With the discharge of its newest Toughbook, Panasonic has taken the problem out of getting to decide on between a rugged pill or a rugged laptop computer. Whereas the corporate’s Toughbook A3 rugged pill runs Android, the Toughbook G2 is a flexible 2-in-1 that runs Windows 10 however will likely be upgradable to Windows 11 when the subsequent model of Microsoft’s working system releases this 12 months.
Though Android might be less complicated to make use of, discipline staff usually depend on Windows to entry and run legacy software program wanted to do their jobs. One other upside to the Toughbook G2 is the addition of an optionally available keyboard dock that transforms the pill right into a laptop computer whereas including additional USB ports. Panasonic has additionally designed its new keyboard dock in such a method that the pill’s audio system and customizable buttons stay accessible.
The Toughbook G2 is the predecessor to 2 gadgets: the Toughbook 20 launched in 2013 and the Toughbook G1 launched in 2016. Organizations that beforehand used both of the 2 gadgets are in luck because the Toughbook G2 is backwards-compatible with equipment from each of them together with automobile docks.
One other fascinating addition to the Toughbook G2 is that it makes use of the identical modular design first launched with the Toughbook 55. With Panasonic’s xPAK enlargement modules, customers can add extra performance to the G2. With only a Phillips head screwdriver, you possibly can swap out any of the 4 detachable modules however we’ll cowl that in additional element beneath.
Pricing and availability
The Panasonic Toughbook G2 is obtainable from Panasonic beginning at $2,999 for the bottom model. It’s price noting that this worth is for the pill itself whereas the keyboard dock will price a further $595. These inquisitive about shopping for the Toughbook G2 might want to contact the corporate’s gross sales division although the machine can also be accessible by way of Panasonic’s community of approved reseller companions. 
Design
At its essence, the Toughbook G2 is a rugged Windows pill that weighs 2.9lbs (1.3kg) and has a ten.1-inch touchscreen with 1,000 nits of brightness. The display screen, which has been handled with an anti-reflective coating, additionally helps gloved multi contact and its digitizer can be utilized with the hooked up stylus.
Along with the display screen, the entrance of the pill options two front-facing audio system, a 1080p webcam with a privateness cowl and a complete of eight bodily buttons. Whereas three are customizable, the others embody quantity controls, a Windows button, a button to toggle auto rotate on or off and an influence button.
The bottom of the Toughbook G2 has a 24-pin docking connector whereas the charging port might be discovered on the left facet of the pill. The best facet of the pill accommodates a USB-C port that will also be used for charging, a Sort-A USB 3.0 port and an Ethernet port. The entire ports on each the pill and keyboard dock are coated to guard them from water, mud and different supplies that may be encountered whereas out within the discipline.
Whenever you flip the Toughbook G2 over, you’ll see the pill’s fan together with the hooked up stylus. Our assessment unit wasn't a completed machine and that is why you possibly can see all the modules on the again so simply. The battery and onerous drive can each be swapped out and quite a lot of totally different xPAK modules might be put in within the prime enlargement space, the rear enlargement space and the SSD enlargement space.
The optionally available keyboard dock provides an additional USB-C port on the left facet in addition to an additional USB 3.0 port on the correct facet. It additionally contains its personal charging port so you possibly can cost the pill whereas docked because the pill’s charging port is blocked when inserted into the dock.
The backlit keyboard has a full set of perform keys and there are arrow keys on the underside proper of the keyboard. A small trackpad with bodily left and proper click on buttons is housed beneath the keyboard. Lastly, the keyboard dock additionally provides a deal with which must be absolutely prolonged when utilizing the pill in laptop computer mode because the pill itself is heavier than the dock.
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Spec Sheet
Listed below are the total specs of the Panasonic Toughbook G2:
CPU: Intel Core 95-10310U vPro
GPU: Intel UHD
RAM: 16GB DDR$
Storage: 512GB OPAL NVMe SSD
Display screen measurement: 10.1-inch
Decision: 1900 x 1200
Ports: USB 3.0 x 1, USB-C x 1, Ethernet, Twin SIM, (Pill) USB 3.0 x 1, USB-C x 1 (Keyboard)
Connectivity: Intel AX201, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.1
Weight: 2.9lbs / 1.3kg (pill) 4.9lbs / 2.2kg (with keyboard)
Dimensions: 279x188x23.5mm
Rear digital camera: 8MP
Entrance digital camera: 1080p Webcam
OS: Windows 10
Battery: 6300mAh
The Toughbook G2 is powered by a tenth Gen Intel Core Processor (Quad Core) with Intel vPro expertise. Clients can select between an i5 or i7 processor when configuring their machine and whereas the bottom model options 16GB of DDR4 RAM, this may truly be doubled to 32GB. By way of storage, the Toughbook G2 might be outfitted with both a 512GB or 1TB quick-release OPAL NVMEe SSD. The pill’s SSD can also be accessible in each a Commonplace and a Fast launch mannequin with the latter being best for information delicate sectors comparable to emergency companies, police forces and protection.
