Samsung announced the Galaxy Tab Active, a ruggedized tablet with enterprise-level ambitions, at IFA 2014 in Berlin last month. The tablet is one of a huge line of Samsung devices that have already dropped or are going to be released this year. The Galaxy Tab Active is not a high-end tablet, but it is rugged and it’s aimed at the business crowd. The tablet was announced last month but Samsung didn’t give us any details on when it was going to be arriving. Today, the Korean company opened up pre-orders for the device and announced that it will be shipping in the U.S. before the month is over.
The version of the Galaxy Tab Active that is shipping in the next couple of weeks is the Wi-Fi only version. A cellular or LTE-enabled variant may be in the works but hasn’t been announced yet. Pre-orders are open but Samsung is targeting this device at businesses. That means that you probably won’t be ordering one for yourself. You’re more likely to get one from your company if you get one at all.
The Samsung Galaxy Tab Active has some unique features, including its anti-shock covering and IP67 water and dust resistance certification. The whole goal with this tablet is to give it to business people out in the field. Companies can be confident that it will take a beating and keep working. The tablet has a 3.1-megapixel camera on the back, Samsung’s C-Pen technology that gives workers wearing gloves an alternate input method, and a user-replaceable 4,450 mAh battery that is supposed to last 10 hours. Samsung’s CEO JK Shin said this about the tablet when it launched: “Samsung understands today’s businesses have demanding requirements to enable growth. As a trusted global leader in mobile technology, Samsung is ready and able to deliver solutions built specifically for professional-use, featuring innovative offerings and technological capabilities that are unmatched anywhere in the market.”
I can’t find a price for the tablet, just contact information for Samsung’s business division. If you really want one of these, ask your employer to get in touch with Samsung.