Atexxo
Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5
- Zone 1/21
- IIC T6
- ATEX + IECEx
Compare · Zone 1 Android tablets
Both of these Android tablets are certified for Zone 1/21 under ATEX and IECEx, but they get there in different ways. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 is a standard 8-inch Samsung tablet in a flameproof (Ex db) housing, rated T6, at 940 g including the tablet. The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 is a dedicated intrinsically safe (Ex ib) 10.1-inch tablet, rated T4, with a Class I Division 1 listing for North America, and it is the only one of the two that may be charged in the hazardous area. Here is how they compare, and which we would choose for which team.
Atexxo
i.safe MOBILE
Our verdict
Both tablets cover Zone 1/21, so pick by your gases, your region and how your crews charge. For sites with gases that ignite below 135 °C, and for teams that want a lighter 8-inch tablet that is a standard Samsung inside, we would choose the Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5. For North American sites, charging in the hazardous area, a larger screen and a 50 MP camera, or work that also goes underground, we would choose the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1.
Key differences
The temperature class decides which gases a tablet may be used around. T6 (85 °C) is the stricter rating; T4 (135 °C) is fine for most gases, but not those that ignite below 135 °C. Check your site’s gases against it first.
The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 has an NEC 500 listing for Class I Division 1 Groups A, B, C and D at T4, plus Class II Division 1 and Class III. Our data lists no North American listing for the Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5, which means unverified, not absent. On a Division-classified site, this can decide the choice on its own.
The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 may be charged inside the hazardous area within its certificate’s limits, and i.safe lists the IS-DS940.1 docking station for it. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 must be charged outside. For a crew that works a long shift in the zone, this changes how you plan the day.
The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 is 119 g lighter, at 940 g including the tablet against 1,059 g, which you notice when a tablet is carried on a strap or held in one hand. The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 gives you the larger 10.1-inch screen in return.
In the field
Edge: Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5
This is where the Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 earns its place. Both tablets are certified for gas group IIC and dust group IIIC in Zone 1/21, but the Atexxo is rated T6, with a maximum surface temperature of 85 °C for gas and for dust. The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 is rated T4, with 135 °C for both. T4 is fine for most gases, but not those that ignite below 135 °C. If your hazardous-area study lists such a gas, the Atexxo is the one of the two to consider.
The protection methods differ too. The Atexxo is flameproof (Ex db), a standard Samsung tablet inside a housing, and the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 is intrinsically safe (Ex ib). Neither is certified for Zone 0. On heat the i.safe tablet has more room: −20 °C to +55 °C against −20 °C to +50 °C for the Atexxo, so on a site that runs near +50 °C check the Atexxo’s limit before anything else.
Edge: i.safe MOBILE IS940.1
This can decide the purchase for crews who work long shifts in the zone. The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 may be charged inside the hazardous area within its certificate’s conditions, and i.safe lists the IS-DS940.1 docking station for that use. Its USB-C cover may be opened outside the hazardous area only. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 must be charged outside: the bottom cover is removed in a safe area only, and the certificate forbids charging in the hazardous location.
The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1’s battery is replaceable, outside the hazardous area only. For the Atexxo, our data does not confirm a user-replaceable battery, and its certificate says the device shall not be opened in a hazardous location. Capacity favors the i.safe tablet on paper, at 8,160 mAh against 5,050 mAh, but capacity is not runtime. Our data gives battery-life figures for the Atexxo (up to 14 hours of Wi-Fi internet) and none for the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1, so we do not compare runtime. Test your own workload before you rely on either.
Even
The two are built for different hands. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 has an 8-inch, 1920 × 1200 screen at 600 nits, a 13 MP camera with flash and 4K recording at 30 fps, and weighs 940 g including the tablet. The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 has a 10.1-inch Gorilla Glass screen at 1200 × 1920 and a 50 MP autofocus camera, which suits inspection photos and reading drawings. Our data lists no brightness figure for it, which means unverified, not absent.
For alarms and accessories the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 has more listed. Its freely programmable red key can be assigned to SOS or a lone-worker app, and the push-to-talk button, headsets and speaker microphone i.safe lists are Ex-rated for use in the hazardous area. The Atexxo has a programmable Active Key, but our data lists no SOS or lone-worker entry and no Ex-rated accessory beyond its strap, so confirm any radio or headset workflow with Atexxo. i.safe lists IP68; for the Atexxo, our data has only IP64 from Atexxo’s own page, flagged unconfirmed.
Edge: i.safe MOBILE IS940.1
Both tablets carry ATEX and IECEx certificates with published numbers: EPS 26 ATEX 1 161 X and IECEx EPS 26.0044X for the Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5, and EPS 24 ATEX 1 010 X and IECEx EPS 24.0001X for the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1. Beyond those, the i.safe tablet lists much more: the North American listing, and approvals for South Africa, China, Brazil, Japan, India and Korea. Our data lists no other approvals for the Atexxo. The i.safe MOBILE IS940.M1 adds Group I for underground work.
On software the picture is less clear. i.safe states security updates for the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 until Q4 2032, on Android 14. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 runs Android 16 in our data, but that is flagged unconfirmed, as is its update date of January 2029, which is Samsung’s for the standard model; Samsung’s Enterprise Edition gets longer support and Atexxo does not say which it uses. Hardware is closer: an Exynos 1380 with 6 or 8 GB and Wi-Fi 6 on the Atexxo, a Qualcomm QCM6490 with 8 GB and Wi-Fi 6 on the i.safe tablet, and 5G on both (on the Atexxo, in the cellular versions).
Specifications
Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 | i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ex rating | ||
| Certified for | Zone 1/21 | Zone 1/21 |
| Protection | Flameproof enclosure (Ex db) | Intrinsic safety (Ex ib) |
| Gas group | IIC | IIC |
| Temperature class | T6 (≤ 85 °C) | T4 (≤ 135 °C) |
| Mining version | Not in our data | i.safe MOBILE IS940.M1: also certified for Group I (underground mining) |
| Certification | ||
| ATEX marking | II 2G Ex db IIC T6 Gb / II 2D Ex tb IIIC T85°C Db | II 2G Ex ib IIC T4 Gb / II 2D Ex ib IIIC T135°C Db |
| ATEX certificate | EPS 26 ATEX 1 161 X | EPS 24 ATEX 1 010 X |
| IECEx marking | Ex db IIC T6 Gb / Ex tb IIIC T85°C Db | Ex ib IIC T4 Gb / Ex ib IIIC T135°C Db |
| IECEx certificate | IECEx EPS 26.0044X (Issue 0, 2026-09-09, Bureau Veritas CPS Germany) | IECEx EPS 24.0001X (issue 1, 2025-02-06 |
| Other approvals | Not in our data | IA South Africa (MTEx-S/24.0456 X), PCEC China (CE24.5940X), INMETRO (BRA 24.GE0015X), Japan-Ex, PESO, KCs |
| North America | Not in our data | NEC 500 (QPS LR3081-7, 2025-08-13): Class I Div 1 Groups A, B, C, D T4; Class II Div 1 Groups E, F, G 155 °C; Class III; IP64; −20 °C to +55 °C |
| Protection level (EPL) | Gb / Db | Gb / Db |
| Dust group | IIIC | IIIC |
| Max surface temperature (dust) | 85 °C | 135 °C |
| Safe use | ||
| Ambient temperature (Ta) | −20 °C to +50 °C | −20 °C to +55 °C |
| Charging | Outside the hazardous area only | Yes |
| Battery swap | Outside the hazardous area only | Outside the hazardous area only |
| Ports and accessories in the zone | SIM card installation only in a safe area, by removing the aluminium SIM cover. Bottom cover may be removed by the user only to charge in a safe area. No Ex-rated cable, dock or keyboard is listed, so none should be connected in the Ex area. Atexxo's page says storage can be extended to 1 TB with microSD; the certificate does not address microSD.Unconfirmed, see note 1 | USB-C and 16-pin ISM covers closed in Ex areas. In Ex areas only these may be connected to the 16-pin ISM: headset IS-HS2A.1, remote speaker microphone IS-RSM3A.1, PTT button IS-PTTB1A.1 (with or without headset IS-HDHS1x.1). The 12-pin dock interface may stay open. Nano-SIM and microSD (IS-SD164.1 / IS-SD1128.1 or cards meeting the entity parameters) allowed in their slots in the Ex area. |
