Difference between MIL-STD-810H and 810G military grade

Since May of 2021, Blackview has started to upgrade its rugged smartphones' military grade certified from MIL-STD-810G to 810H. The upgrade indicates Blackview's pursuit of tougher rugged phones for its fans. But do you really understand What MIL-STD-810H (also named MIL-SPEC-810H) is? And what's the difference between it and the 810G? If you are curious about the answers, too, keep reading.

In this piece, we’ll analyze MIL-STD-810H by splitting it into two segments—'MIL-STD' and '810H'—and explain their meanings. Furthermore, we’ll discuss how the 810H standard differs from its predecessor, 810D. So, without further ado, let's dive in.

What is MIL-STD (or MIL-SPEC)?

MIL-STD is the acronym for military standard, which in the U.S., is imposed by the Department of Defense (DoD). The standard was originally introduced to help private contractors to be successful in the bids offered by the DoD department, which develops and obtains a large amount of products or services through those contractors.

The standard provides contractors with clear expectations regarding their deliverables and the specific requirements their products must meet to qualify for bids. Consequently, it’s no surprise that military-standard-certified products are typically designed to endure harsh environmental conditions. This process, known as environmental stress testing, aims to "enhance durability and resistance to wear, stress, and abuse," as defined by Merriam-Webster.

Although the standard is first used for military purposes, nowadays, many technology manufactures such as rugged phone providers like Blackview use it to demonstrate their products are durable and strong enough to withstand harsh conditions. When you read about a MIL-STD-certified computer, this just means that it meets some sort of military standard, such as MIL-STD 810. Here comes another new question——what is MIL-STD 810? Keep reading to find out.

What is MIL-STD-810H?

There are many types of military standard and MIL-STD-810 is one of them. MIL-STD-810, known as “Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests”, sketches out the testing and design requirements of products used by the military to demonstrate the products can withstand environmental stress incidents in its life cycle.

MIL-STD-810 has been written on paper for over 1,000 pages in length and mainly consists of three parts: Environmental Engineering Program Guidelines, Laboratory Test Methods and Wold Climatic Regions. The second part, the Laboratory Test Method is the one which manufacturers are concerned with the most. That's because the Test Method determines the worthiness and durability of a product and the cost to produce it. The Test Method comprises 29 tests, including Low Pressure (Altitude), High Temperature, Low Temperature, etc.

Over time, MIL-STD 810 has been revised multiple times, with each iteration labeled alphabetically (MIL-STD 810A, 810B, 810C, and so on). These updates aim to improve the standard by fixing deficiencies. Currently, the most commonly referenced versions are MIL-STD-810G and the newest, MIL-STD-810H. That's why Blackview updated its ruggedized devices from 810G to 810H to ensure its users get a more durable and rugged phone at a budget price.

What's the Difference between MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-810H

MIL-STD-810H, the latest revision of MIL-STD-810, includes abundant changes from its precursor, 810G. Here is a 1,089-page document of 810H grade, and you can find all the changes inside. When viewing this lengthy document, you can do the following to make your search for changes easier:

1. Find “Part Two-Laboratory Test Methods” which begins on page 500.6-1

2. In this part, you would notice there are many thin black lines in the left-hand margins of the document. On the right of those lines are the changes from its previous predecessor, 810G.

However, it is significant to note that mechanical shock has undergone considerable changes and hence it doesn't have line revision indicators.

Below is a brief description:

1. Release Date and Background

MIL-STD-810G was released in 2008 as an update to the 810F standard. It introduced more refined testing methods but still followed a somewhat generalized approach.

MIL-STD-810H, released in 2019, is the latest revision (as of 2024). It emphasizes real-world conditions more rigorously and aligns better with modern military and commercial device requirements.

2. Key Differences in Testing Approach

MIL-STD-810G focused on lab-simulated environments with fixed test conditions. While effective, it sometimes lacked real-world applicability.

MIL-STD-810H introduces a "Mission Profile" concept, where tests are tailored to the device's expected operational environment. This makes certifications more meaningful for specific use cases.

3. Updated and New Test Methods

MIL-STD-810H includes several revised and new test methods compared to 810G:

• Improved Shock Testing (Method 516.8) – Now includes pyrotechnic shock simulations.
• Enhanced Vibration Testing (Method 514.8) – Better simulates transportation and battlefield conditions.
• New Sand & Dust Testing (Method 510.8) – More stringent particle size and airflow requirements.
• Updated Temperature & Altitude Testing – Now accounts for rapid temperature transitions.

4. Stricter Documentation & Reporting

MIL-STD-810H requires more detailed documentation, including:

• Clear justification for test conditions.
• Better traceability of test results.
• Explicit pass/fail criteria tied to mission profiles.

5. Industry Impact

While MIL-STD-810G is still widely referenced, MIL-STD-810H is becoming the new benchmark for rugged devices. Manufacturers of military gear, industrial equipment, and even consumer electronics (like rugged smartphones) are increasingly adopting 810H for its precision.

The new MIL-STD-810H standard concentrates on more rigorous requirements for durability and endurance of a product. The 810H standard indicates the environmental tailoring process that results in realistic material designs and test methods depending on material system performance requirements. It assesses the device's performance when exposed to a life cycle of environmental strains.

If a device is military 810H certified, it should, in theory, be rugged and tough enough to survive heat, humidity, cold, vibration, shock, and more. For those who work on a building site or constantly dropping their phones, or love outdoor adventure, they may want to consider a MIL-STD-810H certified phone, like the Blackview N6000 mini rugged phone, Blackview BV7300 night vision phone, and Blackview BL9000 Pro thermal camera phone.

The upgrade is good news for Blackview fans who are fond of Blackview's toughness phones for their superb ruggedness. This also explains why Blackview can continue to grow its fan base among toughness phone lovers who just can't resist a toughness phone brand that manufactures phones based on the latest and highest standard of ruggedness. This will not be the last upgrade, as our effort to make the most toughness smartphones will never end.

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