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.
| Category | Panasonic Toughbook 55 |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Windows 10 Pro |
| Display | 14" HD (1366 x 768) or FHD (1920 x 1080) 1000 nit touch |
| Processor | Up to Intel Core i7-8665U vPro |
| Graphics | Optional AMD Radeon Pro WX 4150 |
| Memory | Up to 64GB |
| Storage | Up to 2TB M.2 SSD |
| Front Camera | 1080p webcam Windows Hello IR camera |
| Security | Windows 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 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), optional 4G LTE, Bluetooth 5 |
| Ports | Docking 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 |
| Audio | Integrated dual speakers |
| Battery | Up to 20 hours (up to 40 hours with optional hot-swappable second battery) |
| Water Resistance | IP53 |
| Durability | MIL-STD-810H certified, spill-resistant keyboard, magnesium-alloy case with carry handle, ASTM D4169-16 certified |
| Optical drive | Optional 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 is the Editor in Chief for Windows Central. He began working with Windows Central as a news writer in 2014 and is obsessed with tech of all sorts. You can follow Dan on Twitter @DthorpL and Instagram @heyitsdtl. Got a hot tip? Send it to daniel.thorp-lancaster@futurenet.com.