| Certified accessories | EX-ATEXXO-STRAP (named in the certificate; original part from Atexxo only). No Ex-rated keyboard, dock, pen or harness listed. Charger is not Ex-rated (charging only outside the hazardous area). | Ex-rated for use in Ex area: IS-HS2A.1 headset, IS-RSM3A.1 speaker microphone, IS-PTTB1A.1 PTT button, IS-HDHS1A/B/C.1 headsets (headband, neckband, helmet), IS-DS940.1 docking station, microSD IS-SD164.1/IS-SD1128.1. Charging via IS-DS940.1 or MC930.1 multi charger; PROTECTOR 2.0 USB-C cable only outside Ex areas. Leather cases, vehicle mount, carry straps also listed. |
| Operating temperature | −20 °C to +50 °C (certificate TaUnconfirmed, see note 2 | −20 °C to +55 °C |
| Conditions of use | Ambient temperature range −20 °C ≤ Ta ≤ +50 °C. A repair of flameproof joints is not allowed according to EN/IEC 60079-1 values. Minimum property class of screws must be A4-70; only original parts from the manufacturer shall be used. The glass window must be protected from high impact energy > 2 J. Device shall not be opened in hazardous location. Battery charging is only allowed outside hazardous location. Additional accessory EX-ATEXXO-STRAP can be used only as original part from manufacturer. | Battery may be replaced outside explosion hazardous areas only; protect against excessive UV light and high electrostatic charge; USB-C interface under IP cover may only be opened outside hazardous areas; 16-pin ISM interface must be closed with its cover when not in use in hazardous areas; ambient −20 °C to +55 °C; charging temperature limited to 0 °C to +45 °C (IECEx EPS 24.0001X issue 1). Safety instructions: protect from high-energy impacts; zones 1, 2, 21, 22 only. |
| Device | ||
| Type | Converted tablet | Dedicated Ex tablet |
| Tablet inside | Samsung Galaxy Tab Active5 | Not in our data |
| Fitting | Supplied as a complete unit | Not in our data |
| Launched | 2026Unconfirmed, see note 3 | 2024Unconfirmed, see note 4 |
| Part numbers | EXd-TABLET-GTA5-128 (Wi-Fi, 128 GB); EXd-TABLET-GTA5-128-CEL (Wi-Fi + 5G, 128 GB); EXd-TABLET-GTA5-256; EXd-TABLET-GTA5-256-CEL; EXd-TABLET-GTA5-* (conversion service for a customer's new Samsung tablet) | Model M940A01; battery BPIS940A.1A (MBP940AA01) per DoC; R. STAHL Art. No. 329056 (Tablet Set), 329467 (Tablet Set no Camera)Unconfirmed, see note 5 |
| Operating system | Android 16Unconfirmed, see note 6 | Android 14 |
| Edition | Android with One UI; Knox; Enterprise Edition and standard SKUs exist | Android 14 |
| OS at launch | Android 14 | Not in our data |
| OS upgrades | Standard: up to 4 generations of OS upgrades (Samsung UK/AU). Enterprise Edition: up to 8 generations per Samsung DE pageUnconfirmed, see note 6 | Not in our data |
| Security updates | Until January 2029Unconfirmed, see note 7 | Until Q4 2032 |
| Processor | Samsung Exynos 1380 (octa-core, 2.4 GHz + 2 GHz) | Qualcomm QCM6490 octa-core (long-term support chipset) |
| Processor architecture | Arm | Arm |
| Memory (RAM) | 6 (128 GB model); 8 (256 GB model) | 8 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB or 256 GB, microSD up to 1 TB | 128 GB, microSD supported |
| What works through the housing | ||
| Side and volume buttons | Yes: push buttons are mounted in the housing and in the front cover (aluminium) | Not in our data |
| Rear cameras | Yes, behind a toughened glass opening in the housing | Not in our data |
| Touchscreen | Yes: front touch display under toughened specialty glass | Not in our data |
