Conker NS6 and NS6 Pay Review – The Best Rugged Windows Handheld in the Market
Conker NS6 and NS6 Pay Review
When it comes to the best rugged Windows handheld in the market, Conker NS6 and NS6 Pay have it all. UK-based Tablet Technologies recently relaunched this powerful device to meet the demands of companies for tech and mobility. Packed with excellent features, this rugged windows tablet could be the best investment for your business.
If you are looking for a Windows handheld device, you will likely find plenty of them in the market. After all, many manufacturers are cashing in on using Windows as the operating system to support business operations. The difference the Conker NS6 brings to the table is its robust external hardware. This means your team can continue using the device no matter where or what.
What Are Rugged Devices?
Rugged devices have been making a name for themselves in numerous industries in recent years. These devices are tech tools that are designed to stand the toughest environments. As a result, rugged devices are the perfect device choice for a range of industries. This includes companies that operate in harsh areas like mining, military, construction, delivery, retail, health, and more.
The difference that a rugged device provides is that it is made to last. A true rugged tablet or mobile device must be able to demonstrate its durability in both field and laboratory testing. Therefore, for a device to be considered “rugged” must meet a minimum of IP54. Higher IP ratings mean better protection from dust, water, shock, and even pressure.
Conker NS6 Rugged Windows Handheld
The newly revamped Conker NS6 and it’s slightly different version NS6 Pay includes amazing features that will help your business become truly mobile and tech-ready.
The Smallest Rugged Windows Handheld of 2020
When it comes to size, Conker NS6 rules. First of all, the new Conker NS6 is small and compact compared to any other rugged Windows handheld in the market. As a consequence, the device is easy to bring anywhere. If you want the smallest and lightest Windows device, Conker NS6 will deliver. This tool offers a portrait phablet format that is a true one-hand-held and fits easily in the pocket.
Here is a side by side comparison of a regular iPhone versus the Conker NS6
Secondly, this robust rugged Windows tablet comes in at 185x 93 x 20mm, which means it is the size of your typical consumer mobile phone. It weights at 380 grams a little heavier but it makes up with a powerful performance and truly rugged hardware.
Thirdly, this device features a 6″ display, which is huge for a typical handheld. The device comes with a 1280 x 720 resolution so you will get 245 pixels per inch. Which means the “retina” territory is very sharp.
Finally, the interface runs via capacitive multi-touch. That means if your team uses gloves while working, you can expect that they can easily access the apps that they need. Conker NS6 screen is protected with a Corning Gorilla Glass for extra strength. Its IPS display is bright (430 nits), which allows perfect viewing angles.
Specifications of Conker NS6
| Specifications Conker NS6 | |
| Type | Rugged WindowsHandheld |
| Processor | Quad-core Intel Cherry Trail X5-Z8350 |
| CPU Speed | 1.44GHz (1.92GHz burst) |
| RAM | 4GB LPDDR3 |
| Storage | 64GB eMMC |
| OS | Windows 10 Home or Enterprise LTSB/CBB |
| Graphics | Intel |
| Expansion slots | 1 x Micro SDXC (max 128GB), 1 x micro SIM |
| Display type | IPS TFT with LED backlight (430 nits) with Gorilla Glass |
| Display size/res | 6.0-inch 1280 x 720 pixel (245 ppi) |
| Digitizer/pens | 10-point capacitive multi-touch |
| Keys | Power, volume up/down, barcode trigger, Windows key |
| Housing | Plastic with rubber boot |
| Operating Temp | 14° to 122°F (-10° to 50°C) |
| Sealing | IP67 |
| Drop | 4 feet |
| Size (WxHxD) | 7.3 x 3.7 x 0.83 inches (185 x 93 x 21 mm) |
| Weight | 13.4 ounces (380 grams) |
| Power | Removable, rechargeable 3.7V/5,000mAH, 18.5 whr |
| Interface | 1 x micro USB (power + OTG), 1 x 3.5mm audio, 1 x 4-pin pogo dock |
| Cameras | 2.0 MP (front), 8.0 MP (rear) |
| Scanner | Optional: Motorola 1D SE655E, Honeywell 2D N3680 |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, ambient light, gyroscope, e-compass |
| Wireless | Dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 LE, 3G WWAN, uBlox NEO-7 (GPS/GLONASS, QZSS) |
Windows 10 in Your Fingertips
Windows 10 is one of the most powerful operating systems. Unfortunately, because Windows 10 is a huge and fairly heavy OS there are not a lot of choices when it comes to a handheld that runs on this OS. It is even rarer in the rugged device arena to find a device that runs on Windows 10. Conker has successfully brought this OS into your fingertips within a robust handheld device which is the NS6.