The Toughbook G2 can run for 18.5 hours on a single cost because of its giant 6,300mAh battery that takes three hours to cost. Nonetheless, Panasonic additionally sells an optionally available bridge battery that may be swapped out with out the necessity to recharge the machine. The included AC adapter is sort of lengthy at round 11ft however organizations utilizing a number of Toughbook G2 gadgets can go for a Panasonic 4-bay Battery Charger so that they at all times have charged batteries for the machine readily available.
By way of connectivity, the Toughbook G2 options an Intel AX201 that features Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. In the meantime, the addition of eSIM and 4G permits first responders and different cell staff to remain related whereas out within the discipline.
Efficiency and in use
Benchmarks
That is how the Panasonic Toughbook G2 carried out in our suite of benchmark exams:
Geekbench: 1027 Single Core, 3704 Multi Core
Crystal Disk Mark: 2317.44 Mbps (Learn), 1502.34 Mbps (Write)
Cinebench: 1197 (Multi Core), 1052 (Single Core)
Novabench: 1587 factors
CPU-Z: 2362.3 (Multi) 468 Single
AA SSD: 1911.82 Mbps (Learn), 713.11 Mbps (Write)
WEI: 8.0
Throughout our time testing out the Toughbook G2, the machine began up shortly and was simple to arrange and configure. The bodily buttons on the entrance of the pill reminded us plenty of the Toughbook A3 however the addition of a Windows button and an auto rotate toggle button made utilizing Windows 10 simpler in pill mode. The touchscreen is sort of responsive and the hooked up stylus, which additionally options two buttons, can be utilized for signatures, taking notes and more.
With the keyboard dock hooked up, the Toughbook G2 transforms right into a rugged laptop computer with a carrying deal with. Whereas the keyboard was simple to make use of regardless of being compact and keys themselves have a pleasant journey to them, the non-clicking touchpad wasn’t practically as spectacular. Though the trackpad wasn’t as exact as the type you discover on enterprise laptops, the bodily left and proper click on keys are a pleasant contact.
Together with the pill and keyboard dock, Panasonic additionally despatched over three xPAKs for us to check out.
The Toughbook G2 we examined got here with an Ethernet xPAK pre-installed however with only a Phillips head screwdriver, we have been in a position to swap it out and check out the corporate’s thermal digital camera, contactless sensible card and barcode reader xPAKs. There's additionally a USB-A and True Serial Dongle xPAK accessible.
The competitors
Discovering a rugged pill that runs Windows and might be reworked right into a rugged laptop computer with a keyboard dock isn't any small order. Fortunately there are a number of different choices to select from although they lack most of the distinctive options of the Toughbook G2.
The Dell Latitude 7220 Rugged Extreme Tablet additionally runs Windows, has customizable buttons on its entrance and might be became a laptop computer by attaching a keyboard cowl. Whereas the Toughbook G2’s keyboard dock makes use of a 24 pin connector and locks into place, the Latitude 7220’s keyboard cowl which prices $349 connects magnetically and doesn’t embody any extra ports. The machine is supplied with an older eighth Gen Intel CPU and makes use of slower DDR3 RAM versus DDR4.
One other Panasonic machine price contemplating is the Toughbook 33. It’s the corporate’s first full-rugged 2-in-1 and includes a bigger 12-inch display screen. Whereas the Toughbook 33 additionally has hot-swappable batteries, the machine can’t be prolonged with extra performance because it isn’t modular. Similar to with the Toughbook G2, the Toughbook 33’s keyboard dock doesn’t improve the pill’s battery life.
Closing verdict
The Panasonic Toughbook G2 supplies the most effective options of a rugged pill with the extra performance of a rugged laptop computer. The optionally available keyboard dock might be shortly hooked up and indifferent and fortunately Panasonic has included help for automobile mounts and different equipment from the Toughbook 20 and Toughbook G1. The 4-bay battery charger additionally makes this machine an amazing selection for organizations which have a number of Toughbook G2 gadgets because it solely takes a minute to swap in a brand new battery.
The additional USB-C and USB 3.0 ports within the keyboard dock are a pleasant addition and we appreciated how the deal with is used to hold the machine in addition to maintain it from falling over when utilized in laptop computer mode. Nonetheless although, we want the trackpad was a bit more correct so we didn’t must depend on the touchscreen or stylus.
The Panasonic Toughbook G2 is a worthy successor to each of its predecessors and organizations which have used Toughbook gadgets prior to now will possible need to improve for the extra performance provided by way of Panasonic’s xPAK enlargement modules.
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