Panasonic releases Toughpad FZ-Q2 ruggedized Windows tablet

In a world of fragile mobile devices, rugged tablets can be a refreshing breath of air for field professionals and others needing something that can take a beating. Panasonic has long catered to this market with their Toughpad series of ruggedized tablets and will continue to do so with the new FZ-Q2.

The rugged Windows device packs an Intel Core m5-6Y57 (1.1 GHz base / 2.4 GHz boost), 8 GB of RAM, and up to 256 GB of serviceable SSD storage. The 12.5” 1920 x 1080 touchscreen can get fairly bright at 350 nits and has an anti-reflective coating to help with outdoor use. The device also comes with a tethered waterproof stylus for fine touch input. Connectivity is good for a tablet and includes:

• Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 8260
• Bluetooth 4.1
• 4G LTE mobile broadband with satellite GPS support
• SmartCard reader
• microSD card reader
• One USB 3.0 Type-A port
• 3.5 mm headphone jack

Powering everything is a replaceable 4740 mAh battery that Panasonic estimates will net 9 hours of use. The Toughbook can dock with a separate backlit keyboard that Panasonic sells separately.

While it is heavy for a tablet at 2.3 lbs, the extra heft translates into a more rugged chassis. The Toughbook FZ-Q2 also features MIL-STD-810G certification and an IP5x fanless waterproof rating. Essentially, this means the Toughbook is able to survive harsh conditions and drops that would normally destroy other tablets. 

The Toughbook is available through Panasonic’s retail partners found on their website.

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