The Conker NS6 runs the full version of Windows 10 – an amazing feat for a small device. Imagine enjoying a full laptop experience in a small compact device. It allows you to pull all your data together on all your Windows 10 devices.
Having said that, it is important to look at the benefits of having a Windows 10 device at your fingertips.
Enjoy a familiar interface
A windows 10 handheld bridges the gap between a desktop experience and a touch-optimised device. This means anyone familiar with using a desktop will be able to transition fast when using a Windows 10 tablet. Your team should be able to take advantage of existing product features and allows you to use modern apps that run on any desktop.
One Universal Windows Experience
Windows 10 is a choice of many companies because it delivers as one. It has one security model, one comprehensive app platform, one management approach and one deployment method across several devices. The universal experience makes it easier to put all your data and work together. That means whether you want to integrate the information from your office’s computers, your laptop, and into your mobile phone you can have it all.
Windows can support a range of software. This means if your company requires specific software, you can easily integrate it into your device.
Advance Management and Security
Another good reason to choose a rugged Windows 10 handheld for your operations is that it offers the most comprehensive security and management. Windows 10 has a range of security and identity protection that will help ensure data security when moving information from one device to another. Furthermore, you can add additional applications to provide an added layer of security to your data and information.
Improve Device Management
Windows 10 allows users to continue enjoying unique features such as Active Directory and System Center. This enables total control over different Windows devices. The new operating system has device fixed-mobile device management features, as well as, cloud-base capabilities just like in a regular laptop and desktop.
Innovate Continuously
Windows 10 reduces the need for time-consuming and expensive updates to an OS deployment. This OS is compatible with a range of existing apps and also has new tools.
Run Legacy Apps
A Windows 10 OS allows companies to run proprietary software that you have made specifically for your company. It is easy because your programmers do not need to worry if their work is compatible with all the devices.
Compatible with Oracle Simphony
The Oracle Simphony is an enterprise, point-of-sale software platform that allows businesses to support tap and pay features on their devices. Simphony improves operational efficiency by allowing centralized menu management, mobile ordering while streamlining integrations to the latest technologies.
The integration of Oracle Simphony into the Conker NS6 Pay makes it an even better rugged Windows handheld. This means the tool can support a range of industries like health, hospitality, retail, warehouse, and delivery.
Converting your devices means you can also adapt operations to the “new normal”. As the world grasps the aftermath of the 2020 health crisis, many businesses are now adopting no-touch or limited touch transactions. A tap and pay feature means you can accept payment from customers without needing to hold the credit card.
Benefits of the Oracle Simphony
For companies operating in the hospitality and retail industries, Oracle Simphony provides a huge list of advantages. Here are some of the features to look forward to:
- Features consistent offline capabilities
- Completely integrated for enhanced precision and customer service
- Improves retail or kitchen communication and efficiency
- Features Cloud-based suitability including allowing companies to remotely access analytics and real-time reports
- Supports Mobile POS, complete with mobile payment, digital menu boards, and online ordering
- Easier and precise cash management capabilities
- Features a conversational ordering platform and a fluid workflow
- Efficient and reliable kitchen management
- A rich user interface keeps customers engaged with live content
- Supports a range of mobile payment options including Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Multiple hardware options with Mobile-enabled capabilities
Outside and Inside Features of Conker NS6
When choosing the best-rugged device for your company, it is important to see how it performs both outside and inside.
