Panasonic unveils Toughbook G2 modular rugged PC

Panasonic today launched the Toughbook G2 Rugged Modular PC.

The 2-in-1 Tablet PC can function as a standalone tablet or clamshell laptop when inserted into the optional keyboard dock. There are eight programmable buttons on the tablet itself for quickly launching shortcuts and applications.

Its 10.1-inch, anti-glare display sports 1920 x 1200 resolution and the glove supports multitouch. Its 1,000 nits peak brightness allows it to work in direct sunlight.

Panasonic Toughbook G2 in convertible mode.

The Panasonic ToughBook G2 can function as a standalone tablet or slot in an optional keyboard.

The Toughbook G2 brings a huge leap in performance compared to the first generation. Internally, it has an Intel Core i7-10810U vPro processor, up to 32GB of memory, and up to 1TB of NVME storage.

Designed for industrial and harsh climates, the Toughbook G2 meets MIL-STD-810 specifications. Its chassis, constructed using magnesium alloy and ABS plastic, can withstand a drop of up to 5 feet. The IP65 rating means it will operate in moist and sandy environments, and its wide temperature and altitude tolerances ensure it doesn't suffocate during expeditions. Its rigor lends itself well to emergency services, production and logistics, and field research purposes.

The Toughbook G2 also stands out with its modularity. Users can swap out its battery and storage, or work on additional sensors like a barcode reader or infrared camera. A modular approach gives it the flexibility to adapt to the needs of the customer.

The swappable battery is also a big plus. This ensures minimum downtime when working away from outlets. Each battery lasts up to 18.5 hours, but this depends on several factors so actual mileage may vary.

Toughbook G2. a look at

There are "block" module bays on the rear of the tablet.

Additionally, the ability to swap out the SSD eliminates the need for a protruding external hard drive when the internal storage is full. For extreme cold weather, the Toughbook G2 has an SSD drive heater that keeps it running.

The tablet has a USB-C port, a USB-A port, an Ethernet port, and a nano-SIM slot. The keyboard dock offers an additional USB-C port and a USB-A port. Apart from the nano-SIM slot, the tablet also supports an internal eSIM. Cellular support includes 4G LTE with satellite GPS.

The tablet is backwards compatible with the previous generation keyboard dock so that enterprise customers can reuse their existing hardware.

The Panasonic ToughBook G2 is available now through Panasonic partners or through the company's main site.