Panasonic Combines Popular Windows Rugged Laptop, Tablet with Toughbook G2
The Toughbook G2 will replace Panasonic’s two 10-inch display models, the G1 and CF 20.
July 23, 2021
![Panasonic Toughbook G2 feature Panasonic Toughbook G2 feature](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/blt6d5830d096653354/65244c45c8fd335bdab8553d/Panasonic-Toughbook-G2-feature.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
Panasonic
The display is a WUXGA 1920 ×1200, capacitive-gloved multi-touch that includes a digitizer, direct bonding and has anti-reflective (AR) screen treatment.
Processor options include 10th Gen Intel Core i5 and i7 CPUs with vPro, configurable with 16GB or 32GB of RAM and either 512 GB or 1 TB SSD storage.
It weighs 2.9 pounds when used as a tablet and 4.9 pounds when the optional keyboard is attached.
The optional detachable keyboard lets partners sell the G2 as a tablet or a 2-in-1 laptop. The keyboard locks into the device and is designed not to fall out.
The bottom of the device supports three xPAKs, which allow users to swap in and out various peripherals including serial ports, thermal camera, barcode readers, contactless smartcard interfaces and quick-release SSD, among other accessories and options.
Panasonic touts the G2’s suitability for extreme environments based on its MIL-STD-810H2, MIL-STD-461G, IP65 certifications. Built with a magnesium alloy chassis, it is encased with ABS and elastomer edges, a built-in, dual purpose handle and kickstand (included with optional keyboard), quick-release storage drive, removable battery, optional rotating hand strap, reinforced locking port covers, raised bezel for LCD impact protection and a replaceable screen protector.
The main device includes USB-C, USB-A, 1 Gbps RJ-45 Ethernet and dual SIM (1 nano-SIM 4FF and 1 eSIM). The optional keyboard includes a 24-pin docking connector, USB-C and USB-A ports. Additional ports are available on cradle back and desktop dock xPAKs.
Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, dual high-gain antenna pass-through with optional 4G LTE-A, multicarrier with satellite GPS and choice of AT&T, FirstNet, Verizon – CBRS Band 4. Second carrier can be added to the eSIM port.
Panasonic claims the Toughbook G2 battery is rated at 18.5 hours of use and it has a hot-swapping bridging option.
Panasonic claims the Toughbook G2 battery is rated at 18.5 hours of use and it has a hot-swapping bridging option.
Panasonic has combined two of its popular 10-inch ruggedized mobile PCs into one with its new Toughbook G2 2-in-1 laptop. The new Windows-based Toughbook G2, launched Wednesday and now available, replaces Panasonic’s Toughbook G1 and Toughbook 20 portable PCs.
Panasonic designed the ruggedized Toughbooks for the harshest of environments. Extreme temperatures, exposure to water, dust and other elements — you name it. You can even drop them. Typically, field service, utility, transportation, construction, manufacturing and public safety workers are best-suited for ruggedized systems.
While the Toughbook G1 is Panasonic’s best-selling ruggedized Windows PC, the company introduced it in 2013, and didn’t include a keyboard. The Toughbook CF 20, released in 2015, includes a keyboard but is a lower-end computing device. At the time, the CF 20 replaced the CF 19, which was the company’s best-selling Windows systems for EMS environments.
Brandon Williams is the director of Panasonic’s U.S. mobility channel.
Panasonic’s Brandon Williams
“The CF 20 never really did catch on quite the same way as the CF 19 did,” Williams told Channel Futures. “But with the improvements that we have with the G2, it’s going to be a really important product for customers and for our resellers that are selling into EMS and health care environments.”
Claes Adler, a VP with Rugged Depot, said that the CF 20 is appealing because of the keyboard. But he told Channel Futures that the CF 20 lacks the performance of the G1.
“The CF 20 has a low voltage processor, made for cloud and internet activities, so it didn’t have a lot of performance behind it,” Adler said.
More Modular
The most notable difference between the G1 and G2 is that the latter supports Panasonic’s removable expansion packs (xPAKs). Panasonic introduced xPAKs two years ago with the launch of its semi-rugged Toughbook 55. Panasonic said the new G2 has three expansion areas, allowing for up to 36 different xPAK combinations. That makes options such as seral ports, thermal cameras, barcode readers and docks, among other add-ons, interchangeable.
Rugged Depot’s Adler emphasized that’s important to customers who might want to add those and other peripherals in the future. You have to embed those peripherals on the older G1 and CF 20.
“Now with the G2, you just buy this little piece and click it on,” Adler said.
For a breakdown of Panasonic’s new Toughbook G2, check out our slideshow above.
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