February 2022 Interview with Rick Hwang, President of Rugged & Video Solutions Business Group at Getac


Getac's Mighty Class of 2021


January 2021 Interview with Rick Hwang, President of Rugged & Video Solutions Business Group at Getac


Getac V110 at Cirque du Soleil


Getac 25th Anniversary at 2014 Miramar Air Show


Getac FedEx TechConnect


TDI Panamericana 2011 team using Getac V100 on 16,000 mile endurance challenge


HOME | Notebooks | SLATES | Handhelds | Definitions & Specs | Ruggedness Testing | Industry leaders | About us
See: | A140 | B360 | B360 Pro | EX80 | F110 | K120 | S410 G5 | S510 | T800 | UX10 | V110 | X600 | X600 Pro | ZX10 | ZX70 | ZX80 | home | web
GETAC ZX70 G2

Second gen of Getac's fully rugged Android-based 7-inch tablet for mobile field professionals brings substantial performance increase
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Share on:

In March 2020, Getac introduced the second generation of its popular ZX70 rugged Android tablet designed to perform in extreme work environments. Targeted applications include public safety and military, transportation and logistics, professional services, and a variety of other field services that all benefit from a fully rugged device with a display viewable in low light as well as bright sun conditions.

The ZX70 G2 is a substantial technology update to Getac's original ZX70 Android tablet that was first introduced in March 2017. Below you can see what the Getac ZX70 looks like:

How is the second generation ZX70 different from the original ZX70? There was no reason to make fundamental changes to a solid and well conceived design, and so Getac concentrated on technology updates instead. There have been tremendous advances in smartphone ARM processors that power Android tablets just as well as Android smartphones. With the second gen ZX80, Getac switched from an Intel Atom chip to a state-of-the-art Qualcomm Snapdragon octa-core processor with its wealth of advanced integrated functionality.

There's, of course, also an upgrade to contemporary Android 9.0 and the usual updates to RAM, storage, and communications circuitry. Here's what has changed and what stays the same:

Getac ZX70 G2 vs. original ZX70
Model ZX70 G2 ZX70
Introduced 2020 2017
OS: Android 9 Android 5/6/7
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon SD660 Intel Atom x5-Z8350
CPU cores 8 4
RAM 4GB 3MB
Mass storage 64GB 32GB
Expansion slots micro-SD Card micro-SD Card
Display 7.0"/1280 x 720 (210 ppi) 7.0"/1280 x 720 (210 ppi)
Digitizer Projected capacitive Projected capacitive
Battery 32.2 watt-hour Li-Ion 31.8 watt-hour Li-Ion
Keys 4 tablet buttons 4 tablet buttons
Size (inches) 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
Weight (lbs.) 1.68 lb. 1.70 lb.
Sealing IP67 (dustproof and totally waterproof) IP67 (dustproof and limited immersion)
Temp. range -6° to 140°F -6° to 140°F
Camera 8mp front + 12mp rear 2mp front + 8mp rear
USB 1 x USB 2.0 host 1 x USB 2.0 host
Micro USB 1 x micro-USB 1 x micro-USB
Bluetooth v5.0 v4.0
WiFi 802.11ac 802.11a/b/g/n
WWAN opt. 4G LTE opt. 4G LTE
Scanning opt. 1D/2D opt. 1D/2D

What hasn't changed: The display still measures 7.0 inches diagonally and has 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. That means 210 ppi (pixels per inch), about as sharp as Apple's desktop "retina" 4k/5k iMac displays. The display uses IPS (in-plane switching) technology, which means a rock-steady picture with virtually perfect viewing angles from all directions and no brightness, color or contrast fluctuations.

The display uses Getac's LumiBond 2.0 technology that bonds Corning Gorilla Glass, the touch sensor and the LCD for optimal durability and readability. Luminance is rated at 580 nits — at the high end of modern smartphones and tablets. At a time where there are 6.5 and even 7-inch smartphones, most small tablets have migrated to 8 inches and more, but Android was designed for small displays, and so Getac decided to stay with the 7-inch format.

The 3.5mm hard-tip stylus remains the same. It offers precise operation. And touch sensitivity can be optimized for finger touch (even in the rain), stylus or gloves.

There also was no need to change the ZX70 platform's elegant and very functional design with its backside reminiscent of the SnapBack system first seen on the Getac T800 G2. There are hooks designed for easy attach and release of hand straps and a kick stand. Below you can see what the Getac ZX70 G2 looks like from all sides.

