Oukitel RT3 Pro rugged tablet review

Oukitel RT3 Pro: 30-second review

The Oukitel RT3 Pro is one of a growing number of tough, compact tablets that offer plenty of features in a budget-friendly design, making them ideal for anyone working outdoors, travelling or needing something more robust than your average tablet. To that end, it's also a perfect option for families with small children due to its robust credentials.

When it comes to just how tough this small tablet is, it meets a few stringent tests, including MIL-STD-810H and IP68/IP69K standards, ensuring water and drop resistance. In our test, it survived being dropped from. height and caught in a heavy rain shower without issue, aside from the usual mud and a scrape or two.

Dominating the front of the tablet is the 8-inch HD display, which offers a decent enough screen for work tasks but is a little on the low side when it comes to resolution. So, while bright, you can see it lacks the sharp clarity of more expensive options.

Inside is the octa-core MediaTek G81 processor, which powers through most Google apps without issue but starts to struggles with anything more processor- or graphics-intensive. Power is well-balanced, and the 5150mAh battery enables a decent length of time between charges.

For use as a tough work tablet, the Oukitel RT3 Pro is well-suited, with a responsive screen, decent mobile and Wi-Fi connection, and enough power to run the Google suite of apps without issue. If you need something with a little more processing and graphics power, then you'll need to look at spending a little more on the best rugged tablets.

Oukitel RT3 Pro: Price & availability

• How much does it cost? £177 / $229
• When is it out? Available now
• Where can you get it? You can get it Amazon or the Oukitel website

The Oukitel RT3 Pro is competitively priced at £177 / $229 and offers good value for considering it's tough credentials. This compact tablet is widely available online and directly from the official Oukitel website by clicking here.

• Value: 4 / 5

Oukitel RT3 Pro: Specifications

Oukitel RT3 Pro: Design

• Ultra tough design
• Dual SIM slots

When you consider the relatively inexpensive cost of the RT3 Pro, the actual design and build quality feel far more premium, with an outdoor look and style available in a choice of three accent colour options: Black, Green, or Orange. The design of the tablet, while robust and outwardly built to withstand a knock or two, still remains relatively slim and lightweight at 207mm x 134mm x 13.9mm and 538g. This means it easily slips into a work bag or backpack without adding too much bulk or weight.

While most of the front is covered by the 8-inch, 800x1280 resolution screen, there is a sizable bezel and the edges of the casing feature hard, reinforced, rubberized corners, which once again highlight the ruggedness of this tablet. The screen, while not the highest resolution, does offer a decent 600 nits of brightness and can be seen in most conditions, although expect to sun shield in the brightest conditions. Confirming just how tough this small tablet is, it has been tested to meet MIL-STD-810H and IP68/IP69K standards, which essentially means it’s resistant to dust, water, and drops.

• Design: 4 / 5

Oukitel RT3 Pro: Features

This tablet has been designed as a reliable and tough device for use in the field, and as such, its features are designed more for professional use than domestic. For starters, it's relatively small and lightweight, with a build that has been tested to IP68/IP69K standards, meaning it's both water- and dust-proof. It's also MIL-STD-810H certified, further reinforcing the fact that this is a tough tablet built to withstand being knocked about and dropped, which was tested to the fullest through this test.

The front of the tablet is dominated by the large 8-inch HD BOE display, which is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass and offers 600 nits of brightness, the screen provides decent visibility outdoors in most conditions.

Power comes from the 5150mAh battery, which can supply power for up to 38 days on standby or for up to 16 hours of music playback and 6 hours of video playback. One standout feature, especially if you travel or work in remote locations, is its support for reverse charging. This means you can use the tablet as a power bank to charge other devices if your phone runs out of battery.

Cameras are always a key feature of these rugged tablets, ideal for capturing images on-site. The Oukitel RT3 Pro is equipped with a 16MP main camera featuring a 1/3.06" Sony-OV16880 sensor, along with modes like Beauty, Mono, and Bokeh for a few creative options. On the front, there's an 8MP camera with a 1/4" Sony-IMX219 sensor, which is perfect for video calls and conferencing.

As this tablet is just hitting the market, it comes with the latest Android 14, powered by the MediaTek G81 octa-core processor. Internally, it boasts 128GB of storage, expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card, and 4GB of RAM, which can be expanded to 16GB.

As a tablet designed for work away from home or the office, connectivity is a crucial element. The Oukitel RT3 Pro features dual 5G SIM slots for maximum connection options, though one of those slots can be used for storage expansion. It also includes GPS, a wide range of satellite networks, Bluetooth 5.0, and Wi-Fi compatibility.

