Which tablet delivers the right wireless and cellular coverage for your deployment?

The ET45BB-101D2BM-NA ships with 5G cellular in addition to Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), making it the only option of the two with wide-area cellular connectivity. That 5G radio is critical for deployments spanning outdoor yards, remote sites, or vehicles where facility Wi-Fi is unavailable or unreliable. Its Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) supports high-density environments with improved throughput and reduced interference.

The ET60AW-0HQAGN00A0-NA is Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax with 6 GHz band support) and Bluetooth 5.2 Class 1 with BLE, and adds NFC (ISO 14443 Type A/B, FeliCa, ISO 15693). Wi-Fi 6E's 6 GHz band provides less-congested spectrum in dense RF environments but no cellular fallback is specified. The NFC capability enables contactless credential reads and asset tagging workflows not available on the ET45. Bluetooth 5.2 Class 1 on the ET60 offers longer range than standard Class 2 devices. Channel bandwidth is specified at 20/40/80/160 MHz on the ET60; channel bandwidth details are not provided in the ET45 specs.

Which tablet has the processing and memory headroom for demanding enterprise applications?

The ET60AW-0HQAGN00A0-NA specifies a Qualcomm Snapdragon 6490 octa-core processor running at 2.7 GHz paired with 8 GB RAM and 128 GB UFS Flash storage, with a microSD slot supporting up to 2 TB expansion. Android 16 (or upgradable to Android 16) is listed as the operating system, providing access to current security patches and platform features.

The ET45BB-101D2BM-NA specifies a Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and 4 GB RAM with 128 GB Flash storage. The specific Snapdragon model number and clock speed are not provided in the available specifications, and the Android version is listed only as 'Android' without a version number. No microSD expansion is mentioned in the ET45 specs. With half the RAM, the ET45 is at a disadvantage for multi-app environments, heavy MDM overhead, or future OS upgrade requirements relative to the ET60.

Which tablet is better suited to harsh physical environments including cold storage and outdoor use?

The ET60AW-0HQAGN00A0-NA carries an IP66 dust and water ingress rating and is specified for outdoor environmental use. Its 10.1-inch WUXGA (1920×1200) display reaches 1,000 nits brightness and features a heated touchscreen designed for operation in freezing conditions without glove removal — a decisive differentiator for cold-chain, freezer warehouse, or outdoor cold-climate deployments. Battery capacity is specified at 5,920 mAh with an all-shift (8–10 hour) operating claim. The ET60 also includes a rear 16 MP autofocus camera with LED flash and an 8 MP front camera with mechanical privacy shade.

The ET45BB-101D2BM-NA is rated to MIL-STD-810, which governs shock, vibration, and environmental stress resistance, but an IP ingress protection rating is not listed in the provided specifications. Display resolution and nit brightness are not specified for the ET45. Battery capacity is not provided for the ET45. The ET45 integrates a Zebra SE4710 1D/2D omnidirectional area imager — a scanner model explicitly named — while the ET60 lists a 1D/2D barcode imager without a named engine. Both tablets have a 10.1-inch screen and a 1-year warranty.

Which should you choose: the ET45BB-101D2BM-NA or the ET60AW-0HQAGN00A0-NA?

Our take: The ET45BB-101D2BM-NA is the stronger choice when your deployment requires 5G cellular connectivity and an explicitly named, proven scan engine (SE4710) for mobile workers operating beyond facility Wi-Fi coverage. The ET60AW-0HQAGN00A0-NA is the stronger choice for fixed-facility or yard deployments with demanding environmental requirements: it doubles the RAM (8 GB vs. 4 GB), adds a heated touchscreen for cold-storage or freezing outdoor use, carries a certified IP66 ingress rating (vs. no IP rating specified for the ET45), delivers a 1,000-nit high-brightness display, and includes NFC for contactless workflows. Battery capacity (5,920 mAh on the ET60 vs. not specified on the ET45) and the named Snapdragon 6490 octa-core at 2.7 GHz further favor the ET60 for all-shift intensive operations. Buyers needing 5G mobility should choose the ET45; buyers needing cold-chain hardening, NFC, or larger memory headroom should choose the ET60.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Spec-for-spec, from manufacturer data.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Resources

• Zebra ET45BB-101D2BM-NA product page — full specs and to add to a quote
• Zebra ET60AW-0HQAGN00A0-NA product page — full specs and to add to a quote