Are Samsung, Apple & Google Tablets
Intrinsically Safe?

Are Samsung Tablets Intrinsically Safe?

No. Standard Samsung Galaxy Tab devices — including the Galaxy Tab S series, Galaxy Tab A series, and Galaxy Tab Active series — are not intrinsically safe. Samsung does not manufacture any ATEX or IECEx certified tablets.

However, some Ex equipment manufacturers use Samsung hardware as the base for their certified products. The ecom Tab-Ex 03 DZ1 and Tab-Ex Pro DZ1 by Pepperl+Fuchs, for example, are built on Samsung Galaxy Tab Active hardware and are ATEX and IECEx certified for Zone 1. The key difference: ecom adds a certified protective housing with energy-limiting circuitry, and the complete assembly undergoes certification by a Notified Body.

Are Apple iPads Intrinsically Safe?

No. Apple does not manufacture any ATEX or IECEx certified iPad. No iPhone or iPad is intrinsically safe in its standard form.

But certified conversions and enclosures exist. Shipping today: Xciel (USA) offers ATEX/IECEx Zone 1 flameproof enclosures for the iPad mini 4–7 (XCZ1 series, factory-fitted) plus C1D2/Zone 2 rugged cases for full-size iPads, and Atexxo Manufacturing (Netherlands) ships ATEX Zone 2/22 factory-converted iPads (II 3G Ex ec ic IIC T4 Gc).

For full-size Zone 1, the Xshielder iPad Pro 11 — an Ex db flameproof case for the Apple iPad Pro 11″ (M4/M5), marking II 2G Ex db IIC T6 Gb — is ATEX Zone 1/21 certified. It has no IECEx certificate. Atexxo has announced a converted iPad 11″ for Zone 1/21 (Ex db IIC T4 Gb); it cannot be deployed in a classified area until its certificate is issued. Manufacturer →

Xshielder (Norway) offers ATEX Zone 1 certified Ex cases for the iPhone 17 Pro Max, providing Apple ecosystem access — iOS, App Store, Face ID, and enterprise MDM via Jamf or Intune — in hazardous areas. See intrinsicallysafephones.com for details.

Are Google Tablets Intrinsically Safe?

No. Google Pixel Tablets are not intrinsically safe. There are no ATEX or IECEx certifications for any Google-branded tablet, and no third-party manufacturer currently offers an Ex-certified housing for Google tablets.

If your organisation requires an Android-based intrinsically safe tablet, the certified options are dedicated Ex tablets from manufacturers like i.safe MOBILE (IS930.1, Zone 1) and ecom/Pepperl+Fuchs (Tab-Ex 03 DZ1 and Tab-Ex Pro DZ1, Zone 1).

What Makes a Tablet Intrinsically Safe?

Intrinsic safety (Ex i) is a protection concept where the electrical energy in a device is limited below the level needed to ignite an explosive atmosphere. For a tablet to be certified as intrinsically safe, it must pass testing under IEC 60079-11, covering:

• • Battery energy limitation and fault protection
• • Maximum surface temperature under fault conditions
• • Spark energy below the Minimum Ignition Energy (MIE) of target gases
• • Component spacing and circuit separation
• • Enclosure integrity under mechanical stress

Learn more about intrinsic safety and other protection methods at exknowledge.com — Protection Methods.

Can You Use a Tablet in a Hazardous Area?

Only a tablet certified for that area: it needs an ATEX or IECEx certificate, or a certified Ex enclosure, that matches the zone, gas group and temperature class of the location. An ordinary tablet may be used only outside the classified area, or where the site issues a hot-work permit with continuous gas monitoring.

Zone 1 vs Zone 2 — Why It Matters

ATEX and IECEx classify hazardous areas into zones based on how often an explosive atmosphere is present. Zone 1 means an explosive atmosphere is likely during normal operation. Zone 2 means it's only likely in abnormal conditions.

Most offshore platforms, refineries, and chemical plants have areas classified as Zone 1. A device certified only for Zone 2 cannot legally be used in Zone 1.

For a deeper explanation, see exknowledge.com — Zone Classification and our Zone 1 vs Zone 2 tablet guide.

Certified Alternatives at a Glance

See the full comparison: Best ATEX tablets 2026