• Features: 4 / 5

Oukitel RT3 Pro: Performance

In use, the Oukitel proves to be a compact and relatively powerful solution. While the screen is smaller and lower resolution than we're used to with the latest tablets, it's still bright, and considering the tablet's intended use, it's not a bad choice especially considering the size and battery life for standard tasks. It's only when you place it side-by-side with a higher-resolution tablet that you can see it doesn't quite have the same clarity and sharpness.

However, if you're using this for Google Docs, browsing, and editing, that resolution shouldn't be an issue. Opening Google Docs, the application scales to the lower resolution, and while there is less screen real estate than on some other devices, it’s still an upgrade from your average smartphone. This means typing on the touchscreen keyboard is easy and intuitive enough.

Likewise, switching over to Sheets, it's easy to access most options and input data when needed. The Android 14 OS is well-tuned and adaptable to different screen sizes and power levels, and here it works perfectly well.

Testing media playback and streaming, all the services tried—Amazon Prime, Disney+, and Netflix, worked smoothly. The audio capabilities of the small tablet are surprisingly good, although visually, the contrast and colour of the screens image are on the vibrant side, but perfectly acceptable for casual viewing. 

Switching over to gaming in order to push the tablet’s graphics, the gameplay is okay, held back slightly by the lower graphics, but still allowing games like Need for Speed and Mortal Kombat to be played, albeit with the occasional glitch as the action intensifies. Again, the sound is impressive, and considering the tablet’s level, it's pleasing enough.

In real-world working situations, the tablet is more than powerful enough for day-to-day office work with Google Docs and internet browsing. However, when it comes to media playback and games, it has its limits. Surprisingly, you're able to play games on the system, and the 60Hz refresh rate keeps the action generally smooth and more than playable. You only start to notice the lower resolution when comparing this side-by-side with a more powerful option.

While the performance was good, one disappointment is the time it takes to charge, as it only charges at a rate of 10W, meaning it takes a solid three hours for a full recharge. However, the 5150mAh battery is more than enough to last a day in most situations.

Lastly, looking at the cameras, the front camera does its job well for video calls. As long as you're in decent light, the image is pretty clear, and the mic pickups work well, providing clarity in calls while the speakers are decent enough to clearly hear people on the other end.

The rear main camera, at 16MP, is relatively low in resolution, but in decent light, the Sony sensor is capable of capturing good images. However, in darker situations, noise starts to creep in. The Pro and Bokeh modes provide a nice level of creativity, and with the help of Lightroom, you can actually get some decent pictures.

• Performance: 3 / 5

Oukitel RT3 Pro: Final verdict

The Oukitel RT3 Pro is designed for those whose work requires them to stay connected in the field. The 8" screen size is small, but for reviewing documents and data, it's far easier to navigate than a smartphone and less cumbersome than a laptop.

The build and design of the tablet emphasise its ruggedness, and throughout testing—being bashed, dropped, and generally thrown around—there was no real damage, and it continued to work without issue. The tablet stood up to its IP68/IP69K and MIL-STD-810H certifications, making it ideal for outdoor workers, travellers, or families with active lifestyles and kids.

The real-world performance was a pleasant surprise, especially considering the benchmark results, which, while decent, were decidedly middle of the road. However, it handled Google Docs, games, the camera, and Lightroom with relative ease, although image editing in Lightroom was a bit slow as the software analysed images and applied effects.

The resolution is the main downside here, but considering the tablet’s strengths and intended use, even the lack of clarity for video and image editing isn't a major issue. This is a tablet designed for the outdoors, and with dual SIM slots and 5G connectivity, it proves to be a solid option. Overall, it's a budget-friendly, rugged tablet that's perfect if you need a device that will withstand more abuse than most.

Should you buy a Oukitel RT3 Pro?

If you work outdoors or are off on your travels and want a tablet that can survive the elements, then the Oukitel RT3 Pro's rugged design and long-lasting battery make it a great choice. However, it's also worth considering that the resolution is rather low. While it's perfect for reviewing documents and casual video viewing, if you want a fuller video or gaming experience, a system with a higher-resolution screen will be a better option.

Likewise, while the battery provides a decent amount of power over a prolonged period, the charging time of three hours is longer than most. That said, the ability to use the tablet’s power to top up your smartphone is a nice touch.

For those working outdoors or traveling, the dual SIM card slot is a great addition, whether for connecting to different mobile networks or using a MicroSD card to boost storage. Overall, when it comes to processing performance, this tablet does a decent enough job for Google Docs, occasional media playback, and gaming. It's a budget-friendly device, making it ideal for fieldwork or adventure.

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