This rugged Android tablet I tested was off to a rough start – then I discovered its real charm

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For me, Oukitel is synonymous with ruggedness. Every product I’ve ever been sent from them is an exercise in durability. Just picking up one the brand’s tablets or phones makes you realize how light and delicate other brands’ devices actually are.

The RT10 tablet is no exception. It’s thick, heavy, and sturdy, but it’s no gimmick.

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You might think these brawny devices would be a gimmick, but they actually serve an important purpose. Consider this: You take your delicate iPad out into the field (or camping, or anywhere that doesn’t offer ideal conditions) and wind up having to carry it around as carefully as you might a newborn baby.

The RT10 weighs in at a chonky 1255g. To put that into perspective, the 13-inch M4 iPad Pro weighs a scant 523g. Given the RT10 is an 11-inch tablet, the 11-inch version of the same iPad only weighs 444g. The RT10 weighs nearly three times the iPad.

Of course, the iPad would shudder if you took it into the conditions the RT10 is built for.

My experience

With the form factor out of the way, let’s talk about how I fared with the Oukitel RT10. After unboxing the tablet, I connected Android to my Google account and set up the usual features (fingerprint, etc). As with any Android device, it was incredibly easy.

I then went about my usual testing. The first thing I do with tablets and phones is see how responsive the UI is. In the case of the RT10, the Android UI was a bit sluggish.

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That aroused my curiosity. I decided to install a different homescreen launcher. To be specific, I went withO Launcher. Why did I do this? Primarily because O Launcher uses fewer system resources than most, I figured it might solve the tablet’s sluggishness.

Lo and behold, using O Launcher as my default solved that issue. Now the RT10 runs like an absolute champ.

With speed no longer an issue, I put the tablet through the usual paces. Here are my conclusions:

• Display: It’s quite crisp. I’d go so far as to say that this is the best tablet display Oukitel has produced.
• Sound: The speakers are capable of producing very loud sound. On top of that, it offers a pretty good amount of bass, preventing the sound from being too tinny (like so many tablets). This might be the best-sounding tablet I’ve tested.
• Performance: Once I installed O Launcher, the RT10 performed very well. Out of the box, however, it was a little sluggish.
• Battery: Good grief, the battery just keeps going and going. I set up the tablet and put it away for over a month. When I started it up again, there was still a 94% charge.
• OS: It’s Android 15, but I’ve got no big gripes there.
• RAM: Out of the box, you get 16GB. Like all Oukitel devices, you can bump that up with what they call Memory Expansion. In all my time testing Oukitel devices, I’ve yet to see memory expansion have much impact on performance. This time, however, I noticed a slight bump after enabling the feature.
• Cameras: I was actually surprised by the quality of the pictures the cameras produced. Even the selfie camera wasn’t too shabby. No, they aren’t as good as the Pixel cameras, but they can hold their own. The Camera app also doesn’t include a horde of AI features, so it’s just point-and-click goodness. The Macro camera is pretty good, but don’t think you’re going to win any awards with it.

The big issue some users might have is the weight. The RT10 is as heavy as a tablet can be. What you have to remember, however, is that’s part of what makes Oukitel’s products so unique.

The RT10 is specifically made to thrive in tough conditions. Take this tablet to the beach, on a hike, to a construction site… it doesn’t matter because it’s got the oomph to stand up to just about anything you can throw at it.

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Another thing I really appreciate about the Oukitel tablets is that most of them ship with a handy (and very sturdy) kickstand. The kickstand has to be attached, and it adds to the weight, but it’s very much worth using.

You also get a hand strap you can attach. Both of these accessories are attached by way of screws, so they are rock solid. Lastly, there’s a carrying strap you can attach to the kickstand to make carrying the RT10 around easier.

ZDNET’s buying advice

The Oukitel line of devices appeals to a certain cross-section of society. If you drive a Ford F150 to work and you come home caked in dirt or construction dust, this tablet is for you. If you’re a hiker or camper, ditto. As well, if you want a tablet with an absolutely massive battery, you could do a whole lot worse than the RT10.

If, on the other hand, you prefer a tablet that weighs nothing, looks like every other tablet being carried around, and you don’t like Android, this tablet is most certainly not for you.

Oukitel RT10 tablet specs

• Display: 11-inch IPS FHD+ 1200 x 1920 with a 120Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness.
• Processor: MediaTek Dimensity 7400X (4x 2.6 GHz Cortex-A78 + 4x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A55).
• Memory & Storage: 12GB LPDDR5 RAM (expandable up to 36GB) and 512GB UFS 3.0 internal storage, with support for up to 2TB expandable storage.
• Battery: 25,000mAh capacity with 33W fast charging and reverse charging capability.
• Cameras: 64MP main rear camera (OV64B40), 20MP Sony night vision camera, 5MP macro lens, and 32MP Samsung front camera.
• Ruggedization: IP68/IP69K water/dust resistance and MIL-STD-810H certification, surviving drops up to 1.5 meters.
• Connectivity: 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and GPS.
• Audio & Ports: Dual 5W speakers (>130dB), USB-C, and pogo pin connector.
• OS: Android 15.Industry Version
• Features: Includes a 2D barcode scanner and a customizable fingerprint module for enterprise use