Today with me the new Cubot Tab KingKong 2, a tablet that’s built to survive pretty much anything you throw at it. What makes it stand out? Well, for starters, it’s got a massive 20,400mAh battery that’ll keep you going for days, a 10.95-inch 2K display that’s bright and sharp, and a MediaTek Helio G99 processor that can handle gaming, multitasking, and more. Plus, it’s waterproof, dustproof, and drop-proof, thanks to its IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H certifications. Oh, and did I mention it has a 64MP camera? Yeah, this isn’t just a rugged tablet—it’s a powerhouse.
Design and Build Quality
Right off the bat, you can tell this isn’t your typical sleek, fragile tablet. No, this thing is built like a tank, and it looks like the part, too. It’s rugged, it’s tough, and it’s designed to take a beating. First off, the materials used here are top-notch. The Cubot Tab KingKong 2 combines metal, rubber, and reinforced plastic. The edges are rubberized, making them easier to grip and providing extra protection against drops and impacts. And let’s be real: if you’re buying a rugged tablet, you’ll probably drop it at some point, so that’s a big plus.
One of the standout features is the metal handle on the back. This isn’t just for show—it’s super functional. You can use it as a carrying handle, which is great if you’re moving around a lot, or you can flip it out to use as a stand. And don’t worry, it’s not flimsy—it’s solid metal and feels like it could take some serious abuse.
Now, let’s talk about the weight and size. This tablet is heavy; there’s no getting around that. It weighs in at over a kilogram, so it’s not something you’ll toss in your bag and forget about casually. But here’s the thing—that weight is a trade-off for its durability. This tablet is built to last, and the heft is a reminder that it’s not just another fragile piece of tech. It’s a tool, and it feels like one.
The buttons and ports are also well thought out. On the top, you’ve got the power button and volume rocker, which are easy to press and have a nice tactile feel. You can customise a programmable button to do pretty much anything—launch an app, turn on the flashlight, or whatever you need. Under a rubber cover, you’ll find the SIM card tray, which supports dual SIMs or one SIM and a microSD card for expandable storage. And yes, all the ports are covered to keep out dust and water, which brings me to the next point—durability.
This tablet is IP68 and IP69K certified, which means it’s completely dustproof and can be submerged in water up to 1.5 meters deep for 30 minutes without any issues. It’s also MIL-STD-810H certified, so it can handle drops, vibrations, and extreme temperatures.
Display and Screen Quality
You might not expect much from the screen for a rugged tablet, but Cubot has packed in some pretty impressive specs here. Cubot Tab KingKong 2 has a 10.95-inch display, which is big enough to make it great for work, watching movies, or even gaming. It’s not so huge that it becomes unwieldy, but it’s definitely larger than your average smartphone screen. The 16:10 aspect ratio is a nice touch too—it’s perfect for productivity tasks like browsing spreadsheets or reading documents, and it’s also great for watching videos without those annoying black bars taking up too much space.
Now, let’s talk about the resolution. This tablet boasts a 2K FHD+ display, which means the screen is sharp, clear, and detailed. The IPS technology ensures that the colors are accurate and the viewing angles are wide, so you don’t have to worry about the screen looking washed out if you’re not viewing it straight on. The refresh rate is another nice touch. At 90Hz, the screen feels smooth and responsive. It’s not the highest refresh rate out there, but for a rugged tablet, it’s more than enough to keep things feeling fluid and snappy.
One of the standout features of this display is the brightness. It’s plenty bright for indoor use, and it holds up surprisingly well outdoors too. Even in direct sunlight, you can still see what’s on the screen, which is a big deal if you use this tablet in the field or on a job site. Sure, it’s not as bright as some high-end smartphones, but it’s more than enough for a rugged tablet.
The Panda Glass protection is another highlight. This isn’t your average screen protector—it’s a tough, durable layer that’s designed to resist scratches and impacts. So, if you’re working in rough conditions or just prone to dropping your devices, you can rest easy knowing the screen is well-protected. And let’s be honest, with a rugged tablet like this, you’ll probably be using it in environments where scratches and bumps are a real risk, so this is a huge plus.
Now, let’s talk about the bezels. Yes, they’re there, and they’re noticeable. This isn’t one of those sleek, edge-to-edge displays you’ll find on more consumer-focused tablets. But here’s the thing—those bezels actually serve a purpose. They give you something to hold onto without accidentally touching the screen, which is especially useful if you’re wearing gloves or working in messy conditions. Plus, they add to the overall durability of the tablet, so it’s a trade-off that makes sense for a device like this.
Performance and Hardware
At the heart of this tablet is the MediaTek Helio G99 processor, and let me tell you, this thing is no slouch. Built on a 6nm process, it’s designed to be both powerful and energy-efficient. It’s an octa-core chipset, with two high-performance Cortex-A76 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and six energy-efficient Cortex-A55 cores at 2.0 GHz. What does that mean in plain English? Well, it means this tablet can handle pretty much anything you throw at it.
The Helio G99 is also paired with the Mali-G57 MC2 GPU, which handles the graphics. This combo makes the tablet great for gaming, especially if you’re into titles like Call of Duty Mobile or PUBG. You won’t be able to crank the settings all the way up to ultra, but on medium to high settings, games run smoothly and look great. For a rugged tablet, that’s pretty impressive.
