Panasonic Updates Toughpad FZ-G1 With More Power, Longer Battery Life

The 10.1-inch Toughpad FZ-G1 gets a more powerful Intel Core i5 processor, Windows 10, longer battery life and a waterproof digitizer pen.

The latest FZ-G1 includes a 10.1-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200 resolution) LED touch screen display that includes anti-reflective and anti-glare screen treatments, a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-6300U vPro processor with integrated Intel HD Graphics 520 capabilities, 8GB of DDR3L SDRAM memory and a 256GB solid state drive (SSD) with a built-in heater. An optional 512GB SSD drive is also available. An optional microSDXC card slot is also available for expansion storage cards up to 64GB.

The FZ-G1 now runs on the Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit operating system, replacing the Windows 8 of the previous version. The tablet includes an 8-megapixel main rear camera with autofocus and LED flash, as well as a 720p webcam with a built-in microphone.

Built-in Intel Dual Band WiFi and Bluetooth 4.1 connectivity are available in the Toughpad FZ-G1, while optional 4G LTE multi-carrier mobile broadband with satellite GPS are also available as options. The tablet is 10.6 inches tall, 7.4 inches wide, 0.8 inches thick and weighs 2.4 pounds with a standard battery or 3.0 pounds with an optional long-life battery.

The latest Toughpad FZ-G1 is another in a line of rugged devices built to take plenty of punishment in the workplace. The tablet is MIL-STD-810G certified to withstand drops from 4 feet onto concrete and is shock, vibration, rain, dust and temperature resistant. The device also meets IP65 certification with its sealed all-weather design. The machine is certified for use in hazardous locations.

The new tablet also features enterprise security features, including authentication protocols and encryption protocols such as Cisco Key Integrity Protocol (CKIP) and 128-bit and 64-bit WEP encryption. The device can also be equipped with an optional insertable SmartCard reader or with an optional contactless SmartCard and RFID reader.

The Toughpad FZ-G1 touch screen is designed to be usable by operators wearing gloves or having wet fingers. The device has seven tablet buttons, including two that can be customized and designated for specific tasks by users. Also included is a waterproof digitizer pen that can be used on the touch screen and stored in an integrated stylus holder on the tablet.

The new tablet also includes Realtek high-definition audio capabilities, an integrated speaker, a built-in microphone and on-screen and button volume and mute controls. Optional 1D /2D barcode readers can also be ordered by users for their devices.

Featured in the latest FZ-G1 is a 4,200mAh Li-Ion rechargeable battery, which is expected to provide about 14 hours of normal use. An optional long-life 9,300mAh battery that promises up to 28 hours of use is also available for people who use their devices in remote locations, including soldiers in any terrain.

Built to be portable, the tablets can be used by a wide variety of service workers, including utility company workers to read power meters. The tablet includes a 24-pin docking connector, an HDMI port, a USB 3.0 port and a headphone mini-jack, while an optional extra USB 2.0 port, an optional serial port dongle and an optional 10/100/1000 Ethernet port are also available.

The latest Toughpad also features a myriad of optional accessories to make it easier to use the device in a wide range of settings. There’s a desktop cradle (pictured) that holds the tablet for users, several models of in-vehicle mounting docks, a 3-bay battery charger and an in-vehicle power adapter.