TWINSBURG, Ohio, Aug. 11, 2026 — Wireless networking via 5G enables industrial companies to achieve fast communication, reliable data transmission and flexible processes. Pepperl+Fuchs, a trusted provider of enterprise mobility solutions, has added a 5G device certified specifically for use in Zone 2/22 and Division 2 to its Smart-Ex smartphone portfolio: the Smart-Ex 203.
The Smart-Ex 203 supports and advances digitalization and is future-ready, thanks to Android Enterprise Recommended and ARCore certification, as well as continuous and long-term security updates through March 2032.
With its focus on 4G and 5G connectivity, the explosionproof Smart-Ex 203 supports the use of campus networks. The 6.3-inch smartphone provides mobile workers with long-lasting support for all AR applications or digital processes. Its design and certification for Zone 2/22 and Division 2 makes the device a perfect addition to Pepperl+Fuchs’ current portfolio.
The Smart-Ex 203 offers a range of proven features designed to simplify mobile work and communication in harsh, demanding industrial environments. A fingerprint sensor unlocks the phone without entering a code, enabling biometrically supported multi-factor authentication for maximum security. “Glove Mode” increases the touch screen’s sensitivity, allowing the device to be operated accurately even while wearing gloves, helping to improve both efficiency and safety in the workplace. Another practical feature is “Double-Tap,” which allows users to lock the smartphone by simply double-tapping the home screen. This eliminates the need to locate the side power button, making the device easier to operate while wearing gloves. The feature also provides added convenience for both left- and right-handed users.
What's more, the Smart-Ex 203 is equipped with the innovative “Smart Call Handling” feature, which enables intuitive call management through simple hand gestures. Users can answer an incoming call by simply raising the device to their ear, reject a call by shaking the device and mute an active call by tilting it. These gesture-based controls make call handling faster, more convenient and easier to use in demanding work environments.
Additional features include: a rear camera with 48 megapixels; an autofocus and an LED flash; as well as a front camera with a resolution of 16 megapixels. The LED can also be conveniently used as a flashlight. The Smart-Ex 203 can be used to take not only high-quality pictures but also videos in full HD resolution. Accessories include a scanner module that transforms the Smart-Ex 203 into a convenient 1-D/2-D barcode scanner.
Highlights of the Smart-Ex 203:
- Addition to the globally certified Smart-Ex series, specially designed for use in Zone 2/22 and Div. 2
- Industrial-grade 5G smartphone supports 52 frequency bands
- Future-oriented solution due to guaranteed updates up to Android 18 and security patches until March 2032
- Innovative features such as the accessory interface and the “Smart Call Handling” function enhance the proven user interface
- Coupling with the SM-Ex S203 SR scanner module via the new accessory interface makes the Smart-Ex 203 a convenient 1-D/2-D barcode scanner
About Pepperl+Fuchs
Pepperl+Fuchs is a global leader in the design, manufacture and support of a broad range of rugged solutions for varied process automation markets and applications for hazardous locations. A perennial Control and Control Design Reader’s Choice Award winner for intrinsic safety equipment and purge and pressurization systems, Pepperl+Fuchs has also been named by Control magazine and the ARC Advisory Group as one of the Top 50 Global Automation Companies.