There is something that always comes to mind when Panasonic news come our way, and I mention it quite often as well… Panasonic is definitely not the first brand that comes to mind when you think of smartphones, tablets or anything of the sort. This comes to mind every time because it is true, I think of Panasonic when other tech gadgets are in question, like cameras or TVs, but not smartphones. This Japan-based company is still trying to make it in the mobile world though, they’ve released a couple of smartphones in India in the last couple of months, like Eluga I, Eluga S, P55, etc. It seems like the company wants to push as many devices as possible in India in order to lure in as many consumers as possible. This is not a bad tactic as long as they can get the price right.
Anyhow, the company has announced yet another device for the Indian market, though this time it’s not a smartphone, but a tablet. Panasonic Toughpad FZ-B2 is a rugged, durable Android tablet which ships with display anti-glare for reading under the sunlight. This thing is water and dust proof (IP65 certification) and has the MIL-STD-810G design (drop, shock, vibration, rain dust, sand, altitude, freeze, high/low temperature, humidity, explosive atmosphere) for long-lasting durability. This tablet features a 7-inch 1280 x 800 display along with 2GB of DDR3 RAM and 32GB of internal memory (expandable via microSD card up to 64GB). This thing is powered by Intel’s Celeron N2930 processor clocked at 1.83GHz. 5-megapixel camera is located on its back and flanked by an LED flash, while there’s a 720p capable shooter available up front. This tablet ships with 3,220mAh battery and it offers 3G HSPA+ connectivity. Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1, Satellite GPS and micro HDMI are all part of this package. Android 4.4.4 KitKat comes pre-installed and the aforementioned battery is replaceable.
“With our commitment towards providing greater value to our consumers, we have been successful in setting new benchmarks the Indian markets. The 7 inch Android rugged tablet with tough performance, connectivity, long battery life and advanced technology is perfect work companion for all business professionals. This new device will add to our existing family of rugged Panasonic Tough devices,” said Toru Hasegawa, Divisional Managing Director of Solutions Division at Panasonic India.
The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-B2 is priced at Rs. 75,000 in India, which is around $1,207. Expensive? Yeah it is, but this tablet is meant to be different and offer something extra, it is built for a specific type of customers and that is why it offers satellite GPS and all the durability features. I still think this is way too expensive, but that’s just me. Your thoughts?
