (FDD-LTE, TDD-LTE, UMTS/HSPA+, GSM/GPRS/EDGE, 1xRTT/EV-DO Rev A)
List price Inquire
Brochure Honeywell CN80 data sheet (PDF)
Web page Honeywell CN80 web page