Skip to main content

Panasonic’s new ToughBook 20 2-in-1 is a hardy little 10 incher

As increasingly portable as modern electronics have become, they haven’t exactly kept pace in terms of ruggedness. Glass backs and touch screens don’t always survive being dropped on rocks or other hard surfaces, so if you want to stay connected whilst in the middle of nowhere, you probably want something a little tougher. Like a ToughBook.

Panasonic has produced its new ToughBook 20, a hardy 10-inch, 2-in-1 laptop/tablet combo. And it sounds like the right tool for the job.

Recommended Videos

As well as being compact and portable, the ToughBook 20 is dustproof, water-resistant (IP65), and its 1080P 10.1 inch touchscreen works when you’re wearing gloves, so if you’re somewhere cold you can continue to use it as a tablet without risking frostbite.

It also has a built-in handle and kick-stand, a rotatable hand strap, and a specialized magnesium-alloy chassis with ABS and elastomer edges, making it an incredibly tough package that would survive more than a little scuff here and there.

OS choice is limited to Windows 10, though users can downgrade to Windows 7 professional if they prefer.

Related: 10 rugged cases to shield your pricey iPhone from dirt, dings, and drops

Internally, the ToughBook 20 packs an Intel Core m5-6Y57 CPU (with a TDP of just 4.5w), 8GB of SDRAM running at 1,600MHz and a 128GB SSD. The storage options, as well as the secondary — optional — drive, also come with a built-in heater to warm them up should the entire system be too cold to boot properly.

The keyboard is backlit for use in darkened conditions, though the touchscreen can also operate with an on-screen keyboard. Although there is a 1080p webcam as standard, buyers can also add in an extra 8MP rear-facing camera for showing surroundings that bit easier.

For those who really like to get about, there are optional extras like GPS and 4G LTE support, as well as additional functionality in the form of SmartCard, magstripe and barcode readers. And if you’re worried about security, there’s also a fingerprint scanner that can be added as an extra.

Pricing starts at $3,100 according to Liliputing, with availability expected to begin in February 2016.

Jon Martindale
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jon Martindale is a freelance evergreen writer and occasional section coordinator, covering how to guides, best-of lists, and…
Dell sale: Up to $400 off monitors, desktop PCs, laptops, and more
Alienware Aurora R16 sitting on a coffee table.

Dell is always an excellent source of monitor deals, desktop computer deals, and laptop deals, especially if you're able to take advantage of the savings from Dell sales -- just like the one that's happening right now. Feel free to take a look at everything that's available through the link below, but you can also check out our favorite offers that we've rounded up. Either way, we highly recommend hurrying with your purchase -- these limited-time deals will only last until May 25, but there's a chance that stocks for the more popular devices will sell out long before then.

Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC -- $2,450 $2,850 14% off

Read more
I tested Gemini Advanced, ChatGPT, and Copilot Pro. Here’s which AI searched best
ChatGPT logo on a phone

With AI chatbots now built into search engines, browsers, and even your desktop, it's easy to assume they all do the same thing. But when it comes to getting useful search results, some outperform the rest.

I wanted to test Gemini Advanced, ChatGPT, and Copilot Pro head-to-head to see which one helps you get answers faster and more accurately. These are the paid versions, all promising live web access, smarter context, and fewer hallucinations.

Read more
Need a Copilot+ laptop? The Dell XPS 13 is $400 off right now
Dell XPS 13 9345 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

The Dell XPS 13 (9345) is a device that's designed for Microsoft's powerful AI assistant, and you can currently buy it with a $400 discount from Dell itself. From its original price of $1,560, it's down to just $1,160, but the offer may expire at any moment. If you're interested in taking advantage of this offer, we highly recommend doing so right now because there's high demand for laptop deals like this one -- tomorrow may already be too late to access the savings.

Why you should buy the Dell XPS 13 (9345) laptop

Read more