Zebra MC94

Zebra MC9400 and MC9450 are ultra-rugged gun-style Android mobile computers and the successors to the MC9300. They are built for high-bay warehouses, production halls, cold stores and yards, where barcodes are scanned from a forklift and with gloves on, and the device regularly hits concrete. Both models share the same housing, scanner, display and battery. They differ only in connectivity: MC9400 works on Wi-Fi, while MC9450 adds a 5G modem, nano SIM and eSIM slots and GPS.

Key features

• SE58 scan engine with IntelliFocus technology and a green laser aimer: reads barcodes from in hand to more than 30 m away. Range depends on print quality, contrast and ambient light. The green aimer dot stays visible on the top rack levels, so the operator does not need to leave the forklift or drive up to the label.
• IP65 and IP68, 2.4 m drops to concrete across the full operating temperature range: you can hose the device down, and a typical drop from a forklift or loading dock does not take it out of service. It survives 3.65 m drops per MIL-STD-810H. The display and scanner window are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass.
• 7000 mAh hot-swappable battery: the battery is replaced without switching the device off or losing the session, so one device can work through consecutive shifts. PowerPrecision+ shows the health of each battery, making it easy to retire those that no longer hold a charge.
• Qualcomm 4490 (octa-core, 2.4 GHz), 6 GB RAM, 128 GB storage, microSD up to 2 TB: according to the manufacturer, 2.5 times the processing power of the MC9300, with headroom for several apps running at once. The device is Android Enterprise Recommended, and the manufacturer lists an upgrade path to Android 17.
• Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3: the device uses three Wi-Fi bands (including 6 GHz) and supports fast roaming between access points, which matters in large halls.
• 4.3" display that works with gloves and when wet: 600 nits brightness keeps the screen readable outdoors.
• Terminal emulation included: Ivanti All-Touch TE comes preinstalled and licensed, so legacy text-based apps (5250, VT) run from day one without backend changes.
• Full backward compatibility with MC9300 accessories: charging cradles and other accessories bought for the previous generation remain in use. MC9200 and older charging accessories connect through an adapter.

How to choose a variant

• Connectivity. MC9400 is enough when the device stays within the company Wi-Fi network. Choose MC9450 for large yards, ports and outdoor areas: the 5G modem (data only) works on public and private networks, and two SIMs (nano SIM and eSIM) let you use both at once, e.g. for connection redundancy.
• Scan engine. The extended-range SE58 is the choice when labels sit high on racks or scanning is done from a forklift. The alternative is the SE4770 with a red aimer.
• Keypad. Backlit keypads are available in alphanumeric (58 and 53 keys), terminal emulation 5250/VT (53), numeric/function (43 and 34) and numeric (29) layouts. The keypad is swapped on site, without sending the device to a service center, when the device is repurposed.
• Operating environment. The standard version operates from −20 to 50°C. The freezer version operates from −30°C and has a heated touch panel and scanner window that do not fog up when leaving the freezer, plus a 5000 mAh battery for low temperatures.
• Battery. Besides the standard battery, a 7000 mAh battery with a BLE beacon is available. Combined with a Device Tracker license, it lets you locate a device even when it is switched off or discharged. Worth considering for large fleets.