Summary: This guide showcases three leading Zebra Technologies rugged mobile computer ranges, each available at different price points from entry level to premium. The TC2X is a great choice for SMEs moving from consumer devices to professional models at a friendly budget. The TC5Xe series features high-performance devices that are stalwarts of warehouse, distribution and field services the world over. Finally, the TC7X series is a range of ultra-rugged premium machines engineered for extreme environments and a maximum operational lifespan.
Introduction
In this comparison guide, we’ll provide you with the information you need to make the right choice of durable Zebra rugged handheld computers for your teams. We’ll look at the features and benefits of the different models, and match them with industry use cases so you can see which fits your requirements.
There’s a lot riding on your choice. Get it right and your devices will keep your teams better connected, more informed and working faster. Get it wrong and you could find yourself deploying a superb device… for a different use case. Since procurement rounds don’t happen every day, that mistake could keep on costing you.
Some good news. You’ve narrowed your search down to industry leaders Zebra and landed on three excellent mobile computers. Each model is a rugged handheld computer (minimum MIL-STD 810G and IP65/IP68), hi-spec for its price point and comes with all the benefits of the Zebra ecosystem. This includes Zebra DNA cloud management and deployment, a huge choice of accessories and support options that ensure downtime is kept to a minimum or eliminated.
Support cycles – read carefully
To ensure product longevity and a maximum return on investment, you will want to look closely at the support cycles for these products. Below, you’ll see a ‘3:3’, ‘4:4’ or ‘5:5’ descriptor next to each product. The first number is the sales cycle, which shows how long the product will be sold after its initial release date. The second is the support cycle, which shows how many years of support it will receive after the sales cycle is completed. So a 5:5 device would have a 10-year life from the first date of sale. As Zebra says, ‘Though consumer device life cycles and support periods vary by vendor, in almost all instances they fall well short of these periods.’
Further down in the product specs, you’ll see detailed information about what this means in terms of precise sales and support dates.
Finally, bear in mind that ensuring your devices receive regular security updates is essential for adhering to Cyber Essentials and ISO standards.
Now let’s take a look at the TC2X, TC5Xe and TC7X.
TC22/27 series: the business durable, powerful device at smartphone prices. Support cycle 3:3
Perfect for SMEs moving from consumer phones to rugged devices, these machines will function within wide temperature ranges and take knocks and drops that would destroy consumer models. Great for retail, hospitality and light field operations.
Standout features
The overall story about the TC2X range of devices is that you’re getting some seriously high-grade enterprise features at a reasonable price that matches many consumer devices.
The obvious starting point is the sealing and drop specifications. The TC2X is going to keep going in environments where consumer devices would bite the dust within weeks. But these mobile computers are definitely not all brawn and no brains. Underneath the rugged exterior sits some serious functionality. A generous 6-inch full HD+ display with a sharp, bright screen outpaces many competitors. Meanwhile, the Qualcomm 5430 2.1GHz processor paired with up to 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage ensures smooth performance for everyday business applications.
The range is versatile across many use cases, too. The integrated contactless payment support for Apple VAS and Google SmartTap transforms devices into a mobile point-of-sale system. And the choice between SE4710 standard or SE55 advanced range scanners (reaching up to 12.2 metres) provides flexibility for different operational needs.
Support through Android 16 provides this durable mobile computer with much-needed longevity, too.
Sector recommendations
We recommend these devices to small to medium-sized businesses where budget constraints matter, but a step up to a business-durable device with enterprise functionality is a must. Are they as rugged or hi-spec as the other choices in this comparison? No, but the price point reflects that – and why overengineer things if this range does the job beautifully?
Retail, hospitality and event management are natural homes for the TC2X series. Staff can use these devices for price verification, inventory lookups and mobile checkout during peak periods, with contactless payment support enabling true queue-busting capabilities. But they are also a great fit for light warehouse and field services environments, handling receiving, putaway, delivery verification, asset inspection and basic inventory management without the cost premium of more rugged alternatives. Take note of that wide operating-temperature range in the specifications below. This is a real step up from what many consumer devices will offer.
