Why Ex-Certified Smartphones Have Been Lagging Behind – And What’s Changing Now

In explosive work zones, safety comes first. Electronics used in these areas must meet strict Ex-certification standards to avoid causing sparks or ignition. These rules are essential — but they’ve also held smartphones back. 

For over a decade, Ex-smartphones have lagged behind the consumer market. They’re slower, heavier, and harder to use. Many workers compare them to their personal phones and are disappointed. As a result, many devices are left unused in drawers or storage, rarely taken into the field.

Why have Ex-phones struggled to keep up?

Ex smartphones must be custom-built — and most are designed and developed by small manufacturers. These companies usually don’t get access to flagship components like high-end processors, displays, cameras, or battery systems. Even if this technology would be available for them, building and certifying an Ex device can take up to three years. By the time the device ships to the market, the core hardware is already out of date.

To stay compliant and avoid sudden component shortages, many manufacturers rely on industrial-grade parts designed for long lifecycles — not top performance. That means Ex phones often launch with specs from the past.

There’s also a difference in approach:

• •   Ex-i smartphones use intrinsic safety and have strict limitations on power and energy. This often affects the functionality of the chipsets, batteries and displays.

•   Ex-d smartphones rely on protective enclosures but often end up oversized and heavy, with poor ergonomics.

In both cases, the result has been the same: safe devices that frustrate users.

What’s changing now

The launch of Xshielder signals a shift. It’s an Ex-certified iPhone 16 Pro Max — fast, familiar and full-featured — enclosed in a patented casing built and certified for use in Zone 1 hazardous environments. This means fieldworkers finally get the performance they’re used to, with the safety they need.

When developing the Xshielder, ergonomics has been a priority from day one. The device is lightweight, compact, and easy to handle throughout a full shift.

It also means IT teams can manage the devices like any other iPhone, handling software updates, enforcing strong privacy settings, and maintaining secure logins. Meanwhile, app developers can build tools within a familiar ecosystem.

The bottom line

Certified for the field. Fast to roll out. Easy to manage. No compromises on performance. Xshielder combines safety with the performance teams expect.