Bartec Agile S NI vs Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2: 2026 Tablet Comparison

Windows tablet PCs remain the default choice wherever a hazardous-area operation runs legacy SCADA software, plant-specific ERP tools, or any application that simply doesn’t have an Android equivalent. The Bartec Agile S NI and the Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 both fill that role for ATEX Zone 2/22 and Class I Division 2 sites, but they land a full generation apart in operating system, memory, and documented durability. One runs Windows 10 with 8GB of RAM and no published IP rating. The other runs Windows 11 with 16GB of RAM and a documented IP65 rating. The $1,309.80 price gap between them tracks almost exactly to that difference.

What ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU Category 3 Actually Requires

ATEX Directive 2014/34/EU assigns Category 3 equipment to Zone 2/22 use — areas where an explosive atmosphere is unlikely to occur, and if it does, will persist only briefly. Both the Bartec Agile S NI (Class I Division 2 Groups A, B, C, D T4A, ATEX/IECEx Zone 2/22) and the Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 (ATEX Zone 2, IECEx, Class I Division 2 / C1D2) meet that Category 3 threshold, so both tablets hold certifications for operation within these hazardous area classifications. A buyer must still verify that the specific ratings of a device, including its Gas Groups and Temperature Class, align with their site’s specific safety and compliance requirements. IEC 60529, the standard that defines the IP (Ingress Protection) rating system, is where the two tablets actually diverge: the Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 publishes an IP65 rating plus MIL-STD-810H drop and shock testing, while Bartec has not published an equivalent IP figure for the Agile S NI. A shared certification tier doesn’t guarantee a shared documented durability standard — that’s a separate check buyers need to make.

Core Specifications: Bartec Agile S NI vs. Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2

• Certification: Bartec Agile S NI — Class I Div. 2 (Groups A, B, C, D, T4A), ATEX/IECEx Zone 2/22. Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 — ATEX Zone 2, IECEx, Class I Div. 2 (C1D2).
• Platform: Bartec Agile S NI — Windows 10 IoT Enterprise, 10.1″ display, Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM. Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 — Windows 11 Pro, 11.6″ FHD DynaVue 1000-nit display, Intel Core i5-1235U, 16GB RAM.
• IP rating: Bartec Agile S NI — not publicly specified. Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 — IP65 + MIL-STD-810H.
• Price: Bartec Agile S NI — $3,560.20 USD. Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 — $4,870.00 USD.

Which One Fits Your Fleet

Both tablets clear the same Zone 2/22 and Class I Division 2 bar, so the decision comes down to operating system generation, memory headroom, and how comfortable you are deploying a device without a published IP rating:

• Choose the Bartec Agile S NI if your software stack still depends on a specific Windows 10 build, or if budget is the deciding factor between these two.
• Choose the Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 if you need Windows 11 today, more RAM for running multiple industrial applications at once, or a documented IP65 rating you can point to in a compliance file.
• If your deployment includes exposure to water or heavy washdown, confirm the Agile S NI’s IP rating directly with Bartec before ordering — it isn’t published, and the Pad-Ex 01 DZ2’s IP65 is the only one of the two you can currently document without a follow-up call.
• Factor in Windows 10’s support lifecycle when planning a multi-year fleet purchase around the Agile S NI.

Recommended Products for Windows Industrial Tablets: Bartec Agile S NI vs. Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2

The following products from our catalog are certified for use in hazardous areas and directly relevant to this guide:

FAQs

What’s the difference between the Bartec Agile S NI and Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2?

The Agile S NI runs Windows 10 IoT Enterprise on a 10.1″ screen with 8GB RAM at $3,560.20, while the Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 runs Windows 11 Pro on a larger 11.6″ FHD DynaVue display (1000 nits) with 16GB RAM at $4,870.00. Both are certified for Class I Div 2/C1D2, ATEX Zone 2, and IECEx, but the Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 carries a publicly specified IP65 + MIL-STD-810H rating, whereas the Agile S NI’s IP rating is not publicly specified.

Should I get a Windows 10 or Windows 11 ATEX tablet in 2026?

Windows 11 Pro, as used in the Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2, is the newer OS and better positioned for longer-term Microsoft support. The Bartec Agile S NI ships with Windows 10 IoT Enterprise CBB, which remains functional for hazardous-area deployments, but buyers should factor in Microsoft’s Windows 10 support lifecycle when planning multi-year fleet purchases.

How much RAM do I need in an ATEX Zone 2 tablet?

The two tablets compared here differ significantly: the Bartec Agile S NI has 8GB RAM, while the Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 doubles that at 16GB. More RAM matters for running multiple industrial applications, inspection software, or Windows 11 more smoothly — one reason the Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 costs more.

What IP rating do ATEX Zone 2 tablets typically have?

Zone 2 tablets commonly carry IP65 through IP68 ratings for dust and water resistance. Of the two models compared here, the Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 publishes an IP65 rating plus MIL-STD-810H drop and shock testing, while the Bartec Agile S NI’s IP rating is not publicly specified by the manufacturer — confirm it directly before deploying in a wet environment.

Why is the Ecom Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 more expensive than the Bartec Agile S NI?

At $4,870.00 versus $3,560.20 — a difference of $1,309.80 — the Pad-Ex 01 DZ2’s premium reflects its newer Intel Core i5-1235U processor, double the RAM (16GB vs. 8GB), a larger 1000-nit FHD DynaVue display, Windows 11 Pro, and a publicly documented IP65 + MIL-STD-810H durability rating versus the Agile S NI’s unspecified IP rating.

Conclusion

After confirming that a device’s specific certifications (including Zone/Division, Gas Group, and Temperature Class) fully meet your site’s compliance requirements, the decision can then be guided by factors like OS generation, memory, and documented durability. The Agile S NI is the lower-cost, Windows 10-based option for teams that don’t need the latest OS or the extra RAM. The Pad-Ex 01 DZ2 costs more but delivers Windows 11, double the memory, and a published IP65 rating you can hand straight to a compliance file. If your fleet purchase needs to survive the next few years without a re-evaluation, that documentation gap is worth the price difference.