Wayne
Thompson

Why Panasonic rugged devices can be the best choice for mobile workers

Wayne Thompson

Oct 11, 2022

7 min read

What are rugged devices?

Rugged gadgets are pieces of hardware that are specifically engineered to withstand the toughest environmental conditions. Rugged gadgets are built to be tough, dust-proof, shockproof, and waterproof. They feature a long battery life and strong exterior cases that protect them if they are dropped or endure physical damage. Rugged devices are in high demand in the business environment because of its rigidity and other benefits over consumer-grade electronics. Thus, it is well suited for industrial applications.

Global Rugged Devices Market to Reach US$8. 6 Billion by the Year 2027. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Rugged Devices estimated at US$5. 8 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$8 Billion.

– Source ReportLinker

Another similar study shows that the rugged handheld device market is expected to grow by $1.85 bn during 2022-2026.

Rugged device management tool kit

Managing rugged devices is by no means a walk in the park. We’ve put together this rugged device management toolkit to help your company adopt the right rugged device management strategy.

Click here to download the resource

Panasonic rugged devices: The market leader

Panasonic’s TOUGHBOOK line has dominated the rugged device market for over 25 years. The Panasonic TOUGHBOOK model has transformed the way several industries operate, significantly altering how they provide value to their consumers. Panasonic claims that their rugged devices are widely utilized by law enforcement agencies, defense installations, paramilitary forces, supply chain industry, the aviation sector, automakers, construction industry and manufacturing enterprises. Several units have also been assigned to emergency services such as the fire department and the health services.

Rugged laptop being used by military forces
Rugged laptop being used by military forces
 

Panasonic assists you in customizing your TOUGHBOOK solution to your specific brand and business demands. You can expect increased staff efficiency and productivity, as well as a streamlined and flawless device rollout from their specialized project managers.

Panasonic’s TOUGHBOOK

Panasonic provides maintenance and services throughout the lifespan of their devices to enhance employee efficiency and productivity.

TOUGHBOOK Panasonic ProServices include:

  • Pre-deployment advising
  • Engineering design and field engineering skills
  • Deployment services
  • Warranties and maintenance services
  • Hard drive replacement
  • End-of-life disposal

TOUGHBOOK Laptop

TOUGHBOOK 40

Panasonic introduced the TOUGHBOOK 40, a 14-inch completely rugged modular laptop with increased screen brightness and a color-selectable backlit keyboard. The new TOUGHBOOK 40 is dubbed the “Ultimate TOUGHBOOK” because of its magnesium alloy chassis and hefty 3.37 kg weight.

Why should you consider?

  • The TOUGHBOOK 40 can run for 18 hours on a single battery and quadruple that time with two batteries.
  • Unrivaled customization is provided by an innovative modular design and user-removable expansion packs (xPAKs).
  • The tough notebook is powered by 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 vPro CPUs, 16GB of RAM (expandable up to 64GB), and 512GB of quick-release SSD storage (2TB max).
  • User upgrades are available for optical discs, authentication readers, IO ports, and even the Barcode Reader xPAK.
  • Fully tough all-weather MIL-STD-810H & IP66 magnesium alloy design
  • The industry’s fastest cellular —up to 2GBps 4G modem or 5.5Gbps 5G modem adds Class-leading 95db Sub6, C-band, and mmWave speakers
  • 5MP infrared webcam with privacy cover, and tetra-array microphones.

TOUGHBOOK 2 in 1s

If you are unsure whether to buy a laptop or a tablet, the Panasonic 2-in-1 gadget set might help. The TOUGHBOOK G2 and TOUGHBOOK 33 are two popular versions.

TOUGHBOOK G2

G2 is a revolutionary modular fully-rugged tablet 2-in-1 with an optional keyboard that includes three expansion regions and 36 potential combinations to provide the best computing experience. Its 2-in-1 design maintains backward compatibility with most docks, allowing customers to update technology while retaining current mounting gear.

Why should you consider?

  • Unique design with three expansion places, including a new quick-release SSD
  • Biometric user authentication is possible using an infrared camera and Windows Hello.
  • Battery life of 18.5 hours and optional battery hot swap for continuous use
  • 5G with Sub-6 and mmWave (EM9190) or 4G LTE are available as options (EM7511)
  • It has MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G, IP65, optional class 1 div 2 groups ABCD hazardous places certification
  • Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1, 4G LTE (EM7511 Band 14), Full 5G Sub-6 and mmWave (EM9190), GPS (optional).

