1Panasonic Toughpad Rugged Tablet Muscles into Android Space
2It Has the Typically Rugged Panasonic Design
The value in the Panasonic Toughpad line is delivered through its ruggedness. The Toughpad comes with a shock-resistant case that can be dropped at a height of 5 feet and keep running without a hitch. Panasonic also says its Toughpad FZ-A2 meets high standards for water and dust resistance. However, its rugged design also makes the Toughpad a little thick and, at 2 pounds, it’s not as light as the typical tablet.
3It Runs Android Marshmallow
4The Processor Is a Bit of a Surprise
5There’s a Hot-Swappable Battery
Panasonic’s Toughpad FZ-A2 offers a battery that can last nine hours on a single charge, the company says. Even better, the battery is hot-swappable, so customers can buy multiple batteries and switch them on the fly whenever the power runs out. It’s a feature not often found in a tablet, but critical to any enterprise application.
6This Toughpad Has Enterprise-Grade Security
Although the Toughpad is running an older version of Android, Panasonic has bundled several security features in the tablet. The tablet comes with full software encryption to lock down access to important files. In addition, users will find enterprise-grade security including a screen lock, verification boot and secure boot options. The Toughpad also is compatible with several mobile device management suites.
74G LTE Connectivity Is Optional
8There Are Plenty of Accessory Ports
9Storage Is a Disappointment
There’s no escaping it: The storage in the Toughpad FZ-A2 is a disappointment. The tablet ships with 32GB of storage with no other option. The only way to increase storage is by investing in an optional microSDHC card, but Panasonic’s tablet will only work with cards up to 32GB. In total, then, the Toughpad’s storage capacity maxes out at 64GB of storage.
10There Are Multiple Accessories to Choose
11This Rugged Tablet Isn’t Cheap
Since it’s an enterprise device, the Panasonic Toughpad is far more expensive than its consumer-focused counterparts. The device is available now for a starting price of $2,095 for the base model. Customers who want additional ports, more batteries and other features should expect to spend considerably more.