Panasonic’s briefcase-style modular Toughbook 40 comes to India, but it’s not for everyone

Panasonic's Toughbook 40 brings modularity functionality to the fully rugged laptop segment.

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Panasonic has over 20 years of experience in building rugged notebooks. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Panasonic has a new laptop to offer, but it’s a little different from the notebooks that are on the market. And you might not want it unless you are from the military, police, or working in a warehouse.

Its new Toughbook 40 – also known as the “ultimate Toughbook” brings modularity functionality to the fully rugged laptop segment. With a starting price of Rs 3.75 lakh, Panasonic’s Toughbook 40 costs a lot more than many pro-laptops on the market. The company, however, says the price is justified for a notebook that caters to specific niche requirements and is a fully rugged, modern Windows 11 PC.

“Businesses would want that the investment they’re doing in technology should be future-ready. And hence, the modularity works better, compared to regular commercial uses,” Vijay Wadhawan, Director, System Solutions Division, Panasonic India, explains why a modular and highly configurable design works for a fully rugged 14-inch Toughbook 40 machine.

Made using a magnesium alloy chassis and carrying a massive 3.37 kg weight, the new Toughbook 40 boasts of IP66 rating for dust/water resistance, MIL-STD-810H temperature, humidity and vibration testing, and 1.8m drop tests. “It may look heavy to some, but the functional requirements supersede the inconvenience that it brings,” Wadhawan tells indianexpress.com.

From the outside, the Toughbook 40 looks like any other Toughbook Panasonic has launched over the years. It has a familiar design, a briefcase-like carrying handle, and lots of ports. Its thickness and size come in at 2.1-inches (53.3mm). That’s almost five MacBook Air stacked on top of each other.

The Panasonic Toughbook 40 is different from an average business notebook. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

That size, however, works in favour of the Toughbook 40 if you include the modularity part. Panasonic says the notebook takes advantage of something called xPAK modular technology, giving consumers the ability to swap out the main battery, RAM and SSD drives. There are four areas- left and right sides, rear and palm-rest – that house swappable expansion abilities like adding a Smart Card Reader, DVD drive, or barcode reader. Customers can also repair or replace the battery, memory, storage, and keyboard with a simple screwdriver. The company claims the Toughbook 40 can last 18 hours on one battery and double with two batteries.

Also read | Why the appeal of Apple’s iPhone X is timeless

The rugged notebook runs on 11th-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 vPro processors with 16GB of RAM (64GB max) and 512GB of quick-release SSD storage (2TB max). Graphics are integrated (Intel UHD or Iris Xe Graphics) and the display is an FHD touch screen with glove mode and up to 1200 nits brightness. You will also find a 5MP Full HD webcam with Windows Hello IR and a privacy shutter.

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Built for the extreme conditions, the Toughbook 40 is the most toughest PC on the market. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)

Wadhawan says after New York Police Department (NYPD), the Maharashtra police uses 3800 Panasonic rugged devices, making it the second-largest emergency services customer for the Japanese company. Panasonic has a customer base across the pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and automotive utility space in India. The rugged devices market is estimated to be between 220 to 250 crores, with Panasonic commanding over 60 per cent of the market share. Panasonic offers a range of rugged and semi-rugged devices, including tablets.

Anuj Bhatia

Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle. Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include: Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech. Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups. Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech. Authoritativeness & Trust Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape. Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More

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