For small businesses competing against larger rivals, the TC2X levels the playing field by providing professional capabilities – barcode scanning, ultra-rugged construction, enterprise management tools – without requiring capital-intensive investments.
Detailed specifications
- Price: £
- Display: 6-inch Full HD+ display (2160 x 1080)
- Processing: Qualcomm 5430 2.1GHz
- Memory: 6GB or 8GB RAM options; 64GB or 128GB flash storage
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6/6E (TC22); 4G/5G with Wi-Fi 6E (TC27 only); Bluetooth 5.2; supports Apple VAS and Google SmartTap for contactless payments
- Scanning: choice of SE4710 standard range or SE55 advanced range (up to 12.2m) scan engines; 1D/2D barcode capture; 16MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
- Durability: IP65/IP68 rating; drop-proof up to 1.3m per MIL-STD-810H; 500 1 metre tumbles
- Operating temperature: -10°C – 50°C
- Battery: standard: 3,800 mAh (14.63Wh); extended: 5,200 mAh (20.02Wh)
- Launch date: 27 June 2023
- Product availability: 3 years (until June 2026)
- Official support: 3 years (until 27 June 2030)
- Extended software support: compatible up to Android 16, so there is additional software support beyond the above dates
Find out more about the TC2X Series.
TC53e/58e/53e-RFID series: the rugged enterprise favourite. Support cycle 4:4
There’s a reason why warehouse, distribution and field services the world over use these trusted devices. They provide great performance and are formidably rugged at a midrange price.
Standout features
The TC5Xe series sits in the middle of our list for a very good reason. It nudges up the specs from the TC2X to achieve a status as an absolute stalwart of the warehouse and distribution world. But this range is also not overbuilt (and therefore not overpriced) for the typical needs of these industries. So, while rugged, it is not designed for extremely punishing scenarios.
One of the most illustrative ways to assess this range is to review how it has stepped up from the previous TC2X model.
For starters, it’s more rugged, withstanding drops up to 1.8m to tile over concrete, versus 1.3m on the TC2X, making it suitable for intensive warehouse and manufacturing environments. The TC53e-RFID model offers built-in UHF RFID reading at 1.2m range, scanning 20 tags simultaneously (the TC2X requires external RFD40/RFD90 sleds to achieve this). Also, TC53e/TC58e models feature a Qualcomm 4490 octa-core processor at 2.4 GHz, delivering significantly faster performance than the TC2X's 5430 2.1 GHz processor.
Sector recommendations
The TC53e, TC58e and TC53e-RFID are purpose-built for organisations where mobile devices face genuine industrial conditions, but don't encounter the absolute extremes.
Warehouse and distribution operations can leverage this range for inventory management, cycle counting, receiving, putaway, order picking, packing and shipping verification. Transportation and logistics companies deploy them for last-mile delivery, route optimisation, package tracking, proof of delivery photograph and customer signature capture. There are also proven use cases in manufacturing, retail (especially for inventory tracking and omnichannel service) and field services.
For many organisations, these devices, from a price and specifications point of view, will be in the goldilocks zone: precisely the right mobile computer for efficient working and a healthy return on investment.
Detailed specifications
- 6-inch full HD display (2160 x 1080)
- Processing: Qualcomm 4490 octa-core 2.4GHz
- Memory: 6GB to 8GB RAM depending on model; 64GB to 128GB flash storage
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E (TC53e and TC53e-RFID); 4G/5G with Wi-Fi 6E (TC58e only); Bluetooth 5.3
- Scanning: SE55 1D/2D Advanced Range Scan Engine with IntelliFocus technology; SE4720 1D/2D Scan Engine; SE4770 1D/2D scan engine (TC58e only); 16MP rear camera, 8MP front camera
- RFID: Short range integrated UHF RFID; 4 ft (1.2m) range; reads 20 tags per second; EU 865-868MHz and US 902-928Mhz (TC53e-RFID only)
- Durability: IP65/IP68 rating; 1.8m drops to concrete; 1000 0.5m tumbles
- Operating temperature: -20°C – 50°C
- Battery: Rechargeable Li-Ion, PowerPrecision+ for real-time battery metrics; capacity 4,680 to 7000 mAh depending on model; warm-swop battery mode
- Price: ££
- Launch date: 16 February 2024
- Product availability: 4 years (until 2028)
- Official support: 4 further years (30 July 2032)
- Extended software support: compatible up to Android 18, so there is additional software support beyond the above dates
Find out more about the TC5X Series.