The tablet has a compact 8.6 x 5.6 inch footprint, significantly smaller than a standard iPad. It is about 1.1 inches thick, and weighs 1.7 pounds. Given ARM processor's efficiency, the 32 watt-hour Li-Ion battery should provide ample battery runtime.

Switching from the Intel Atom X5-Z8350 chip in the original ZX70 to the octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon SD660 should provide a very substantial bump in performance. The SD660 was designed to pack the punch smartphone customers required from a high-end phone into a tightly integrated module. We've benchmarked this chip in a few other rugged handhelds and tablets, and it's definitely at the very forefront of what's available in Android-based rugged computing gear today. There's 64GB of onboard eMMC mass storage, twice of what came with the original, and that can be augmented via microSD card. RAM is up from 3GB to 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM.

As far as communications capabilities go, there's an upgrade to dual band 802.11ac WiFi and Bluetooth v5.0. As before there is optional 4G WWAN, as well as an optional LED or laser barcode reader, HF RFID/NFC, and discrete GPS. Note that none of these options are mutually exclusive with the exception of the UHF version of RFID that cannot be combined with 4G LTE or a barcode reader.

The tablet has dual cameras. The front one receives a significant bump from 2 megapixel to 8, the rear autofocus camera goes from 8 to 12mp. There are USB host and client ports and dual external antenna ports. The ZX70 includes an e-compass and G-sensor, and likely several other sensors as well.

On the ruggedness side, the ZX70 G2 can handle 6-foot drops, has a very wide operating temperature range of -6° to +140° degrees Fahrenheit (-21°C to +60° Celsius), and carries IP67 sealing, where the "6" stands for protection against full immersion down to about three feet for 30 minutes. Getac claims compliance with all relevant MIL-STD-810G/810H test. For use in hazardous locations, an ATEX / IECEx certified version of the original ZX70 was available. We assume that will be the case for the second gen version as well.

The Getac ZX70 G2 runs Android, the OS literally billions of people are familiar with. In the past, Google's rapid release of Android versions that were not always upgradeable and had user interfaces just different enough to confuse users was an issue. The original ZX70 started with Android 5.1, and later became available with Android 6.0 and 7.1. The second gen version comes with Android 9.0 "Pie" that brings substantial increases in security and enterprise functionality.

With Android the de facto standard in handhelds and small tablets, the very rugged and substantially more powerful Getac ZX70 G2 should be well received. -- Conrad H. Blickenstorfer, March 2020

Specifications Getac ZX70 G2
Added/updated Added 03/2020
Form-factor Rugged Android tablet
OS Android 9.0 "Pie"
Processor Octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 660
Graphics Qualcomm Adreno 512
CPU Speed/Turbo 1.95GHz/2.2GHz
Standard/Max RAM 4GB LPDDR4
Disk/drive 64GB eMMC
Card slots 1 x MicroSD, 1 x MicroSIM card
Display type IPS TFT LCD with scratch- and damage-resistant Gorilla Glass ("LumiBond" 2 sunlight-readable technology that integrates Gorilla Glass, a capacitive touch sensor and an LCD panel), 580 nits luminance, 170 degree viewing angle
Display size/res 7.0-inch/1280 x 720 pixel (210 ppi)
Digitizer/pens Capacitive touch (usable with gloves and stylus)
Keyboard/scale Optional external
Sealing IP67
Shock MIL-STD-810G 26 drops from 6-foot
Operating temperature -6°F to +140°F (-21°C to +60°C)
Intrinsic safety Optional ATEX and IECE 2/22 certification
Housing Plastic with rubberized overmold, magnesium sub-frame, and sealed ports
Size (WxHxD) 8.6 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches (218 x 142 x 27mm)
Weight 1.68 lbs. (762 g) with battery
Power 3.8V 8,480mAh 32.2 watt-hour Li-Ion
Interface 1 x USB 2.0 host, 1 x Micro-USB 2.0, microphone, 2 external antenna, dock
Cameras 1 front (8mp), 1 rear (12mp AF with LED flash)
Sensors Est: e-compass, g-sensor
Communications 802.11ac WiFi, Bluetooth v5.0; optional 4G LTE WWAN, dedicated GPS; optional: HF RFID/NFC, 1D laser or 1D/2D CMOS imager; optional mag stripe and smart card reader
List price Inquire
Warranty 3-year "bumper-to-bumper"
Press release Getac ZX70 G2 press release
Spec sheet Getac ZX70 G2 brochure
Website ZX70 on G2 Getac web