Rugged tablet design to keep working in the toughest of environments
Fossibot DT2: 30-second review
The Fossibot DT2 is designed for professionals who need a rugged tablet capable of surviving harsh environments. Aimed at users who require a device for fieldwork or adventure, the DT2’s reinforced frame and textured, rubberised design contribute to its durability. Its IP68 and IP69K ratings and MIL-STD-810H certification reinforce its resistance to water, dust, and shock.
Like all the best rugged tablets we’ve tested, here the tablet’s large 10.4-inch 2K IPS display is bright and readable even in direct sunlight, making it suitable for outdoor use. At the heart of the tablet is a Helio G99 octa-core processor, 12GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage, which is more than enough for the DT2 to handle basic office tasks and multimedia playback and streaming, though it struggles with more demanding applications.
Ensuring smooth running, the DT2 uses Android 13, which offers the usual user-friendly interface. Thankfully, Fossibot has opted for minimal pre-installed apps. Battery life is a standout feature, lasting up to 75 days on standby and over 24 hours of continuous video playback. Connectivity options include cellular support, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth, ensuring decent performance in a variety of settings, signal permitting, of course.
While the built-in speakers and camera are well spec’d they’re, they’re not top-tier, so image quality and sound should be considered good enough for general use, such as video conferencing, watching back video, and taking site images. Overall, the Fossibot DT2 is a reliable choice for those needing a durable tablet for fieldwork and industrial applications.Fossibot DT2: Price and availability
How much does it cost? £269 / $369
When is it out? Available now
Where can you get it? You can get it Amazon or the Fossibot website
The Fossibot DT2 is competitively priced at £269 / $369 and offers excellent value for its robust features. It is available through various online retailers and the official Fossibot website. Considering its durability, battery life, and functionality, it stands out as an affordable option for field professionals.
Value: 4 / 5Fossibot DT2: SpecificationsFossibot DT2: Design
Outdoor styling
Large Touch Screen
Can withstand being dropped
The Fossibot DT2 features a rugged design that prioritises durability. Its reinforced frame and textured, rubberised casing reflect its robust nature and help to ensure that it is resistant to accidental drops, water, and dust. The DT2, while relatively compact, is surprisingly heavy, once again reflecting its solid build. Even when looking at the 10.4-inch display, you’ll see that it is surrounded by reinforced corners, further helping to ensure that it is drop-proof. While the tablet has been designed for professionals, Fossibot has tried to lift the design with a choice of bright blue or yellow design accents, which help to slightly break it away from its otherwise purely functional design. Backing up the rugged go-anywhere styling come the certifications for toughness, highlighting that it doesn’t just look the part. It has the certificates to prove it is.
Obviously, with a tablet, the screen is the focus, and here, the DT2’s screen specifications highlight its focus for outdoor use with the bright 500cd/m² max brightness 10.4-inch screen offering a 2K IPS FHD+ resolution. The screen-to-body ratio is 94%, so while there is all that reinforcement around the edge, it doesn’t dominate the device like some other tough tablets. When it comes to the screen’s responsiveness, the In-Cell Touch technology does a great job of being responsive to normal use and having a little more resilience in wetter conditions. However, like another touch screen, it won’t work when very wet or submerged in water.
In use, the screen is bright and easy to see in all but the very brightest lighting conditions. Whether that is indoors or out, and while the screen surface is gloss, the surface controls reflections well, generally offering excellent visibility. A nice touch that works in combination with the Android operating system is the auto-brightness feature, which adjusts the screen brightness according to the environment. Still, manual adjustments can also be made if needed.
Inside, the brightness of the screen is ideal for all situations, with plenty of adjustment options. Outdoors, the 500cd/m² peak brightness provides a decent view of the screen, although in very bright conditions, a little shading might be needed. The colour accuracy and viewing angles are OK for various activities such as watching videos, reading, and light gaming. However, suppose you’re a photographer or videographer and want to check your images or footage. In that case, it’s worth knowing that the colour profiles of this machine are better suited for general use.
Design: 4 / 5Fossibot DT2: Features
The Fossibot DT2 is designed with durability as its top priority. Its reinforced frame and textured, rubberised casing ensure that it should survive most drops, water, and dust, making it an ideal choice for professionals working in challenging environments or those seeking a bit of adventure but still wanting to take some tech.
