Latest and far more powerful Skorpio handheld has larger, sharper display, USB Type-C, wireless charging and more
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

Datalogic announced the Skorpio X5 mobile computer on January 18, 2021. The Skorpio X5 is Datalogic's follow-up to its very popular Skorpio X4 and original Skorpio predecessors, of which well over half a million have been sold. It is a compact, key-based handheld computer designed to make data collection and assisted sale procedures in retail in-store environments as easy and comfortable as possible.

Compared to earlier Skorpio generations which either ran a version of Microsoft's Windows Mobile operating system or, later, either Windows Mobile or Android, the new X5 model is designed and optimized for Android 10 from the ground up.

Andrew Duncan, SVP Product Marketing at Datalogic commented "The Skorpio X5 is the most advanced key-based mobile computer on the market, and features wireless charging capabilities. It brings the highest computational CPU power, the largest and brightest screen display, and the latest generation of scan engines, including a unique Mid-Range imager. With the Skorpio X5, businesses will be able to reach new productivity levels."

The new Skorpio X5 certainly is a vastly improved and much more powerful system that benefits from an number of technological and interface updates. That includes a switch to the market-leading 2.2Ghz CPU Qualcomm Snapdragon 600® platform.

While the new Skorpio remains a rather compact device, its display has grown from the small 3.2 inches on the Skorpio X4 to a larger and much easier to work with 4.3 inches on the new model. The multi-touch display is much sharper as well, with five times the number of pixels. Hardened Gorilla Glass 3 keeps it safe. The bigger display required a redesign and weight is up a bit, but the basic version still weighs barely more than a pound.

Like its Skorpio X4 predecessor, the Skorpio X5 is available with three different keyboards, those being a full 47-key alphanumeric keypad, a 38-key "function" keypad, or a 28-key numeric pad for rapid data entry for inventory, shelf replenishment, price management, order entry, assisted sales, and line busting assignments.

The Skorpio X5 can be ordered with either a 1D imager that auto-detects all standard 1D codes, a standard range 2D imager, or a mid-range 2D imager. To make scanning easier, Datalogic equipped the Skorpio with its patented "green spot" feedback that provides a "good read" green dot directly on the code.

The Skorpio X5's wireless communication capabilities include Bluetooth v5.0 with BR/EDR and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) support as well as dual-band a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi and the 802.11 d/e/h/i/k/r/v/w/mc extensions for indoor localization.

Wired connectivity is via a reversible USB Type-C USB 3.1 host and device port; Gigabit Ethernet connectivity is via a 3-slot dock. Legacy RS232 is gone. Expansion is via a Micro-SDXC Card slot for cards with capacities up to 256GB. The replaceable battery comes in a 12.8 watt-hour standard version and an extended 22.1 watt-hour version. Customers have a choice between conventional charging or wireless charging.

Like most Datalogic mobile computers, the Skorpio X5 is tough and rugged. Sealing went up from IP64 to IP65, which means it is dust-proof and can now handle water jets (instead of just spray) from all directions. It can also withstand drops from six feet to concrete, and now can handle an even wider -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit operating temperature range than before.

Overall, with the new Skorpio X5, the platform has left its old Windows Mobile legacy behind in every way. This is a much more modern device now, and also one that's very well supported on the software side with apps, SDKs, APIs, as well as Mobile Device Management systems and terminal emulation for easy migration. -- Conrad Blickenstorfer, January 2021