Janam, which since 2022 has been part of HID, is a New York-based rugged mobile computing vendor with worldwide distribution. Janam was initially established in 2006 as a provider of purpose-built rugged handheld computing devices for mobile workers. In mid 2025, the company introduced the Janam XG5, a thoroughly modern gun-style rugged mobile computer designed to provide effortless scan-intensive operation in a compact device that doesn't weigh its users down.
The XG5 is the latest model in Janam's XG Series, which was originally launched with the Windows CE and Windows Mobile-based XG100 way back in 2009. From the start, Janam's intent with the XG Series was to bring productivity-enhancing innovation to the market. An early example was placing the (back then still bulky) battery into an ergonomically shaped handle. That lowered the center of gravity and made for a light and well-balanced feel. Later, Janam began offering laser-based barcode scanning instead of CMOS imagers. Other improvements included higher resolution displays, the best possible integrated scanners, and Janam was always very pro-active with frequent technology updates. And now the new XG5 brings the latest available mobile computing and scanning technology to the XG line once again.
The XG5 rugged mobile computer is available with or without a pistol-style grip with integrated trigger. The gun-style form factor makes sense for many scanning applications. It's a quick and easy way to scan, it can be less tiring in scan-heavy jobs, and it can make for more accurate scanning. The ergonomically shaped grip is large enough for any hand. The grip is attached to the XG5 body with four screws, so it can easily be removed and replaced with a simple cap if the handle is not needed for a job.
Janam says the XG5 was designed to optimized to "turbocharge" workflows in warehouses, manufacturing facilities, distribution centers, plant floors, loading docks and back-of-store retail, and they claim the XG5 is the most affordable industrial-grade rugged mobile computer in its class. The exterior design of the new XG5 hasn't changed from its XG4 predecessor, so the new model is fully backward compatible with all XG4 accessories.
While the exterior of this latest Janam XCG model remains unchanged, the tech is all new. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor has given way to a MediaTek MT8781, a chip that is six years newer than the SD660. There are now 6GB of RAM and 128GB of built-in storage (compared to 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage in the XG4), and even more storage can be added via a user-accessible micro-SDHX card. On the software side, the XG5 is now based on Android 13 and includes GMS, the "Google Mobile Services" that contains most of the popular Android apps everyone is familiar with. Android OS versions change frequently, and so Janam made sure the XG5 is software-upgradeable all the way to Android 18.
This extensive overhaul pays off in significantly higher performance than the predecessor XG4. In our PassMark Mobile benchmark testing, the XG5 ran an overall score of 9,742, much quicker than the XG4's 5,341. In the Vellamo Browser, Metal and Multicore benchmark tests, the XG5 also easily outscored the older XG4. We don't have PCMark for Android scores for the older XG4, but but the XG5 scored at the same high level as Janam's recently introduced XT4 handheld. That's impressive.
And especially so because the high performance did not come at the expense of battery life. In the demanding PCMark for Android full battery drawdown test (100% to 0%), the XG5 scored a very impressive 17 hours and 15 minutes!
But on to describing the XG5 in more detail. While modern smartphone displays have continually grown larger over the years, there is no need for a big screen in an industrial scanner handheld. So the bright (500+ nits) portrait-oriented XG5 display still measures 4.3 inches diagonally, and still uses 480 x 800 pixel resolution. That makes for 217 pixels per inch, less than most modern smartphones, but plenty enough for the job. The display, of course, is capacitive multi-touch, everything is completely touch-optimized, and there are now even touch sensitivity settings (wet/normal/gloves).
For size, the XG5 measures about 3 by 8.5 inches, with the gun-style handle making the device a bit over seven inches tall. The system, including handle, weighs about 1.16 pounds. Customers have the choice between a 31-key numeric, a 42-key function-numeric or a 52-key alpha-numeric keypad keypad. Different scan jobs have different requirements, and with three layouts to choose from, customers can pick the one that works best for them.
Just like different keypads suit different types work, so do different types of scan technologies. With the XG5, Janam offers the general purpose Honeywell N5703 with both laser and LED aimers, and the extended FlexRange Honeywell EX30 that can read an extremely wide range from four inches all the way to about 65 feet. That's because in warehouses and distribution centers, there's often a need to read barcodes close-up but also far away on shelves.
Wireless communication and absolutely reliable connectivity is imperative on many jobs today, and there the XG5 holds a big edge over the older XG3. WLAN is now of the quicker 801.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi 6E variety. The 802.11 d/h/i/k/r/v extensions refer to additional features and improvements, such as handling global roaming, interference elimination, enhanced security, fast roaming, optimized network performance, power savings, and client/infrastructure protection. Bluetooth is now at Version 5.2, which is quicker and more efficient than Version 5.0 in the XG4
In the ruggedness and durability department, the XG5 can handle multiple six-foot drops onto concrete, so it can not only survive being dropped during use, but even stay unharmed should it fall from high shelves. Environmental sealing is at the IP65 level, meaning the XG5 is completely dust-proof and can also handle water jets from all directions. The device has a very wide operating temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, which means it can be used almost anywhere. The compact 21 watt-hour replaceable Li-Ion battery is good enough for full-shift operation.
With the XG5, Janam updates its XG line to the latest tech. The new model provides significantly higher performance compared to the predecessor XG4, while remaining fully backward compatible with all XG4 accessories. Touch and the availability of three different keypad layouts, all with software-programmable keys, makes the XG5 ultra-versatile for all sorts of data entry missions. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, August 2025