| Screen cover | Toughened specialty glass front window. Must be protected from impact energy above 2 J | Not in our data |
| Charging | Remove the aluminium bottom cover and charge in a safe area only. Charging in the hazardous location is forbidden | Not in our data |
| USB-C port | Only with the bottom cover removed in a safe area (charging) | Not in our data |
| SIM card | Self-installation in a safe area by removing the aluminium SIM cover; eSIM also supported | Not in our data |
| Mounting points | Integrated lug for fall prevention; optional EX-ATEXXO-STRAP (original part only) | Not in our data |
| Field capabilities | ||
| Push-to-talk | Via app (Samsung says the Active5 can act as a walkie-talkie; Atexxo does not list PTT; Active Key is programmable)Unconfirmed, see note 8 | Via accessory (IS-PTTB1A.1 PTT button on the 16-pin ISM interface; Ex-rated? yes) and PTT app |
| Emergency / SOS | Not in our data | Built in (freely programmable red key, e.g. SOS / lone worker) |
| Lone worker | Not in our data | Via app (red key assigned to a lone-worker application; third-party app) |
| Barcode scanning | Via app (camera-based; no dedicated scan engine)Unconfirmed, see note 8 | Via app (50 MP camera-based; no dedicated scan engine listed) |
| NFC reading | Not in our data | Built in (NFC) |
| 3D scanning / LiDAR | Not possible (base tablet has no depth sensor) | Not possible (no depth sensor listed) |
| Remote expert / video calls | Via app (front and rear cameras retained; camera marketed as an intrinsically safe video camera)Unconfirmed, see note 8 | Via app (front and rear cameras, Wi-Fi 6 / 5G; third-party app) |
| Windows desktop software | Not possible (Android tablet) | Not possible (Android) |
| Display and camera | ||
| Display | 8-inch TFT LCD, 120 Hz adaptive; Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | 10.1-inch Corning Gorilla Glass V3 (3rd generation), usable with gloves |
| Resolution | 1920 × 1200 (WUXGA) | 1200 × 1920 |
| Brightness | 600 nits | Not in our data |
| Touch | Glove and outdoor touch claimed by SamsungUnconfirmed, see note 6 | Usable with gloves (maker); wet-touch not stated |
| Pen / stylus | S Pen supported (IP68 S Pen in the box on the UK page) | Passive stylus available as accessory (IS-Stylus Set, 'stylus for operating touch screens'); not in the box |
| Rear camera | 13 MP, autofocus, flash | 50 MP autofocus |
| Front camera | 5 MP | 5 MP fixed focus |
| Video | 4K UHD at 30 fps recording | Not in our data |
| Connectivity | ||
| Network | Wi-Fi only (SM-X300) or 5G (SM-X306B) | 5G NR and 4G LTE |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 2.4 + 5 GHz, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/e/k/r/ax/v) with hotspot |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.2 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, A-Glonass, Beidou, Galileo |
| SIM | 5G model: SIM plus eSIM ('dual SIM capability' in Samsung text; Atexxo: 'physical SIM and/or eSIM'); none on Wi-Fi modelUnconfirmed, see note 6 | Nano-SIM + eSIM (dual SIM) |
| Physical and power | ||
| Weight | 940 g (including the tablet) | 1059 g |
| Dimensions | 240 × 150 × 20 (Atexxo: 24 × 15 × 2 cm) mm | 266.17 × 168.46 × 19.82 mm |
| Ingress protection | IP64 (Atexxo page; the Samsung base tablet itself is IP68)Unconfirmed, see note 9 | IP68 |
| Ruggedness | MIL-STD-810H compliant (Atexxo flyer and page; base-tablet rating)Unconfirmed, see note 2 | MIL-STD-810H |
| Battery | 5050 mAh | 8160 |
| Battery energy | 19.44 Wh | 30.2Unconfirmed, see note 10 |
| Battery life | Video playback up to 16 h; Wi-Fi internet up to 14 h; LTE internet up to 15 h | Not in our data |
| Replaceable battery | Not in our data | Yes |
| Ports and expansion | USB-C (USB 2.0), 3.5 mm headset jack, POGO pins, microSD slot | USB-C; 12-pin docking interface; 16-pin ISM interface (audio/PTT accessories; the page text also calls it '13-pin'); nano-SIM + eSIM; microSD |
