World Leader in Rugged Laptops & Tablets

Rugged is where TOUGHBOOK made its name. And it's where we remain the world leader today. So every aspect of a TOUGHBOOK is designed from the inside out to be rugged – rather than a standard product being converted to give the appearance of ruggedisation.

For example, all components in our devices are flexibly mounted for greater durability. The cabinets and chassis are designed with great torsional strength and we use gold-plated connectors in our products to avoid rusting. Even our AC adapters and USB connections are tested and specially made to deliver the ultimate rugged experience. 

Of course, there are also the certifications our products carry. Our devices achieve as high as IP68 ratings for water and dust resistance, and MIL-STD810H certifications for drops.

The screen technology found in TOUGHBOOK devices is a finely tuned combination of rugged capabilities and maximum user convenience. So, to withstand the bumps and bruises of working life, our screens are flexibly mounted in magnesium-alloy, rather than screwed rigidly to the cabinet, allowing them to absorb shocks far more readily than other PC notebooks and tablets.

The touchscreen technology found in our products also meets the twin challenges of premium utility and rugged durability. Panasonic capacitive screens are ideal for performing accurately and responsively in all conditions, while proprietary technology allows users to operate them even when wearing heavy industrial gloves. Signature-recognition technology adds to their in-field capabilities, while polished-down, outdoor readable screens make TOUGHBOOK easy to use outdoors, on the move.

Finally, where compromise needs to be found, the needs of the customer again come first. In some instances, for example, ultra-high brightness isn’t a critical requirement, whereas efficient power consumption is. So the saving we make in terms of screen brightness is balanced out in the device’s use of power.

It’s no surprise that battery technology is a key component of our specialist engineering. Panasonic is, after all, the world’s biggest battery manufacturer. So we’re better placed than anyone else to deliver the mobile battery technology that’s so critical to successful in-field performance.

Our devices feature long-life batteries, often with hot-swap and exchangeable/replaceable capabilities – some models also have an optional second battery. And unlike many competitors, we optimise our product design in line with the system reference design we receive from our chip/resistor manufacturing partners, to extend battery life.

When configuring our TOUGHBOOK devices, we can include almost everything a customer can think of. That includes all standard industry ports, as well as all legacy ports (True Serial, etc), and support for HDMI, VGA and full-size USB (Type C).

Basing our devices on a ‘modular’ concept, the additional levels of configuration we can deliver turn the products into vertically focused solutions, fit for very specific purposes. And certainly far from the inefficiency of non-specialist notebook PCs and tablets that demand unstable, unwieldy add-ons.

World-leading rugged design is nothing if you can’t stay connected to data, applications and business-critical systems. We are the only wireless mobile computer manufacturer that designs and produces its own antennae.

The embedded wireless functionality in every TOUGHBOOK is tested to the limit in Panasonic’s very own anechoic chamber – the largest in the world, and completely unique in the field of notebook and tablet manufacturing.

Using embedded, integrated wireless technology means we can eliminate external interference in communications, staying connected in the field in more extreme situations, for longer, at higher speeds.

You need the highest-performing device possible, in the most appropriate form factor. We’re specialists in finding that balance. In terms of thermal characteristics, for example, our products are finely tuned. In some instances, fanless design keeps weight and power consumption to a minimum, and rugged protection at its highest. In others, where a fan is necessary to ensure optimum performance, it is managed (rather than simply ‘on’ or ‘off) so that ruggedisation isn’t compromised.

The way heat is managed through our devices also ensures the best possible user experience. A ‘thermal vapour chamber’ transfers heat away from high-temperature modules to non-user-intensive areas, meaning the user never encounters hot spots when using the device.

Keeping weight to a minimum makes users’ working lives easier – especially when you might find yourself working with a TOUGHBOOK for eight hours or more in the field.

So every aspect of our products is designed to keep weight down. Injection molding of magnesium alloy allows us to create very detailed, complex but extremely light bodies; while careful structural analysis means we can bore holes into the devices to reduce overall weight without reducing ruggedness (an approach we share with the aircraft industry).