Ruggedness
Conker NS6 is quite rugged. It is manufactured with the toughest materials to withstand constant use and exposure to various conditions. This device comes with an IP67 rating which means it can withstand most dust, dirt, water, and shock. An Ingress Protection rating this much means it can withstand being drop unto concrete from a height of 4 feet. It can also handle being immersed in metre of water for up to 30 minutes. Finally, it can stay working with a wide operating temperature range of 12 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-11 to 50 degrees Celsius). Nevertheless, even with these insane rugged specs, you can enjoy a sleek and clean overall design and finish.
Conker NS6 Performance
Given that this device is the ultimate rugged Windows handheld, it is important to understand its performance. Most full Windows 10 devices are desktops, laptops or at least full-size tablets. Therefore, having a full Windows 10 in your pocket is truly amazing and a feat not many companies can achieve.
Many other companies have tried but inevitably failed because Windows 10 simply takes too much space and memory. As a result, most rugged Windows handheld cannot run smoothly or experience lag. Conker NS6 changes this by adding larger RAM and storage.
Conker NS6 is the ultimate pocket-size computer that can hold its performance versus many traditional Windows tablets from mainstream vendors.
Battery
Conker NS6 uses a 5000 mAH battery comparable to most of the latest commercial Android devices in the market today. This enormous battery life means you can enjoy using it for a day for undisrupted content consumption, calls, or connections. This added feature makes it a great tool for companies that have long working hours or those that operate in shifts.
Battery life is important because it means convenience especially if your operations do not have easy access to charging stations all day. Having a reliable battery that can stay on even with multiple apps on at the same time is crucial to ensure that there is minimal downtime.
Audio
Audio for your handheld device is a good added feature in case you need to contact your employees while they are on the job. And to meet all the rugged requirements, Conker NS6 comes with a waterproof, built-in microphone and speaker.
Excellent cameras
Like most of the mobile phones and tablets in the market today, Conker NS6 comes with reliable cameras to help deliver rich and crisp images at all times. This device comes with a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front camera.
Cameras are crucial in many industries especially if needing to take photos of areas, items, or services delivered. With a reliable camera in a Windows 10 device, you can put all your information or data in one place.
Image from: ruggedpcreview.com
Industrial-grade barcode scanner
Probably one of the most important features is that Conker NS6 comes with is an industrial-grade barcode scanner. While it is true that companies can always download an app to scan items from their smartphones but scanning will use the phone’s camera.
Unfortunately, a mobile phone camera is not made to be a scanner. Conker equipped NS6 with scan engines that will allow you to accurately scan and store information.
Additional items
Conker NS6 is suited for additional tools like a stylus to allow you to enjoy convenience. For example, certain industries rely on using a stylus to accept signatures – consider delivery and warehouse management.
Choosing the right rugged device for your business
When choosing a rugged device, it is important that you know what your specific needs are. While rugged devices have been making names in many industries, it is not as popular as a regular commercial device. Therefore, it is important to understand the simple “ruggedness” terms and features.
Battery Life
Battery life is important because your entire device depends on a good battery to operate. Because of the “rugged” feature, many sellers of tough phones are unable to include an external battery. As a result, many rugged devices have low battery life. Conker NS6 changes this completely by adding the latest in the industry. This means not compromising anything and allowing companies to enjoy continuous use.
IP Rating
As mentioned before, IP Rating is crucial if you want to make sure your device is rugged. Ingress Protection is an international standard that classifies the degree of protection versus intrusions of solid items like sand or dust, accidental contact, and water during electrical contact. This standard aims to provide users with detailed information of what a certain device has to offer.
IP rating typically includes the letters IP and two numbers. To be considered “rugged” a device must have at least an IP rating of 54.
The Bottom Line with Conker NS6
If you are looking for the ultimate Rugged Windows Handheld, you will love everything about the Conker NS6. It includes all the “rugged” features that you are looking for in a mobile device but also the powerful Windows 10 operating system. Imagine bringing your laptop or desktop right inside your pocket whenever and wherever.
