Eaton
Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC
- Zone 1/21
- IIC T4
- ATEX + IECEx
- Class I Division 1
Compare · Windows or Android for Zone 1
These two tablets do different jobs, so this is a choice between Windows and Android for Zone 1 work. The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC is a 10.1-inch intrinsically safe (Ex ia) tablet that runs x86 Windows 11 IoT Enterprise and is Zone 0 rated inside its supplied case. The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is an 8-inch intrinsically safe (Ex ib) Android tablet, 540 g lighter, with a Class I Division 1 listing for Groups A to D, but i.safe’s security updates for it end in Q1 2027. Both are T4 and certified for Zone 1/21. Here is how they compare, and which we would choose for which team.
Eaton
i.safe MOBILE
Our verdict
Pick by the software your team has to run, the gases and zones on your site, and how long the tablets must stay in service. If your Zone 1 work needs desktop Windows software, a 10.1-inch screen, Zone 0 access or tablets that must stay in service past i.safe’s Q1 2027 update end, we would choose the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC. If you run Android apps, work in North America with gases in Groups A or B, carry the tablet all shift, or work on hot sites or underground, we would choose the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1.
Key differences
The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC is rated Ga/Da, and Eaton limits Zone 0 use to the case it supplies. The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is rated Gb/Db for Zone 1/21. If any of your work is in Zone 0, only the Eaton qualifies, and only inside that case.
The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC’s UL listing covers Class I Division 1 Groups C and D at T4, so not acetylene (Group A) or hydrogen (Group B). The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1’s NEC 500 listing covers Groups A, B, C and D at T4. On a site classified by Division, this can decide the choice on its own.
The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC runs x86 Windows software natively. The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is Android, and our data lists Windows desktop software as not possible on it. If your software exists only for Windows, the choice is made.
The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is 540 g lighter, at 890 g against 1,430 g, which you notice when a tablet is carried on a strap or held in one hand through a shift.
i.safe’s updates for the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 end in Q1 2027, which matters for anyone buying now. Our data gives October 2034 for the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC, Microsoft’s end date for one Windows edition, but Eaton does not state which edition it ships, so that date is flagged as unconfirmed.
In the field
Edge: Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC
This is the real dividing line. The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC runs Windows 11 IoT Enterprise on an Intel quad-core Atom (Apollo Lake) at 1.6 GHz, with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, and our data lists Windows desktop software as built in. For teams whose maintenance or engineering software exists only as a Windows application, that is the whole case for it. Its screen is 10.1 inches at 2560 × 1600 and 540 nits, and a stylus is supplied.
The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is Android 14 on a Qualcomm Snapdragon SDM660 octa-core with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage, plus a microSD slot up to 512 GB. It has an 8-inch glove-usable display; our data lists no resolution or brightness for it, which means unverified, not absent. For web tools and Android apps it does the job, and its 13 MP rear camera has more megapixels than the Eaton’s 8 MP. Both have NFC. Eaton offers a camera-free version; one for the i.safe tablet is listed by a distributor, not by i.safe.
Even
On the core European ratings the two start level: Zone 1/21 under ATEX and IECEx, gas group IIC, dust group IIIC, and T4 with a 135 °C dust limit. The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC adds one thing: it is rated Ga/Da, and Eaton limits Zone 0 use to the case it supplies, with a friction hazard noted in its conditions of use. The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is rated Gb/Db for Zone 1/21 and is not certified for Zone 0. If you need a tablet in Zone 0, only the Eaton qualifies.
North America splits the other way. The Eaton’s UL listing is Class I Division 1 Groups C and D at T4, with Class I Zone 0 AEx ia IIB T4 Ga, and its gas group is IIB in North America, so hydrogen and acetylene are outside it. The i.safe’s NEC 500 listing covers Class I Division 1 Groups A, B, C and D at T4, Class II Division 1 Groups E, F and G, and Class III Division 1. For a team that works in North America with hydrogen or acetylene, only the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 fits.
Edge: i.safe MOBILE IS930.1
The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 weighs 890 g against 1,430 g for the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC, a gap of 540 g that shows over a shift on the move. It is also certified to +60 °C ambient against +55 °C. i.safe lists IP68 and MIL-STD-810H. Eaton rates its tablet IP67, which appears in the ATEX marking in its manual but not in the IECEx certificate, and our data lists no ruggedness standard for it.
