Panasonic's rugged new Toughbook 55 is a modular laptop built for hard work

What you need to know

  • Panasonic expanded its Toughbook line with the new Toughbook 55 today.
  • This is the first Toughbook to sport USB-C connectivity.
  • The rugged Toughbook 55 is available from resellers today starting at $2,100.

Panasonic has made a name for itself by supplying rugged laptops in its Toughbook line, and it's expanding the series further today with the new Toughbook 55. The laptop is built to survive rough worksites with a unique modular design, and this is the first Toughbook to sport USB-C, Bluetooth 5, and HDMI 2.0 connectivity.

The Toughbook 55's modular design means that expansion ports offer easy access to the main storage drive and the optional second storage drive through quick-release connections. The RAM and keyboard are als both ungradeable components so users can change them out as necessary. Adding to the Toughbook 55's customizability is the ability to add expansion ports that bring extra IO ports, dedicated graphics, and a fingerprint reader.

Inside the Toughbook 55, you'll find Intel's 8th Gen quad-core i5 and i7 vPro processors, optional AMD discrete graphics, and up to 2TB of storage and 64GB of RAM. The laptop also comes with tetra-array microphones for voice recognition, an optional 1000 nit touchscreen, and compatibility with existing Toughbook 54 vehicle mounts. Panasonic is also touting all-day battery life.

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CategoryPanasonic Toughbook 55
Operating SystemWindows 10 Pro
Display14" HD (1366 x 768) or FHD (1920 x 1080) 1000 nit touch
ProcessorUp to Intel Core i7-8665U vPro
GraphicsOptional AMD Radeon Pro WX 4150
MemoryUp to 64GB
StorageUp to 2TB M.2 SSD
Front Camera1080p webcam
Windows Hello IR camera
SecurityWindows Hello, webcam privacy cover, TPM 2.0, NIST BIOS compliant, Kensington cable lock slot
Optional locking screws for expansion packs, optional fingerprint reader, optional SmartCard CAC readers, Optional contactless SmartCard CAC reader
ConnectivityWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), optional 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5
PortsDocking connector, 2x USB-A 3.1 Gen 1 (optional 3rd USB-A), USB-C 3.1 Gen 1. MicroSDXC, HDMI, optional VGA, 1Gbps Ethernet, audio in/out, optional serial, nano-SIM
AudioIntegrated dual speakers
BatteryUp to 20 hours (up to 40 hours with optional hot-swappable second battery)
Water ResistanceIP53
DurabilityMIL-STD-810H certified, spill-resistant keyboard, magnesium-alloy case with carry handle, ASTM D4169-16 certified
Optical driveOptional Blu-ray drive (expansion pack), optional DVD drive (expansion pack)

The Panasonic Toughbook 55 is available starting today from Panasonic resellers starting at $2,100.

Dan Thorp-Lancaster

Dan Thorp-Lancaster is the former Editor-in-Chief of Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central, Android Central, and iMore as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl