RuggON PX501

Rugged 10.1-inch Windows tablet gets massive performance and technology upgrade
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Taiwan-based RuggON Corporation's Microsoft Windows-based Rextorm PX501 platform has long been one of the industry's most solid Tier 1 tablet computers. One that was so well conceived that it really didn't need a redesign or change other than the usual minor tech updates. Time moves on, however, and RuggON has now packed a whole lot more power under the hood of their PX501. We're talking multi-generation processing and ancillary technologies update.

Right upfront: In one fell swoop, RuggON ditched the by now dated Intel 7th and 8th generation Core processor technology and replaced it with shiny new and very much state-of-the-art "Raptor Lake" 13th generation versions. Yes, a five and six generation leap that will not only totally transform the platform, but also makes it the first in its class (10-inch rugged tablets) to use Raptor Lake tech. That's a massive upgrade that will no doubt be much appreciated by RuggON's core customers in sectors from law enforcement to field services, fleet, agriculture, military, oil and gas, automotive, logistics, manufacturing, and others.

For those new to the platform, what is the RuggON Rextorm PX501? It is the company's high-end 10-inch Windows model, and companion to the smaller 8-inch RuggON Luna 3 and the 7-inch PM-311B. In addition to these, RuggON also has an Android-based version of their 10-inch platform, the SOL PA-501. All are built with plenty of ruggedness for any conceivable outdoor deployment, and come with an impressive roster of accessories and add-on modules.

While the tech of this latest version of the PX501 has been enhanced dramatically, a lot of the basics didn't need change. There's still the very good 10.1-inch display with 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, making for an eye-pleasing 16:10 aspect ratio. The display's 224 dpi (dots per inch) pixel density generate a sharp and crisp image on a 10-inch tablet display. There's, of course, projected capacitive multi-touch, engineered to work not just with finger touch, but also while wearing gloves, when things get wet, and with a precise 2mm hard-tip stylus. For those that like an active digitizer (a technology that has always worked very well with Windows), that's optionally available as well.

Also worth mentioning are RuggON's use of the protective Gorilla Glass, optical bonding to reduce internal reflectivity, and the display's very strong backlight clocking in at 1,000 nits luminance, greatly enhancing sunlight viewability.

Processor tech: huge leap forward

Now a bit of background on the new chips RuggON is using in this latest version of the PX501. While the prior version's 7th and 8th gen processors were milestones in their own right — the 8th gen introduced quad-core processors to mobile computing — things greatly changed when with the "Alder Lake" 12th gen Intel switched to an entirely new hybrid architecture that combines high-performance "p-cores" with much simpler economy "e-cores" to get the best of both worlds — power AND economy in one single chip. In the "Raptor Lake" 13th gen, Intel enhanced that hybrid design in various ways (core count, more L2 cache memory, raising clock speed, supporting DDR5 RAM, etc). Raptor Lake is like Intel hybrid chips 2.0. Not even Dell's just introduced 10-inch Latitude 7030 Rugged Extreme tablet has it.

RuggON PX501 customers have the choice between these two processors:

Processor	Core i5-1335UE	Core i7-1365UE
Introduced	Q1/2023	Q1/2023
Processor Codename	"Raptor Lake"	"Raptor Lake"
CPU base speed	1.30Hz	1.70Hz
CPU max turbo speed	4.50Hz	4.90Hz
Performance-cores	2	2
Efficient-cores	8	8
Smart Cache	12MB	12MB
TDP	15/55 watts	15/55 watts
Intel Graphics	Iris Xe (80 EUs)	Iris Xe (96 EUs)
Graphics max speed	1.25 GHz	1.30 GHz

This being a brand-new, just-introduced unit as of this writing (October 2023), we have not had a chance to run benchmarks yet. We fully expect the PX501 tablet to produce very substantial performance that will place it at the very forefront of its class.

In terms of connectivity, the new PX501's USB 3.2 Type-C port now supports power delivery, Wi-Fi 6E is of the 802.11ax variety, Bluetooth is up to version 5.3, 5G is optionally available, and the single micro SIM slot has given way to dual nano SIM slots. The HDMI port is gone; it was no longer needed with the multi-purpose USB Type-C. A legacy DB9 RS232 serial port remains, as does an optional USB 2.0 port OR Micro SD Card slot.

Maximum RAM has doubled from 16GB DDR4 to 32GB of faster DDR5. Maximum mass storage quadrupled from 256GB of mSATA solid state disc to a full terabyte of much faster PCIe SSD.

For documentation and video communication, the PX501 still has two cameras, a rear-facing 8-megapixel autofocus unit with LED illuminator for documentation, and a front-facing 2-megapixel webcam. The unit's gyroscope, G-sensor, E-compass and ambient light sensor can be used for innovative functionality in system software and apps.

Integrating optional components is not as easy with (by rugged tablet standards) thin and light designs such as the PX501, and RuggON stayed with a hybrid approach here. Customers can specify optional integrated NFC and an industrial-grade 2D barcode reader, but magnetic stripe reading and smart card reading are handled via bolt-on modules instead.

The upgraded PX501 comes standard with a hot-swappable 48.6 watt-hour watt-hour battery that RuggON rates as good for up to 12 hours between charges. If that's not enough, there's an optional extended battery that almost doubles capacity and battery life. Real-world battery life depends on many variables but, given the tablets' new hybrid processors, long run times should be possible.

Ruggedness

As a fully rugged design, the RuggON PX501 is much tougher than any consumer or enterprise tablet. There is an impressive 5-feet drop spec, the tablet offers solid IP65 sealing (total protection against dust, protection against low pressure water jets from all directions), a wide operating temperature range of -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to +60 Celsius), and a variety of other MIL-STD-810H testing.

Bottomline

RuggON's 10-inch Rextorm line has always been a superb and highly versatile hardware platform for a vast variety of applications. This latest and very substantial tech update of the PX501 lifts it to the very forefront of what is available in compact rugged tablet functionality and performance. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, October 2023