On keys, the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 has a dedicated red SOS key and two freely programmable keys, with push-to-talk and lone-worker apps added by you; our data has no key details for the Eaton. In the zone both are closed systems: Eaton’s conditions allow no accessories or extensions in the hazardous area, and the i.safe tablet allows no interface cover to be opened there, though a commercial microSD card may be used in its slot. For underground work, i.safe offers the i.safe MOBILE IS930.M1, certified for Group I; our data lists no mining version of the Eaton.
Edge: Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC
Support life comes first. i.safe’s security updates for the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1, which runs Android 14, end in Q1 2027. Our data gives October 2034 for the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC, Microsoft’s end date for the Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 edition, but Eaton does not state which edition it ships, so we flag that date as unconfirmed. The edge here rests on the confirmed end of i.safe’s updates, not on Eaton’s date. A short project or an existing i.safe MOBILE fleet can live with Q1 2027, but a new multi-year rollout cannot.
On connectivity and power the two are closer. Eaton lists Wi-Fi 802.11ac and Bluetooth 5.2, with an optional LTE-A Cat 12 version; the i.safe lists 4G LTE (no 5G), Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5. The Eaton has a 49.68 Wh battery with a typical 12 hours (Eaton’s figure). Our data has no battery-life figure for the i.safe, whose capacity is 8,160 mAh and flagged unconfirmed, so we do not compare runtime. Neither battery is user-replaceable and both tablets must be charged outside the hazardous area, the Eaton with its own charger and the i.safe at +5 °C to +35 °C.
Specifications
Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC | i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Ex rating | ||
| Certified for | Zone 1/21 | Zone 1/21 |
| Protection | Intrinsic safety (Ex ia) | Intrinsic safety (Ex ib) |
| Gas group | IIC | IIC |
| Temperature class | T4 (≤ 135 °C) | T4 (≤ 135 °C) |
| Mining version | Not in our data | i.safe MOBILE IS930.M1: also certified for Group I (underground mining) |
| Certification | ||
| ATEX marking | II 1GD Ex ia IIC T4 Ga / II 1GD Ex ia IIIC T135°C Da | II 2G Ex ib IIC T4 Gb / II 2D Ex ib IIIC T135°C Db IP6X |
| ATEX certificate | Nemko 25ATEX1018X | EPS 19 ATEX 1 071 X |
| IECEx marking | Ex ia IIC T4 Ga / Ex ia IIIC T135°C Da | Ex ib IIC T4 Gb / Ex ib IIIC T135°C Db IP6X |
| IECEx certificate | IECEx NMK 25.0029X (Issue 0, 2026-05-26) | IECEx EPS 19.0034X (Issue 0, 2019-12-20) |
| UKEX certificate | Not in our data | CML 21UKEX2490X |
| Other approvals | UL 913 / CSA C22.2 No. 60079-0 and -11 | EAC, KCs (Korea), INMETRO (Brazil), Japan-Ex, IA (South Africa), PESO (India), TELEC |
| North America | UL certificate CER230869: Class I Div 1 Groups C, D T4; Class I Zone 0 AEx ia IIB T4 Ga (US) / Ex ia IIB T4 Ga (CAN); UL 913 8th ed. Class I, II, III Div 1. Gas group is IIB in North America, IIC in Europe/IECEx. | NEC 500: Class I Div 1 Groups A, B, C, D T4; Class II Div 1 Groups E, F, G T135°C; Class III Div 1 |
| Zone 0 | Zone 0 rated only inside the case supplied by the maker. | Not in our data |
| Protection level (EPL) | Ga / Da | Gb / Db |
| Dust group | IIIC | IIIC |
| Max surface temperature (dust) | 135 °C | 135 °C |
| Safe use | ||
| Ambient temperature (Ta) | −20 °C to +55 °C | −20 °C to +60 °C |
| Charging | Outside the hazardous area only | Outside the hazardous area only |
| Battery swap | Outside the hazardous area only | Outside the hazardous area only |
| Ports and accessories in the zone | No accessories or extensions in the hazardous area; SIM/microSD slots not to be opened; docking connector and charging only in safe areas. | Opening any interface or connector cover in an Ex area is not permitted. Wired data connection and charging only outside Ex areas (docking station IS-DS930.1, i.safe PROTECTOR cables). A commercial microSD card may be used in its slot in the Ex area (IECEx text). |