Conker NS6 comes with a reliably bright 6-inch and capacitive multi-touch display allowing perfect viewing angles. This feature allows your employees to use the device even when outdoors. Along with an improved RAM and storage capacity, you can enjoy a full Windows 10 performance at all times. The additional feature which includes a tap and pays feature allows for some sectors like retail, hospitality, delivery and warehouse management to take full advantage of this device.
Six Industries Where Rugged Technology is Needed
When fieldwork is part of operations employees' rugged technology will play a crucial role in employee productivity. Unfortunately, some industries still continue to rely on regular mobile devices. While the latest consumer mobile phones or tablets will do the job, they may not become reliable in the long run. Devices will experience extreme wear and tear when frequently used in the field, outdoors, or on the operations floor. As a result, these devices will likely experience device failure. This is why using rugged technology is one of the most important business considerations for a range of sectors.
Rugged devices are important for industries that deal with harsh environments such as extreme temperatures, weather, and constant movement. These industries will enjoy benefits when they invest in rugged tech. Rugged devices are designed to endure despite exposure to extreme weather and temperature, great drops, and many others.
What Is and Why You Should Consider Rugged Technology
In its most basic term, these are devices that come with tough and sturdy hardware. Rugged devices can tolerate the most demanding environments. As a result, it is the best choice for industries that require mobility in the field or floor operations. When data access is a crucial part of business, rugged devices provide the best solutions against common issues like drops, water exposure, dust ingress, and more.
Top Industries That Can Benefit By Using Rugged Technology
Public Safety
According to a survey by Praetorian Digital via PoliceOne.com, police officers feel that they often do not get the right mobile technology tools. This survey result can be a huge problem as these workers are at the forefront of providing crucial services to the public.
It’s important for public safety workers to be extremely mobile and become efficient with how they deliver their services. In some public safety sectors, they may even face life-threatening situations. Rugged devices help workers make quick decisions even when in extreme situations. Like many other jobs, staying connected and being able to easily relay and receive information is important. In other words, when it comes to public safety, connectivity and mobility are critical. Rugged devices such as Conker SX-50 can easily offer a range of solutions. For example, the push-to-talk option ensures that officers can quickly relay information to a command center in any type of situation.
Rugged devices can also provide a long list of benefits for first responders. It can help protect them and those that they’re trying to help by improving situational awareness, allowing reliable communications channels, as well as, supporting social distancing tools.
Retail Warehouses and Supply Chain
Retail warehouses can benefit greatly from rugged devices. Rugged devices are an awesome addition and help employees in retail warehouses or back offices well-equipped. Having a rugged device helps improve mobility, alongside many other benefits. For instance, rugged devices allow easier communication between workers, optimize the company workflow, reduce human errors and mistakes.
Furthermore, rugged devices help support the supply chain and logistics employees greatly. Their work requires movement, keeping track of inventory, moving and delivering items, and many more. In their environment, regular devices can’t keep up with the required demand, and therefore, the device fails. This is where rugged devices shine, with reliability and constant uptime. They can endure extreme temperatures and weather, harsh shocks and drops, and are waterproof.
For example, in a warehouse that works with barcodes, rugged devices also greatly increase the company’s efficiency and accuracy. With rugged devices, employees just have to scan and go. This also makes the job of managing the inventory easy as well. Increased accuracy and efficiency improve the organization’s overall productivity, time management, and even cuts costs.
Rugged Technology in the Utility Sector
There is no household or building without utility. Every person relies on utility, and even more so, now that COVID-19 is here and everyone is encouraged to stay home. In addition, outages can happen anytime and anywhere - they’re unpredictable. When it does happen, immediate response and an instant solution should be delivered by this sector. Therefore, employees are dispatched to different settings and are exposed to different environments that can harm their devices. Like many other industries listed here, equipping workers with rugged devices improve their work greatly. Employees do not have to worry about device failure.
