Every intrinsically safe tablet,
compared & verified — ATEX
& IECEx Zone 1 & 2.
There are 6 dedicated ATEX and IECEx certified tablets for hazardous areas in 2026, from ecom (Pepperl+Fuchs), i.safe MOBILE, Aegex, Getac, and Zebra. Prices range from ~€2,400 for an 8-inch Zone 1 Android unit to ~€4,500 for a Windows Zone 1 workstation. Four models are Zone 1 certified; two are Zone 2 only. iPad-based solutions have joined them: Xciel ships ATEX/IECEx Zone 1 enclosures for the iPad mini and Zone 2 cases for full-size iPads, Atexxo ships ATEX Zone 2/22 converted iPads with a Zone 1/21 iPad 11″ expected Q3 2026, and the Xshielder iPad Pro 11 — the first announced Zone 1/21 case for an iPad Pro — is pending certification. On raw hardware, the iPad Pro-based solution leads the field: desktop-class Apple silicon, the brightest display of any Ex tablet, and the longest software support window.
An intrinsically safe tablet limits electrical energy below the ignition threshold of flammable gases and dust. Every specification on this page is verified against IEC 60079 certificates of conformity. No vendor bias. No affiliate links.
Every solution, one comparable layout.
Certified tablets for explosive atmospheres — from 8″ field units to 11.6″ workstations, including certified iPad solutions.
Xshielder iPad Pro 11
Xshielder (Norway)
The most powerful hardware of any Ex tablet solution — brightest display, fastest silicon, longest software runway. First iPad Pro Ex case; ATEX Zone 1/21 certification pending.
Manufacturer →
ecom Tab-Ex 03 DZ2
ecom (Pepperl+Fuchs)
Samsung Galaxy Tab-based, familiar UX
Manufacturer →
ecom Tab-Ex Pro DZ2
ecom (Pepperl+Fuchs)
Premium display, S-Pen support
Manufacturer →
i.safe MOBILE IS930.1
i.safe MOBILE
Compact 8″ form factor
Manufacturer →
Aegex 10 IS
Aegex Technologies
Windows OS — SAP, SCADA compatible
Manufacturer →
Getac F110-Ex
Getac
Large screen, full Windows power
Manufacturer →
Zebra XPAD L10 IS
Zebra (Xplore)
Enterprise MDM ecosystem
Manufacturer →
Xciel XCZ1 iPad mini 7
Xciel (USA)
Only shipping Zone 1 iPad solution — mini form factor (also mini 4/5/6)
Manufacturer →
Atexxo iPad (A16) Ex
Atexxo Manufacturing (NL)
Factory-converted Apple iPad — Touch ID disabled, 5G/eSIM available
Manufacturer →
Atexxo iPad 11″ Zone 1
Atexxo Manufacturing (NL)
Full-size Zone 1 iPad — Ex db IIC T4, fingerprint scanner disabled
Manufacturer →
Xciel XCRiPad Pro 11
Xciel (USA)
US NEC C1D2 focus — broadest iPad model coverage for Zone 2
Manufacturer →Three decisions that fail procurement review.
Most tablet procurement fails on zone, standard, or gas-group mismatch.
Zone 1 vs Zone 2.
Zone 1 = explosive atmosphere likely during normal ops. Zone 2 = only under abnormal conditions. A Zone 1 tablet covers both zones. A Zone 2 tablet cannot enter Zone 1 areas. Most process-area deployments require Zone 1 certification.
ATEX vs IECEx.
ATEX is mandatory in the EU/EEA. IECEx is the international scheme accepted in 50+ countries. For global deployments across multiple regions, choose dual-certified tablets. Many vendors certify under both frameworks.
IIA, IIB, IIC.
Gas groups classify ignition risk. IIC (hydrogen) is the hardest to certify for and covers IIA + IIB. If your site handles hydrogen or acetylene, the tablet must be IIC rated. Most modern Ex tablets target IIC for maximum site flexibility.
iPad-class hardware vs dedicated Ex tablets.
Dedicated Android Ex tablets win on certification maturity and installed base. On the hardware itself, the iPad-based solutions now lead on three measurable dimensions.
Processing power.
The Apple M4/M5 in the iPad Pro is desktop-class silicon. Dedicated Android Ex tablets ship mid-range chipsets that are typically several generations behind at launch — adequate for forms and checklists, but a different league for 3D models, digital twins, LiDAR capture, and on-device AI workloads.
Software lifetime.
Apple supports iPads with roughly 6–7 years of iPadOS upgrades and security updates beyond that. Android Ex tablets commonly ship with an already-older Android version and shorter update windows tied to chipset end-of-life — in 2026, current models still run Android 12/13. A longer secure lifetime spreads the certification premium over more years.
Display quality.
The iPad Pro's tandem OLED reaches 1,600 nits peak with 120 Hz — readable in direct sunlight, where the TFT/IPS panels on most dedicated Ex tablets struggle. The Getac F110-Ex still offers the largest panel at 11.6″, but not the brightness or contrast.
The trade-off: certification status. Every dedicated Ex tablet above holds an issued ATEX certificate today, while the full-size Zone 1 iPad solutions (Xshielder iPad Pro 11, Atexxo iPad 11″) are still pending or upcoming. Hardware advantage only counts once the certificate is issued.
Field tablet use cases, honestly.
Tablets in hazardous areas serve different roles than phones. Larger screens enable workflows that phones can't.
Inspection & reporting.
Primary use case
- Form-based inspection checklists on 8–10″ screens
- Photo documentation with annotation
- PDF/drawing review in the field
- Barcode/QR scanning for asset tracking
Process & operations.
Growing use case
- SCADA/HMI dashboards at the process unit
- Digital work orders and permit-to-work
- Video calls for remote expert support
- ERP/SAP access in hazardous zones
How this guide scores, and where the specs come from.
Every spec on this site is pulled directly from manufacturer ATEX/IECEx certificates and official datasheets. No marketing claims. No user reviews. We verify zone, gas group, temperature class, and IP rating against the original certificate of conformity.
Apple ecosystem in hazardous areas
Need the Apple ecosystem
in Zone 1?
The tablet gap is closing. Shipping today: Xciel's XCZ1 Zone 1 enclosures for the iPad mini, plus Zone 2/22 iPad solutions from Atexxo (converted iPads) and Xciel (C1D2/Zone 2 cases). Announced for full-size Zone 1: Atexxo's converted iPad 11″ (expected Q3 2026) and the Xshielder iPad Pro 11 — the first Ex db flameproof case for an iPad Pro (certification pending as of August 2026, IECEx planned). On the phone side, Xshielder ships ATEX Zone 1 certified Ex cases for the iPhone 17 Pro Max — Apple ecosystem access (iOS 25, App Store, Face ID, Jamf/Intune MDM) in hazardous areas at a fraction of the cost of dedicated Android tablets.
For inspection, remote support, and field service workflows, the 6.9-inch iPhone Pro Max screen handles most tasks that previously required a tablet.
Get in touch
Question about a specific tablet? Missing a product? Let us know.