Regarding memory, the Cubot Tab KingKong 2 doesn’t disappoint. It comes with 8GB of physical RAM, which is more than enough for smooth multitasking. But here’s the cool part—it also supports RAM expansion technology, which lets you add another 8GB of virtual RAM, bringing the total up to 16GB. That’s a lot of memory for a tablet, and it means you can switch between apps, run multiple tabs in your browser, and keep everything running smoothly without any lag.
For storage, you get 256GB of internal space, which is plenty for apps, photos, videos, and documents. But if that’s not enough, you can expand it further with a microSD card—up to a whopping 1TB.
The Cubot Tab KingKong 2 scored around 417,000 points in the AnTuTu Benchmark; this score places the tablet in the mid-to-upper range for Android devices, which is impressive for a rugged tablet designed primarily for durability. To put this into perspective, flagship smartphones like the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra can score upwards of 1,200,000 points, but for a device built to withstand extreme conditions, the Cubot Tab KingKong 2’s performance is more than capable.
Operating System
The Cubot Tab KingKong 2 runs on Android 14, which is the latest version of Android at the time of this review. This means you get all the latest features, performance improvements, and enhanced security. The interface is clean and lightweight, with no unnecessary bloatware—just the basic Google apps and a few useful additions. It’s also highly customizable, so you can tweak it to suit your needs.
I really appreciate how well Android 14 is optimized for the large screen. Multitasking is a breeze, with features like split-screen mode and floating windows making it easy to work on multiple apps at once.
Camera Performance
The show’s star is the 64MP rear camera, a rarity in the rugged tablet world. This isn’t just a high megapixel count for the sake of marketing—it actually delivers some pretty good results. The camera uses PDAF (Phase Detection Autofocus), which means it can quickly and accurately focus on subjects, even in dynamic situations.
In daylight conditions, the 64MP sensor shines. Photos are sharp, with good detail and accurate colors. The dynamic range is decent, meaning it can handle scenes with bright and dark areas without losing too much detail. For example, if you’re taking a photo of a building with a bright sky in the background, the camera balances the exposure so you can see details in both the building and the sky.
Now, let’s talk about low-light performance because this is where most cameras struggle. The Cubot Tab KingKong 2 does a decent job here, thanks to its LED flash and night mode. The camera can still capture usable photos in low-light conditions, though there’s some noticeable noise and loss of detail. The night mode helps brighten up dark scenes, but don’t expect miracles—this isn’t a flagship smartphone camera. That said, for a rugged tablet, the low-light performance is better than expected and more than sufficient for most users.
The camera also supports 2K video recording at 30fps, a nice bonus. The footage is smooth and detailed, making it great for recording short clips or even vlogs if you’re into that. While it’s not going to replace a dedicated camera or high-end smartphone for professional video work, it’s more than enough for casual use or work-related documentation.
Front Camera: 32MP Selfie Camera
On the front, you’ve got a 32MP selfie camera, another standout feature for a rugged tablet. In good lighting, the front camera produces sharp and vibrant images. The colors are accurate, and the details are impressive for a tablet camera. It also handles HDR (High Dynamic Range) well, so you won’t end up with blown-out highlights or overly dark shadows in your photos.
Battery Life
Now, let’s talk about the battery because this is one of the standout features of the Cubot Tab KingKong 2. It packs a massive 20,400mAh battery, which is just insane. To put that into perspective, most smartphones have around 4,000 to 5,000mAh batteries, so this tablet has more than four times the capacity. What does that mean for you? Well, it means you can go days without recharging.
Cubot claims you can get over 100 hours of standby time, 35 hours of video playback, or 34 hours of continuous navigation. In real-world use, that translates to a tablet that can easily last through a full day of heavy use—like working, gaming, or streaming—and still has plenty of juice left over. And when it eventually runs out of power, the 33W fast charging gets you back up and running quickly. There’s even reverse charging, so you can use this tablet to charge your other devices in a pinch. How cool is that?
Final Verdict
After spending some serious time with the Cubot Tab KingKong 2, it’s clear that this isn’t just another rugged tablet—it’s a well-rounded, durable powerhouse that’s built to handle pretty much anything you throw at it. This device delivers in ways that many rugged tablets simply can’t. And at $278.99, it’s a compelling option for anyone looking for a rugged tablet that doesn’t break the bank.
The Tab KingKong 2 is a rugged tablet that doesn’t just focus on durability—it also delivers solid performance and features that make it a great all-around device. The 10.95-inch 2K FHD+ IPS display is bright, sharp, and perfect for both work and entertainment. With IP68, IP69K, and MIL-STD-810H certifications. It’s built to survive drops, extreme temperatures, and even submersion in water, so you can take it anywhere without worrying about damage.
Under the hood, the MediaTek Helio G99 processor provides smooth performance for gaming, multitasking, and productivity. While it’s not a flagship-level device, it’s more than capable of handling everyday tasks and even some demanding apps. The 20,400mAh battery is another standout feature, offering days of use on a single charge. And when you do need to recharge, the 33W fast charging gets you back up and running quickly.
While the Tab KingKong 2 is an excellent device, it’s not without its flaws. It’s heavy and bulky, which might not be ideal for everyone, especially if you’re looking for something lightweight and portable. The cameras, while good, struggle in low-light conditions, so don’t expect flagship-level photography in dim environments. And while the price of $278.99 is reasonable for what you’re getting, it’s still a significant investment compared to some non-rugged tablets.
