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Panasonic Releases Upgraded Toughbook 20

A new optional magstripe reader will add a much-requested feature to the Toughbook 20’s toolset. For law enforcement officers, this allows for a quick, in-field reading of driver’s licenses, making their work safer and faster than ever before.

February 9, 2018
3 min to read


Panasonic, an industry leading manufacturer of rugged and semi-rugged mobile computing solutions, has announced the U.S. launch of the latest version of its popular 2-in-1 detachable laptop, the Toughbook 20.

Now equipped with a refreshed processor – the Intel Core i5-7Y57 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.3 GHz, the fully rugged Toughbook 20 laptop is more capable than ever before. And with a 256GB SSD standard on all models – and an option to expand to 512GB – users can store more data and access it with the speed they need.

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“When we introduced the Toughbook 20, we knew it would redefine what people expect from a fully-rugged device. Mobile, powerful and flexible, this was a device that truly reflected how our customers want to work,” said Brian Rowley, VP of marketing and product management, Panasonic System Communications Company of North America. “Now, with a refreshed processor and even more impressive features, we are excited to show our new and existing customers how the Toughbook 20 will continue to make their jobs simpler and more efficient.”

The revised Toughbook 20 comes standard with Windows 10 Pro, however, Panasonic will continue to offer Windows 7 Professional as an option on models with the Intel Core m5- 6Y57 processor for customers who have not yet made the transition to Windows 10. This ensures compatibility with existing deployments while helping customers plan for a smoother transition to Windows 10.

The improved Toughbook 20 supports an optional second battery that can be inserted into the keyboard to double battery life. Additionally, Toughbook 20 now comes standard with a “bridge battery,” making it possible to hot-swap charged batteries, effectively providing unlimited battery life without the need to shut down or hibernate for our most demanding users.

Toughbook 20 now makes standard several premium features to ensure that customers have the device they need to get the job done. With a growing number of users relying on stylus inputs for signature capture, every Toughbook 20 model is now equipped with not just a touchscreen, but an integrated digitizer as well. Additionally, Toughbook 20 now comes with an infrared webcam and supports Windows Hello applications. Users will enjoy a rear-facing 8MP camera, now standard on all Toughbook 20 models. The Toughbook 20 will also come standard with twice the storage space, using a 256GB SSD drive.

Lastly, a new optional magstripe reader will add a much-requested feature to the Toughbook 20’s toolset. For law enforcement officers, this allows for a quick, in-field reading of driver’s licenses, making their work safer and faster than ever before.

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Toughbook 20 is ready out-of-the-box to connect to Panasonic’s P.180 connectivity service – a seamless end-to-end platform designed for organizations that rely on connectivity to get work done. Using eSIM technology, Toughbook 20 users can enjoy access to Tier 1 LTE connectivity through networks spanning over 180 countries with pricing predictability and no roaming fees.

Every Toughbook comes with a 3-year warranty covering hardware failures for systems used as designed and a 7-year spare parts guarantee, with an average turnaround time of 48 hours once the device is received at the Panasonic National Service Center. Additional upgraded services are available, including Extended Product Warranty (4th/5th year), Protection Plus (Accidental Damage Warranty), and HDD/SSD Warranty.

The latest Toughbook 20 is available from authorized Panasonic resellers at an estimated street price starting around $3,099.

Sales inquiries for Panasonic Toughbook mobile computers and tablets should be directed to  sales.psc@us.panasonic.com  or 877-803-8492.

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