TOUGHBOOK 33

The Panasonic TOUGHBOOK 33 was the first fully-tough 2-in-1 of its type, redefining rugged versatility for individuals who operate in harsh environments. TOUGHBOOK 33 has a revolutionary 3:2 display that makes it easy to use.

Why should you consider?

  • It comes with an extra keyboard and a 12″ tablet that may be readily converted to a laptop.
  • Display with a 3:2 aspect ratio for improved handling and viewing of business apps
  • Long-life battery, quick-release SSD, rubber keyboard, CAC SmartCard, barcode, fingerprint, and other features are available as options.
  • Backward compatibility of vehicle dock generation
  • FirstNet ReadyTM EM7511 Band 14 mobile broadband is available as an option.
  • It has MIL-STD-810G, MIL-STD-461F, IP65, and optional class 1 div 2 groups ABCD hazardous sites certification.

TOUGHBOOK Handhelds

Panasonic’s market-leading collection of rugged handheld tablets is made to resist the most extreme conditions. TOUGHBOOK rugged handhelds are compact, lightweight, and ergonomically designed to boost productivity. One of the most significant advantages of a TOUGHBOOK handheld is that it eliminates the need for several devices in the office.

TOUGHBOOK N1

The Panasonic TOUGHBOOK N1 is a powerful, small, and completely robust portable computer. It’s the all-in-one tool you’ve been looking for, and it’s perfect for wherever your job takes you each day. TOUGHBOOK N1 comes with the Android operating system, allowing you to create in an open environment with hundreds of enterprise-grade applications at your disposal.

Why should you consider?

  • AndroidTM 11 (R) 4.7″ Fully Rugged Handheld – Qualcomm® SDM660-2 64bit 2.2GHzx4+1.8GHzx4 Octa-Core with 4GB/64GB RAM/Flash
  • Wi-Fi, optional 4G LTE WWAN with GPS – Dual Nano SIM, Bluetooth® with Low Energy, NFC, and a 1280×720 500 NIT 10-point touch screen.
  • MIL-STD-810, drop of 7′. Dust and water resistance IP66 and IP68, NIAP and FIPS 140-2 security certification
  • Depending on user profile, 12-hours (19-hour long life battery); 8-hour rated (or 16-hour long life) constant data consumption. Warm-swap battery that may be replaced by the user
  • USB 2.0, front and rear-facing cameras, and a barcode reader are all USB 2.0, and front and rear-facing cameras, and a barcode reader are all standards.
  • It can handle AT&T Enhanced Push-to-Talk (EPTT) and communicate with other EPTT handsets as well as LMR devices.
  • It is also capable of withstanding a 7-foot drop.

Why do enterprises need rugged devices with integrated endpoint management systems?

Cybercrime has expanded to the point which requires every managed device to be tracked and guarded. If the hardware solution is designed specifically for high-intensity use, it may improve your device’s security, lifespan, and manageability in the long term. Major UEM players have already built partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This provides businesses with robust phones, tablets, and laptops that already have endpoint management systems preloaded. Without being physically present, UEM can provide the IT staff with access to an abundance of endpoint information, ranging from device health and statistics to each of the apps loaded on it.

OEMConfig using UEM

OEMConfig is a standard device management feature for configuring OEM-specific settings on Android Enterprise-enrolled devices. It is an OEM-created application that has been released on the Managed Google Play Store. OEMConfig applications employ managed configurations to customize numerous OEM-supplied device functionalities. TOUGHBOOK OEMConfig app aids in the expansion of Panasonic device management and configuration capabilities. The Hexnode UEM portal allows you to access these OEM-specific capabilities. For their devices, several OEMs support unique, OEM-specific settings. You may adjust these settings on any managed Android device that has the OEMConfig software loaded with Hexnode UEM.

Conclusion

Many firms require timely and dependable data access. So, it’s no surprise that rugged devices are becoming increasingly popular. Panasonic rugged devices was launched more than 25 years ago and they have been dominating the market ever since. When it comes to mobility, they have always stood at the leading edge of the industry. These gadgets are recognized to play a significant role in ensuring continuous connectivity. The most obvious advantage of Panasonic rugged devices are their durability. While TOUGHBOOK devices demand a greater initial investment than typical commercial-grade goods, their total cost of ownership is cheaper over time.

Share
Wayne Thompson

Product Evangelist @ Hexnode. Busy doing what looks like fun to me and work to others.

Share your thoughts