A delivery device gets used more times in a day than almost any other piece of work kit. Out of the cab, scan, photo, signature, back in the cab, repeat. Whatever you choose has to cope with that rhythm, not just with being dropped once.
What kills devices in logistics
- Cab vibration. Hours of it, every day, in a cheap suction mount. Mounts fail, devices fall into footwells, and consumer phones gradually shake loose inside.
- Cold mornings. A phone left in the cab overnight in January can struggle to hold charge first thing.
- Rain on the doorstep. Proof of delivery signatures happen outside, in whatever the weather is doing.
- Constant drops. Onto pavements, tail lifts, warehouse floors. Not once a month, but several times a week.
- Battery drain. Navigation, mobile data and the camera all running at once will flatten a normal phone before the round is finished.
What actually matters in a spec
Size. For drivers, a device that goes in a pocket or a holster beats a tablet. You need both hands for parcels.
Sealing. IP68 handles rain and puddles. The A6 adds IP69K, which covers high pressure, high temperature jet washing. Our IP68 vs IP67 guide explains what each rating actually tests.
Battery. Look for 10000mAh or more if the device is navigating and uploading all day.
Operating temperature. The A6 is rated from -20°C to 60°C, which covers an unheated cab in winter and a dashboard in summer.
Your software. Most delivery and proof of delivery apps run on Android. If your warehouse management system needs Windows on the handheld, that changes the answer, and the price.
What we would pick
For drivers, the Tuga A6 at £299. It is a 6.8 inch rugged phone sealed to IP68 and IP69K and drop tested to MIL-STD-810H, with a 10600mAh battery and 33W fast charging. 5G means photos and signatures upload quickly, NFC is built in, and glove mode helps on cold mornings. The 64MP night vision camera takes usable doorstep photos after dark, which matters when proof of delivery is a photo. It is also the cheapest device we sell, which makes it the sensible starting point for a fleet.
If your warehouse management system forces Windows on the handheld, the Tuga WH6 with integrated 2D barcode scanner at £779 is the answer. It runs Windows 11 IoT on an Intel Celeron N5100 with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, is rated IP65, drop tested to MIL-STD-810H and has a 4000mAh battery. It costs more than two and a half times the A6, so only go this way if the software leaves you no choice.
For a device that stays in the cab as the route screen and comes out for the occasional signature, the Tuga A8 at £379 works well. Its 8 inch, 800 nit screen is easy to read on the dashboard, it is vehicle mountable, and it has 4G LTE and a 10000mAh battery.
Accessories worth adding
For the A6 or WH6, a Car Phone Mount (£17) designed for rugged handhelds and usable one handed with gloves on, a Belt Holster (£22) for the walk to the door, and a 12V DC Car Charger (£26) so the device is topped up between drops. For a cab-mounted A8, the Vehicle Mounting Dock (£109) locks it in place against vibration and charges it at the same time. A Tempered Glass Screen Protector 2-pack (£14) suits any of them. See the accessories page.
Questions from logistics teams
Does the A6 have a barcode scanner?
Not a dedicated scan engine. For occasional scanning, a camera-based scanning app works. For high-volume warehouse scanning, the WH6 scanner variant is built for it.
Can we buy for the whole fleet?
Yes. Bulk discounts apply automatically: 3% at 2 devices, 5% at 3 to 4, 8% at 5 to 9 and 10% at 10 or more. Mix models freely. See bulk pricing.
Is rugged really cheaper than replacing phones?
It depends on how often yours break. We have laid out the sums in rugged vs consumer tablet cost.
What support do we get?
A 12-month warranty, 30-day returns, free UK delivery and UK email support. A small UK operation, and honest about it. Contact us with anything else.