TC73/78 series: the ultra-rugged device built for the longest, hardest jobs. Support cycle 5:5
Ultra-rugged premium devices engineered for extreme environments and maximum operational lifespan. Designed for punishing field work, intensive warehousing and heavy, dirty logistics.
Standout features
There are times when device failure is more than an efficiency issue – it’s a mission-critical one. The TC7X series is for organisations that work in the toughest environments out there – where shocks, heat, cold, dust and water are everyday occurrences. This range’s ultra-rugged construction withstands 2.4-metre drops and 2,000 tumbles at one metre – it’s going to handle the worst.
The processing power supports the most demanding enterprise applications without performance degradation, while the 5G and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity on TC73/TC78 models ensures these devices won't become communication bottlenecks as network infrastructure evolves.
One standout feature is an option for extended range scanning, which reaches a remarkable 40 feet with the SE55 Advanced Range Scan Engine, enabling workers to capture barcodes on high racks without ladders or lifts. Meanwhile, the 16MP rear camera with optical image stabilisation delivers sharp documentation even in moving vehicles or vibrating environments.
The five-year design life with ten-year service availability means a single device purchase covers periods that would require two or three replacement cycles with lesser alternatives. Not a cheap device – it’s top of the range. But certainly superb value for money.
Sector recommendations
From a durability and specifications point of view, the TC7X is a great fit for field service in extreme conditions – utilities maintenance, telecommunications infrastructure, oil and gas operations, and construction site management.
It’s also suitable for public safety bodies, including law enforcement, emergency services, parking enforcement and border control. Procurement guidelines frequently mandate that devices are certified for demanding environments, which is certainly the case with the TC7X.
Devices offer enhanced security features and this, along with the features above, means the TC7X series is a solid choice for defence forces in both logistical and front-line environments. This makes the range an excellent fit for personnel requiring dependable communications and data access in combat zones, disaster response or remote deployment scenarios where device failure cannot be tolerated.
Detailed specifications
- Display: 6-inch full HD display (1080 x 2160) and 28% larger and brighter than TC5X
- Processing: Qualcomm 6490 2.7GHz octo-core
- Memory: 4GB to 8GB RAM; 64GB to 128GB flash storage
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E TC73; Wi-Fi 6E with 5G cellular TC78; Bluetooth 5.2
- Scanning: SE4720 1D/2D scan engine or SE55 Advanced Range engine. (extended range up to 40 ft (12.2m) with SE55); 16MP rear camera with OIS (optional); 5MP front camera
- Durability: IP65/IP68; 3.05m drop to concrete at room temperature per MIL-STD-810H and 2000 tumbles at 1m
- Operating temperature: -20°C – 50°C
- Battery: PowerPrecision+ batteries; 4,680 to 7,000+ mAh depending on model; hot-swappable batteries (optional)
- Price: £££
- Launch date: November-December 2022
- Product availability: 5 years (until late 2027/early 2028)
- Official support: 10 years from first date of sale
- Extended software support: compatible up to Android 16, so there is additional software support beyond the above dates
Find out more about the TC7X Series.
Nuffield Technologies procures and deploys all these featured devices to clients in logistics, field services, manufacturing, retail, defence forces and many other industries. As well as sourcing devices at preferential rates and rolling them out across your teams, we offer bespoke software development including secure solutions for disconnected environments. We also provide an Automated Android Update Testing Service to ensure your updates roll out without any issues. Get in touch to find out more.