| Certified accessories | Eaton accessory list: carry case GEC-ATP-CC-01 (required in Zone 0), anti-glare screen protector GEC-ATP-AGSP-01, USB cables GEC-ATP-STUSBS-01, IS USB adapter GEC-ATP-ISUSB-01, shoulder strap GEC-ATP-SHST-01, stylus with tether GEC-ATP-STYT-01, docking station GEC-ATP-DOST-01 (safe area), hands-free harness GEC-ATP-HFHA-01, power adapter GEC-ATP-POAD-XX-01. Ex-area use of each accessory is not stated beyond the case, strap and stylus. | Maker page lists: IS-DS930.1 docking station set (RJ45, 3 x USB), IS-MC930.1 six-bay multi charger, i.safe PROTECTOR 2.0 / 3.0 USB-C cables, leather case with shoulder/belt/carry straps, vehicle mount. Charging and cable accessories are for use outside Ex areas. Which accessories are Ex-rated for use inside Ex areas is not stated for IS930.1.Unconfirmed, see note 2 |
| IP code in the Ex certificate | IP67 in the ATEX marking printed in Eaton's manual (Nemko 25ATEX1018X ... Um = 20V IP67); not in the IECEx database marking for NMK 25.0029XUnconfirmed, see note 3 | IP6X (dust marking) |
| Operating temperature | −20 °C to +55 °C | −20 °C to +60 °C |
| Conditions of use | Do not remove or replace the battery pack in hazardous areas; use only battery AAEB-100-XX and charge it only on the tablet; charge only with Eaton charger GEC-ATP-POAD-x-01; do not open the SIM/SD port in a hazardous location; in Zone 0 use only inside Eaton case GEC-ATP-CC-01 (friction hazard); avoid friction on the enclosure; inspect for damage; service only by Eaton; do not charge, connect or disconnect in hazardous areas; no accessories or extensions in hazardous areas (IECEx NMK 25.0029X conditions a-j). Um = 20 V appears in the ATEX/UL marking printed in the instruction manual, not in the IECEx text. | IECEx X conditions: battery may be charged outside explosion hazardous areas only; protect against permanent UV light and high electrostatic charge processes; permitted ambient temperature −20 °C to +60 °C. Safety instructions: all interface covers closed in Ex areas; charging only outside Ex areas (+5 to +35 °C); battery not interchangeable. |
| Device | ||
| Type | Dedicated Ex tablet | Dedicated Ex tablet |
| Launched | 2026Unconfirmed, see note 4 | 2019Unconfirmed, see note 5 |
| Part numbers | GZ1A1W51A1A1 (WiFi); GZ1A1G51A1A1 (LTE); carry case GEC-ATP-CC-01; dock GEC-ATP-DOST-01 | Model M93A01 (DoC); article numbers not published on maker page |
| Operating system | Windows 11 IoT Enterprise | Android 14 |
| Edition | Windows 11 IoT Enterprise (channel/LTSC year not stated; Eaton: 'Windows 11 IoT')Unconfirmed, see note 6 | Android 14 |
| OS at launch | Not in our data | Android 9Unconfirmed, see note 7 |
| Security updates | Until October 2034Unconfirmed, see note 1 | Until Q1 2027 |
| Processor | Intel quad-core Atom (Apollo Lake) 1.6 GHz base, 1.8 GHz burst | Qualcomm Snapdragon SDM660 octa-core |
| Processor architecture | x86 | Arm |
| Memory (RAM) | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB, MicroSDXC up to 2 TB | 64 GB, microSD up to 512 GB |
| Field capabilities | ||
| Push-to-talk | Not in our data | Via app (PTT/PoC app on a programmable key; no PTT button accessory listed for IS930) |
| Emergency / SOS | Not in our data | Built in (dedicated red SOS key) |
| Lone worker | Not in our data | Via app (LWP ready: third-party application required, per maker page) |
| Barcode scanning | Via app (camera-based; Eaton lists no scan engine) | Via app (camera-based; no dedicated scan engine listed) |
| NFC reading | Built in (NFC) | Built in (NFC) |
| 3D scanning / LiDAR | Not possible (no depth sensor) | Not possible (no depth sensor listed) |
| Remote expert / video calls | Via app (front and rear cameras; a camera-free version is also offered) | Via app (front and rear cameras, Wi-Fi/LTE; third-party app) |
| Windows desktop software | Built in (Windows 11 IoT, x86) | Not possible (Android) |
| Display and camera | ||
| Display | 10.1-inch AHVA (IPS-type), 1000:1 contrast, 170 degree viewing angle | 8-inch Glove-usable touch display; Corning Gorilla Glass V3 stated on the IS930.M1 page (not on the IS930.1 page) |
| Resolution | 2560 × 1600 (WQXGA) | Not in our data |
| Brightness | 540 nits | Not in our data |
| Touch | Not in our data | Usable with gloves (maker); wet-touch not stated |
| Pen / stylus | Stylus supplied (type not stated) | Not in our data |
| Rear camera | 8 MP autofocus with flash (Eaton: camera-free version available) | 13 MP autofocus |
