This post is sponsored by Vertex Wireless, a premier technology distributor and third-party logistics provider specializing in mobility products and services.
Rugged devices are in high demand heading into 2026, as organizations look to support frontline workers while lowering their total cost of ownership.
According to a benchmark study from Getac, rugged tablets and smartphones can reduce TCO by up to 20 percent. In the same study, nearly half of respondents said they planned to increase spending in this category.
As adoption expands across verticals, rugged devices are emerging as a core mobility component — and a key growth opportunity for resellers. In this article, we break down why rugged devices are in high demand, and how to capitalize on this rising mobility trend.
What is a Rugged Device?
Rugged devices, like smartphones and tablets, offer many of the same features and functionality as consumer models, but are specifically engineered to withstand harsh conditions. Built to meet elevated durability standards, they are designed for environments where drops, spills, vibrations and sudden temperature changes are common.
Today, rugged devices are commonly used in:
- Healthcare organizations where shift workers often share tablets for recording and analyzing patient data.
- Restaurants and hospitality environments which are highly prone to grease, spills and temperature fluctuations.
- Public safety organizations including police, fire and emergency medical services.
- Construction and utilities where equipment is exposed to dust, weather and vibration.
- Transportation and logistics where devices must perform reliably in vehicles, warehouses and outdoor settings.
Why Rugged Devices Are in High Demand
According to Technavio, the global rugged devices market is on pace to grow by $1.31 billion through 2029, driven by rising demand for data management systems and applications that enhance decision-making capabilities and situational awareness.
“The ruggedized market has exploded,” Vertex CEO Mike Fleming recently explained on the ChannelVision Podcast. “Not all mobile devices live easy lives. Field technicians, public safety teams, transportation fleets, and the military all need hardware engineered for heat, vibrations, drops, chemicals, glove touch, and nighttime visibility. The list goes on. Ruggedized devices solve for a lot of those problems.”
As Fleming noted, the frontline workforce is also growing, which is further accelerating demand. This trend coincides with broader digital transformation efforts, with many companies now modernizing workflows to improve productivity, accuracy and job satisfaction. According to Forrester, 41 percent of frontline workers said their jobs include many paper-based tasks that would be easier to execute on a mobile device or screen.
Additional growth factors include the mass replacement of legacy Windows handhelds, as well as an increasing number of government agencies moving to Samsung Tactical Edition devices for secure and mission-critical operations.
At the same time, rugged devices have improved significantly in recent years, with OEMs like Samsung investing heavily in R&D to improve performance, usability and cost efficiency. Modern rugged devices are faster and easier to operate, without compromising durability.
“These are high-value, low-competition opportunities,” Fleming said in the podcast. “If you’re not offering rugged or tactical edition devices, you’re leaving margin and customer loyalty on the table.”
Tips for Evaluating Rugged Devices
As the demand for rugged devices continues to accelerate, the market has expanded to include a wider range of vendors and devices. At the same time, “rugged” has become a more loosely applied label — making it important for organizations to understand what separates true rugged devices from lightly reinforced consumer hardware.
When evaluating rugged mobility solutions, organizations should consider attributes such as:
- Usability: Features like glove-friendly and wet-touch displays will ensure usability in environments involving moisture, dirt or protective equipment.
- Battery life: Support for removable or hot-swappable batteries helps ensure uninterrupted operation across long or unpredictable shifts.
- Independent certifications: Third-party standards like MIL-STD-810H and IP68 ratings provide verification of protection against drops, shock, dust and water exposure.
- Advanced security: Integration with leading MDM platforms, secure provisioning, and industry-specific safeguards are critical for regulated or mission-critical environments.
Why Partners Trust Vertex Wireless for Rugged Mobility
Selecting the right rugged device involves more than choosing a brand or model — it requires understanding specific use cases, operating environments, regulatory considerations and lifecycle requirements.
Vertex Wireless helps resellers simplify this process by providing expert mobility guidance and up-to-date market insights. As a top-tier Samsung provider, Vertex Wireless also maintains strong relationships with a broad range of leading OEMs, giving resellers access to a wide portfolio of rugged smartphones and tablets — backed by competitive pricing and end-to-end distribution support.
To learn how Vertex Wireless supports resellers and partners, visit the company’s website or connect with their team.