Rugged Technology in the Military
It’s crucial for military personnel to use devices that support them in their missions and withstand the harsh settings they’re in. Device failure is detrimental in their field of work, as it could mean life or death. Real-time data and information are very important to keep operations and plans smooth, up, and running. Rugged devices’ durability and great endurance allow military personnel to stay connected and continue to have smooth conversations no matter what the situation is.
Oil and Gas
While many oil and gas environments are one of the most demanding work environments, rugged devices also shine here. Rugged tech means workers are using devices that can withstand extreme temperatures, moisture, and many other factors that could cause device failure in mobile devices. With the help of rugged devices, companies in the oil and gas sector can ensure that everyone is consistently connected and informed.
Ruggedized technology is critical in allowing workers to effectively communicate with supervisors. Additionally, it is also helpful in quick response during potentially serious incidents, surveying, location tracking, asset management, inspection, and environmental assessments. Rugged devices that have the right features and certifications, that oil and gas employees can take advantage of. Using an approved rugged device, a worker from this industry can be safer, more responsive, more productive, and more collaborative.
The Benefits The Public Sector Could Reap From Hard-wearing Tech
Benefits The Public Sector
Technology has totally reshaped the way that businesses and customers communicate with each other, and this trend has extended to governments, local authorities, and citizens. These advancements have frequently been discussed in parliament over recent years, with the government’s event ‘Safe and Smart’ bringing representatives from various agencies together to talk about how technology can make organizations more efficient and collaborative. The benefits the public sector could reap from hard-wearing tech are undeniable and as technology continues to advance, the way we interact with our surroundings are ever-changing.
Overcoming new challenges
As technology evolves, new challenges are constantly being presented to the powers-that-be. The Health and Safety Executive or HSE is currently exploring new ways to interact with the data that new technology has been capturing. Some individuals are more quick to embrace new technologies than others, especially those that have been working with the same old systems for many years. HSE Chief technology officer James Anderson identifies three types of people within organizations – early adopters, those resistant to change, and people that remain indifferent. Employers with change-resistant staff are urged to spend time with them to educate them about the benefits of new technology including hard-wearing mobile devices and persuade them to embrace it.
Tech and Enhanced Communication
More and more people are using tech in their day-to-day lives to improve their health, well-being, and overall productivity with apps at our fingertips being used by millions. It has revolutionized - and continues to revolutionize - the way we work in the public sector. Social networking websites, emails, voicemails, and video conferences mean that distance is no longer an obstacle. Tech has eliminated this problem, making contact in multiple forms instantly accessible. technology like VoIP is leading the way in business-to-business interaction - moving us to a more collaborative work environment.
Tech-Enhanced Solutions
Video conferencing has enabled vital decisions to be made remotely, with data collected via devices like smartphones, tablets, and other devices giving public sector staff detailed insights. The benefits extend to a wide range of public organizations, including those in the fields of transport, education, defense, law, housing, and many more. For example, data suggests that engagement with local authorities and other public sector organizations on a mobile device is 80%-90% rather than a 45%-50% rate using traditional methods. In a nutshell, it’s about people having the right data at the right time, and the right information they need in order to make an informed decision and capture their results in a central system.
Why Conker
At Conker, we produce Business Rugged tablets, barcode scanners, and smartphones with features including reinforced frames, shock-proof components, and watertight seals to protect and prolong the lives of devices. Our solutions provide public sector employees with the functionality of a desktop yet the portability of an Android Tablet, with other features including high-resolution screens and cameras, shock absorption, and the optional barcode scanning. We are also able to produce robust bespoke devices with customized features and specs that meet and exceed expectations.
We can also offer GDPR-compliant data cleaning. Typical smartphones and tablets need to be replaced on an annual basis, but our rugged solutions can last for many years, enabling public sector organizations to make even the tightest budgets go further. To find out more about our rugged devices, get in touch today.
Get in touch today to find out more about our rugged tablets and smartphones.