| Front camera | Front camera 1920 x 1080 stills (megapixels not stated; 2 MP in Eaton manual) | 5 MP fixed focus |
| Video | 1080p at 30 fps | Not in our data |
| Connectivity | ||
| Network | Wi-Fi; optional LTE-A Cat 12 / UMTS | 4G LTE (no 5G) |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/e/k/r/h) with hotspot |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Satellite positioning | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo | GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Beidou (Galileo added on IS930.M1 page) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM (LTE version) | Micro-SIM |
| Physical and power | ||
| Weight | 1430 g | 890 g |
| Dimensions | 278 × 207 × 13.8 (28.3 at battery section) mm | 237 × 156 × 22 mm |
| Ingress protection | IP67 | IP68 |
| Ruggedness | Not in our data | MIL-STD-810H |
| Battery | 2 x 3450 (7.2 V) | 8160Unconfirmed, see note 7 |
| Battery energy | 49.68 | 30.2Unconfirmed, see note 8 |
| Battery life | Typical 12 h (Eaton datasheet) | Not in our data |
| Hot-swap battery | Not in our data | NoUnconfirmed, see note 7 |
| Replaceable battery | No | No |
| Ports and expansion | 5-pin magnetic charging connector; docking connector (LAN, USB 2.0/3.0, USB-C, HDMI, SD, audio jack); microSDXC and nano-SIM under port cover; VESA 75 x 35 mm mount (Eaton) | USB-C; 24-pin docking interface; magnetic charger port; earphone jack; microSD slot; micro-SIM |
| Docking | Dock DS100M (Aegex) / GEC-ATP-DOST-01 (Eaton), safe area only; shoulder strap; VESA mount | Office dock IS-DS930.1 (RJ45, 3 x USB); IS-MC930.1 six-bay multi charger; vehicle mount |
| Keyboard | No (slate) | No (slate) |
| Controls & Accessibility | ||
| Keys | Not in our data | SOS key (red); two freely programmable keys |
| Push-to-talk key | Not in our data | No |
| Glove touch | Not in our data | Yes |
| Fleet and support | ||
| Preinstalled apps | AegexScan barcode-scanning application (optional, Aegex) | Not in our data |
| Manufacturer | Eaton Electric Limited (MTL), United Kingdom | 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 software and your gases: Windows or Android, Groups C and D or A to D, Zone 0 or not. Tell us about your sites and we will help you choose impartially.
FAQ
Neither is better across the board. The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC suits teams that need x86 Windows software, a 10.1-inch screen or Zone 0 access. The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 suits Android teams, Division 1 sites with Group A or B gases, hot sites and crews who want a much lighter tablet. Both are certified for Zone 1/21.
Only the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC, and only inside the case supplied by Eaton. The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is certified for Zone 1/21 (protection level Gb/Db) and is not certified for Zone 0.
No. The i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 is listed for Class I Division 1 Groups A to D, which include acetylene and hydrogen. The Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC is listed for Groups C and D only. Under ATEX and IECEx both are rated for gas group IIC.
No. Both must be charged outside the hazardous area, and neither battery is user-replaceable. Eaton’s dock and charger for the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC are for safe areas only, and i.safe specifies charging at +5 °C to +35 °C for the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1.
On the dates we have, the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC, to October 2034, but that is Microsoft’s date for the LTSC 2024 edition and Eaton does not state its edition, so treat it as unconfirmed. i.safe’s updates for the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1 end in Q1 2027, which is the main thing to plan around if you are buying now.
For the i.safe MOBILE IS930.1, yes: the i.safe MOBILE IS930.M1 is also certified for Group I (underground mining). Our data lists no mining version of the Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC, so treat it as a surface tablet unless Eaton 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: Eaton MTL GECMA IS Tablet PC and i.safe MOBILE IS930.1. Always check the certificate for your exact model before use. Spotted an error? Tell us.