This rugged Windows tablet handles mud and rain – but didn’t impress with the basics


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pros and cons

Pros

  • Ruggedized package that’s ideal for heavy outdoor use.
  • Runs Windows 11 and Copilot+ features.
  • Lots of expansion possibilities.
Cons

  • Expensive.
  • Heavy.
  • Screen is a bit dim in bright light.

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While laptops and PCs dominate the office space, they’re not always the best form factor for taking compute power out of the comfort and safety of the workspaces. This is where tablets come into play. They’re not only more portable than laptops or desktops, they’re far easier to ruggedize.

Sure, performance isn’t as good as what we’d expect from a more traditional system, but thanks to modern processors, the power that can be packed into a tablet is still pretty amazing.

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The Getac G140 is a tablet that’s been built from the ground up to be powerful enough to run Microsoft’s Copilot+ AI tools, but also tough enough to survive rough handling by Mother Nature.

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The specs

The G140 features a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 IPS LCD touchscreen and an AMD processor from the Ryzen AI 5 and Ryzen AI 7 lines, even the Pro variants, between 16GB and 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and up to 2TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage.

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Powering this are dual hot-swappable batteries, a bunch of built-in ports, a DisplayPort, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, Gigabit Ethernet, and audio in/out, along with the option to add HDMI 2.1 and two USB 2.0 Type-A ports. On the top of the tablet is a port that accepts an optional barcode reader, serial port, HF RFID reader, or USB 2.0 Type-A port.

All the ports are well protected from the elements.

All the ports are well protected from the elements.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Options galore. There’s also the obligatory front- and rear-facing cameras, with the front-facing camera featuring a privacy/protection cover that slides over it when you want privacy or worry something’s going to scratch the lens.

My review unit featured an AMD Ryzen AI 7 Pro CPU with a Radeon 860M GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 500GB of storage, which is near the top of the G140 spec sheet.

Built to last

All this tech is packed into a shell that’s been designed to pass MIL-STD-810H environmental tests and MIL-STD-461G electromagnetic compatibility tests, and is rated IP66, so it’s fully protected against dust ingress and high-pressure water jets from any direction.

Rain is nothing for the G140.

Rain is nothing for the G140.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The tablet measures 13.3 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches and weighs 3.95 pounds, so it’s a pretty hefty weight to hold in one hand. It’s also certified for safe use in hazardous locations with explosive atmospheres, as well as in marine environments where salt fog and corrosion are a real problem. Overall, it’s ideal for harsh outdoor conditions.

The question of price

All this hardware runs Windows 11 Pro, and it runs very smoothly, as I’d expect for a tablet that’ll set you back as much as $4,000. It also runs Microsoft Copilot+ features smoothly thanks to the Ryzen AI chip having an NPU capable of running at 50 TOPS.

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But things take a bit of a dive when we look at the benchmarks. In Cinebench 2024, it scored a 433 in multi-core performance and a 92 in single-core performance. This isn’t all that impressive (my iPhone 17 blows it away), but remember that it is a full, no-compromise Windows system you can hold in your hand. Almost — it does weigh about the same as a watermelon.

The Cinebench 2024 score is also at the low end.

The Cinebench 2024 score is also at the low end.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Pros and cons

Performance-wise, I like the G140. Sure, it’s an underdog when it comes to benchmark results and won’t win any bragging rights. But it’s fast enough, and that’s what counts. It’s built for work, not running AAA games. The screen is also just good enough, even though at 1,000 nits, it’s a little bit on the dim side in bright sunlight. 

This could be down to the protective film that Getac has applied to the display, but it has very wide horizontal and vertical viewing angles, which is great, and does a great job of resisting smudges and dirt. I also like the hot-swappable batteries. This is great for situations where you can’t be tied to a charging cord.

The hot-swappable batteries are a great idea.

The hot-swappable batteries are a great idea.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Ruggedness is also top-notch. I’m not going to drive a mini digger over a this tablet, but I did give it a very good workout. It got used in the rain, put down in dirt and mud, dropped, and abused in a way that these sorts of devices get abused.

The downside of the ruggedness is the weight. It’s a hefty bit of kit. Getac has preempted this with various palm holders for the G140, but there’s no getting past how heavy it is to hold. 

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It’s also big. I know that’s a bit obvious — I mean, it is a 14-inch tablet — but this is bigger than you expect thanks to the oversized bezel and bumpers. It’s pretty much the size of two 16-inch MacBook Pros stacked on top of each other.

The buttons on the bezel take some getting used to as well. I found myself constantly pressing them by accident, and it wasn’t something that got better with more use. I could disable the buttons, but that seemed like admitting defeat.

I just couldn't get used to the placement of these buttons.

I just couldn’t get used to the placement of these buttons.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you need a rugged Windows 11 Pro tablet that you can leave in the rain, drop into mud, and use on an oil rig without worrying about salt eating it or causing an explosion, the Getac G140 is perfect. But this is a niche device. It’s expensive, absolutely massive, and performance is limited. 

You can definitely buy cheaper, lighter, and more powerful tablets, but these would quit at the first drop or rain shower. You can also find cheaper rugged tablets, but you lose on performance and all the optional extras that you can add.