| Docking | POGO connector (Samsung POGO dock accessories not verified for this model)Unconfirmed, see note 6 | IS-DS940.1 docking station (VESA 100; charging in Ex area); IS-MC930.1 six-bay multi charger; vehicle mount |
| Keyboard | POGO pins on the tablet; Samsung keyboard cover not confirmed for this modelUnconfirmed, see note 6 | No (slate) |
| Controls & Accessibility | ||
| Keys | Programmable Active Key (barcode, apps, PTT mapping via Knox); power and volume keys | Freely programmable red key (e.g. lone worker / SOS); additional programmable side buttons |
| Push-to-talk key | YesUnconfirmed, see note 8 | No |
| Glove touch | YesUnconfirmed, see note 6 | Yes |
| Biometrics | Fingerprint sensor | Not in our data |
| Fleet and support | ||
| Manufacturer | Atexxo B.V., Netherlands | i.safe MOBILE GmbH, Germany |
Only values we could check are listed; “Not in our data” means we have not verified it, not that the tablet lacks it. A numbered marker means a value is unconfirmed, and the matching note at the foot of the page explains why. Prices are on request for both.
Keep researching
Impartial advice
Both tablets are certified for Zone 1/21, so the choice comes down to your gases, your region and how your crews charge. Tell us about your sites and we will help you choose impartially.
FAQ
Neither is better across the board. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 suits sites with gases that need T6 and teams that want a lighter 8-inch tablet. The i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 suits North American Division 1 sites, crews that charge in the hazardous area, photo-heavy work and operators who also work underground. Both are certified for Zone 1/21.
No. Both are certified to protection levels Gb and Db, which cover Zone 1/21, and neither is certified for Zone 0. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 is flameproof (Ex db), and the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1 is intrinsically safe (Ex ib).
Only the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1, within its certificate’s conditions: i.safe lists the IS-DS940.1 docking station for charging there. The Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 must be charged outside the hazardous area. The i.safe tablet’s battery may be swapped outside it only, and our data does not confirm a user-replaceable battery for the Atexxo.
Our data lists a North American listing only for the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1: NEC 500, Class I Division 1 Groups A, B, C and D at T4, plus Class II Division 1 and Class III. It lists none for the Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5, which means unverified, not absent, so ask Atexxo if you need one.
On the dates we have, the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1, which i.safe states until Q4 2032. Our data gives January 2029 for the Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5, but that is Samsung’s date for the standard model and flagged unconfirmed; the Enterprise Edition gets longer support and Atexxo does not say which it uses. Confirm the date with Atexxo before you order.
For the i.safe MOBILE IS940.1, yes: the i.safe MOBILE IS940.M1 is also certified for Group I (underground mining). Our data lists no mining version of the Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5, so treat it as a surface tablet unless Atexxo confirms otherwise.
Prices depend on volume, configuration and region, so both are on request. Contact us for a price.
Facts last verified on against certificates, declarations of conformity and manufacturer data. The sources for each tablet are listed on its page: Atexxo Zone 1 Galaxy Tab Active5 and i.safe MOBILE IS940.1. Always check the certificate for your exact model before use. Spotted an error? Tell us.