Industrial equipment for explosive environments must meet strict requirements – technical, regulatory, and operational. Many users wonder why ATEX-certified smartphones and tablets are often delivered with older versions of Android. The answer lies in the tension between safety requirements, certification processes, and system stability.
Certification: Every version change is security-relevant
ATEX- und IECEx-Zertifizierungen gelten immer für ein exakt spezifiziertes Hard- und Software-Setup. Ändert sich die Android-Version – selbst bei scheinbar kleinen Updates – muss das gesamte System erneut geprüft und zertifiziertwerden. Dies umfasst:
- Temperature development and energy consumption
- Behavior in error states
- Interface functions (e.g. Bluetooth, mobile radio)
- Interactions with Ex-specific components such as emergency buttons or gas warning sensors
This process often takes many months and involves significant effort. Therefore, many manufacturers deliberately rely on proven Android versions with long-term support.
OTA updates only with new certification
Unlike consumer devices, an over-the-air update is technically possible – most manufacturers operate their own OTA servers – however, no security-relevant update may be installed without re-certification. An update that deeply affects the system would invalidate the existing ATEX certification if it has not been approved in advance.
That means specifically: Yes, there are OTA updates – but only for permissible, newly certified versions. And these are usually months or years older than the current consumer Android.
Stability before feature diversity
In potentially explosive atmospheres, other things count than in the consumer market:
- Long-term availability and support
- Reliability even under extreme conditions
- Plannability in MDM and security infrastructures
New Android versions regularly bring exciting features - but they also change APIs, authorization structures and app compatibility. This volatility is unacceptable in an industrial environment. Manufacturers therefore rely on stable, tested platforms, even if they appear older.
Conclusion: Android yes - but security-tested
ATEX-certified devices use Android – but not in the latest version, rather in a security-tested, robust, and long-term available variant. The focus is on safety, certifiability, and functionality in the Ex area, not on consumer features.
When you buy a device for potentially explosive atmospheres, you are consciously choosing a reliable tool - not a toy.
Practical tip: Those who need specific app features should check in advance which Android version the ATEX device is delivered with – and whether the target application is compatible with it. Many professional applications also run smoothly on Android 10 or 11.