Unitech Forges New Path with First Industrial Windows on ARM Tablet

TAIPEI – January 07, 2026 – Unitech Electronics, a veteran in the data collection industry, today announced a significant step in the evolution of enterprise mobility with the launch of the RT112 Windows tablet. The device is being hailed as the world's first industrial-grade tablet to run Windows on an ARM-based processor, specifically Qualcomm's Dragonwing platform. This launch marks a pivotal moment, aiming to bridge the gap between the power-hungry rugged computers of the past and the energy-efficient mobile devices that dominate the consumer sphere, bringing a new class of technology to frontline workers in logistics, manufacturing, and retail.

For years, enterprises have faced a difficult choice for their mobile workforce: deploy familiar but less power-efficient Windows tablets running on x86 processors, or opt for energy-sipping Android devices that may not integrate as seamlessly with existing corporate IT infrastructure. The RT112 aims to render that choice obsolete by combining the full-featured Windows 11 IoT Enterprise ecosystem with the proven efficiency and connectivity of ARM architecture.

A New Contender in a Crowded Field

The global industrial tablet market, valued at over $1.1 billion, has long been a battleground between two operating systems. Windows has traditionally held a dominant share, favored for its seamless compatibility with legacy enterprise software and robust driver support. Companies rely on Windows to run complex applications and integrate with established IT management systems. However, this power often comes at the cost of battery life and device weight.

On the other side, Android has been rapidly gaining ground, projected to grow at over 9% annually. Its appeal lies in its intuitive interface, lower cost, and superior power management, which translates to longer shifts without needing a charge. This has created a fragmented market where operations managers must weigh software compatibility against all-day usability.

Unitech's RT112 enters this competitive landscape not by picking a side, but by creating a new one. By pairing Windows with an ARM processor, the company is promising the best of both worlds: the enterprise-readiness of Windows and the mobile-first efficiency of ARM. This strategic move challenges established players like Zebra, Getac, and Panasonic, who primarily offer either Windows on x86 or Android-based rugged devices. The RT112 is positioned as a solution for organizations that have been hesitant to move away from the Windows environment but are desperate for better mobility and battery performance in the field.

The Power Within: Performance Meets Efficiency

At the heart of the RT112 is the Qualcomm Dragonwing 6490 processor. Built on a modern 6nm process, this System-on-Chip (SoC) is designed specifically for demanding IoT and industrial applications. It features an octa-core Kryo CPU and a powerful Adreno GPU, delivering performance capable of handling complex enterprise applications, while its architecture ensures low power consumption. This efficiency is critical for a device intended to last an entire shift, powered by its 8,800 mAh removable battery.

Furthermore, the Dragonwing platform integrates a formidable AI engine capable of 12 trillion operations per second (TOPS). This enables sophisticated on-device machine learning tasks—such as real-time object recognition or optical character recognition (OCR) for scanning labels and documents—without relying on a constant cloud connection, enhancing speed and security at the edge.

"The launch of Unitech's RT112 Windows tablet marks a pivotal moment for industrial computing," said Anand Venkatesan, Senior Director of Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "By leveraging the Qualcomm® QCM6490 platform, this solution combines advanced connectivity, AI acceleration, and power efficiency to deliver the performance frontline professionals need without compromise."

Running on this advanced hardware is Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel). This is a crucial detail for enterprise adoption. Unlike consumer versions of Windows, the LTSC version provides 10 years of security support without disruptive feature updates, ensuring the stability and reliability required for mission-critical operations. While Windows on ARM has historically faced concerns about software compatibility, Windows 11 has made significant strides with a robust emulation layer that can run most existing x86 and x64 applications, alongside a growing library of native ARM64 apps.

Built for the Frontline: Bridging the Digital Divide

A powerful processor and operating system are meaningless if the device can't survive its intended environment. The RT112 is engineered for the rigors of the factory floor, warehouse, and field service. It meets MIL-STD-810H military standards for durability against drops and vibrations and is IP67-rated for dust and water resistance. Despite this toughness, Unitech has kept the device portable, with a thickness of 12mm and a weight of 690g, making it manageable for workers who are on their feet all day.

This combination of ruggedness and mobility directly impacts a company's bottom line. Studies show that consumer-grade devices used in industrial settings have failure rates approaching 20%, leading to significant costs from downtime, repairs, and replacements. Rugged devices like the RT112 drastically reduce these failures, leading to a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) over the device's multi-year lifespan. By equipping workers with reliable tools that provide real-time data access, businesses can streamline workflows, reduce manual errors, and boost overall productivity.

Modern connectivity is also central to the tablet's design. With integrated 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, and eSIM support, the RT112 ensures that workers remain connected to their enterprise systems whether they are inside a massive distribution center or at a remote job site, enabling seamless data capture and communication.

A Strategic Alliance for the Industrial Edge

The launch of the RT112 is more than just a new product; it represents a strategic convergence of three industry titans. Unitech brings over four decades of experience in rugged hardware and automatic identification. Qualcomm contributes its leadership in mobile processing and ARM-based silicon. And Microsoft provides the world's most dominant enterprise software platform, now optimized for a new class of efficient hardware.

This alliance is a clear signal that Windows on ARM is ready to move beyond consumer laptops and into specialized, high-value vertical markets. For enterprises, it offers a pathway to modernize their frontline operations without abandoning their investment and expertise in the Windows ecosystem. The ability to use familiar management tools like Microsoft Intune and maintain existing security policies on a mobile-first device is a powerful proposition for IT departments.

Looking ahead, Unitech plans to showcase the RT112 at NRF 2026: Retail's Big Show in New York later this month. There, the company will appear alongside strategic partner Trade-Van Information Services, demonstrating how the tablet's capabilities can be extended with specialized OCR solutions for retail, such as identifying shelf labels and product expiration dates. This highlights a key part of the strategy: building an ecosystem of software and service partners to drive adoption across diverse industries.