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2026 has shaped up to be a big year for Milwaukee, and the company shows no signs of slowing down as it expands its product line. For example, it has announced that some solid new Milwaukee hand tools and organizers will be arriving throughout the summer, but that’s not all. At the end of the day, you need somewhere to put all of this stuff, and while the Milwaukee Packout storage system is deep and varied as is, the company will expand the line in the summer months.

More methods for organizing your tools are on the way, too, with the Milwaukee Packout line set to introduce some new entries this summer. They vary in size, purpose, and price point, but they’re all compatible with the wider Packout line. That means they can connect to each other, making transportation easier. In some cases, they’ll be able to help keep tools and other items secure and organized while on the move. Additionally, all of these new Packout products are covered by Milwaukee’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

So, what new products does Milwaukee have to offer from its Packout line this summer? Here are the drops you can look forward to throughout June and July 2026.

Milwaukee compact crate

Sometimes, a massive Packout crate isn’t a necessity, which is why the line has its share of smaller options. Yet another will be coming to the Milwaukee catalog in the form of the Milwaukee Packout compact crate, which is set for a June 2026 release and will cost $39.97. It has a 30-pound weight capacity, comes in at 8.75 inches tall, 9.5 inches wide, 15.5 inches long, and 3.75 pounds, and includes two removable dividers to create up to three sections within the crate. The dividers can also be customized by cutting them to size along the pre-made score lines.

This compact crate features a wide front opening for easy access to its contents while on the job, as well as a metal top handle to carry it around on its own. Should you want to add it to your current Packout stack, you can use the connection points at the top and bottom of the crate. Speaking of durability, Milwaukee notes that it has an impact-resistant body along with weep holes to prevent water collection. At the same time, there is some nuance regarding the waterproof nature of Milwaukee Packout products, so keep that in mind before letting this crate get soaked.

Milwaukee Packout low-profile crate

A shorter but equally mighty Milwaukee Packout container is also on its way to customers this summer. The Milwaukee Packout low-profile crate is the shortest of the new releases at just 6.625 inches tall, though it makes up for what it lacks in height with a 15-inch length and an 18.625-inch width. Even though it’s slightly heavier than the compact crate at 4.85 pounds, it wins out in weight capacity with a 50-pound limit. It will be released in June 2026 and will cost $44.97.

For added modularity, the low-profile crate includes three different divider types: eight short, two long, and one for the middle of the container. When combined, they form up to 12 individual sections for tool and accessory organization. In terms of connecting to other Packout containers, it can do so from the top and bottom. Alternatively, built-in side handles are integrated into the design to make it easier to carry the crate on its own. The crate has weep holes for water drainage and an impact-resistant body.

Milwaukee Packout XL crate

Moving on to one of the larger upcoming Milwaukee Packout releases — even if it ultimately lands somewhere in the middle of the smallest and largest Packout containers for sale — there’s the aptly-named Milwaukee Packout XL crate. This release will hit shelves in June 2026 and comes with a $69.97 price tag. The 8.03-pound crate can take on some serious tools with its 75-pound weight capacity. It measures 15 inches tall, 15.75 inches long, and 18.625 inches wide. Despite its size, it can be hung up on a wall like most other Packout containers.

While some may hang this crate in their workshop, many will use it as part of their mobile Packout stack. You can connect it to your existing setup via the top and bottom connection points. It can also be used with Milwaukee toolbox attachments to hold smaller tools and batteries with connection points on the sides. Alternatively, you can move the crate around using its built-in side handles. It’s advertised as having an impact-resistant body along with anti-water collection weep holes. Suffice to say, there’s more to this seemingly simple crate than initially meets the eye.

Milwaukee Packout Wire Pulling XL Crate

For the most part, the Milwaukee Packout line is so popular because of its versatility. While most entries can be used for just about anything, there are those that come with a specialized function. Case in point, the forthcoming Milwaukee Packout Wire Pulling XL crate, which is designed for dispensing wire. This involves inserting and locking in spools of the user’s needed material, threading the wire through the wire retention slots, and using the fold-down panel to keep the end of the wire from rolling back into the box.

Overall, this crate has the same dimensions and weight capacity as the previously covered Packout XL crate, though it is the heavier of the two at 9.85 pounds. It can accommodate up to six spools, can be stacked onto other Packout containers or hung up, and has an impact-resistant body. This is the most expensive of the new Packout releases at a hefty $119.97, and it’s set to release during July 2026. Alongside the best Milwaukee power tools for electrical work, this crate seems like a vital piece for any Milwaukee-enthusiast electrician’s kit.

New Milwaukee Packout inserts are coming, too

That’s it for the new Milwaukee Packout containers set to debut this summer, but there are more new releases yet to cover. To pair with some of these containers and improve their levels of organization and function, come two new insert sets. First is the divider for the Milwaukee Packout XL crate, which splits the container into two sections. It simply slides down the middle of the crate and fits snugly into place, while retaining its ability to connect with smaller Packout attachments. It will be released in July 2026 for $29.97.

Alongside the Packout XL crate divider is the set of Packout wire pulling inserts for the XL crate. You’ll need these if you end up buying an XL crate and later want to use it as a wire-pulling crate. These inserts allow you to convert it instead of having to buy a new designated wire pulling crate. They attach to two of the inner sides of the crate via T-25 screws and include wire puller guards as well. The Milwaukee product listing says these inserts are meant for 1/2-inch EMT conduit. This insert set also comes out in July and will cost $49.97. 





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