Panasonic has just added a new Android tablet to its TOUGHBOOK line of rugged mobile devices. The new Panasonic TOUGHBOOK A3 is a fully rugged tablet running Android 9.0 (Pie).
The tablet is designed for workers in the field, be it emergency services personnel, transport and logistics operators, or those working in warehouses. It provides enterprise features and reliability miles ahead of consumer tablets, making it ideal for use in all markets.
Panasonic TOUGHBOOK A3 specifications
The TOUGHBOOK A3 features a 10.1-inch WUXGA display with a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution. It is an outdoor-viewable panel with rain and glove touch functionality. The tablet comes with an insertable stylus. Panasonic promises a 10-point capacitive multi-touch and a maximum brightness of 800 nits.
The tablet runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 octa-core processor, paired with 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of expandable storage via an SD card. It comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.0, and NFC support. It sports an 8-megapixel rear camera with an LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera.
The Panasonic TOUGHBOOK A3 also features a docking connector, two nano-SIM slots, a USB Type-C port, a USB Type-A port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a loudspeaker, and a microphone.
There’s a configurable xPak area that can take in a 1D/2D barcode reader, a Smart Card reader, or a second USB Type-A port. The tablet can be further equipped with an optional LTE network card. It also supports the FirstNet network and Band 14 connectivity.
As for durability, this tablet features a MIL-STD-810 military-grade build and a 6-foot drop rating. It also comes with IP65 certification for dust and water resistance. Sensors onboard include ambient light, proximity, digital compass, gyro, and acceleration. Panasonic is also offering GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, QZSS positioning systems on this tablet.
Powering the whole package are two hot-swappable 3,200 mAh batteries capable of keeping the device running for up to nine hours on a single charge. The company is also offering dual extended life batteries. These 5,580 mAh batteries can further add around 15.5 hours of life to the tablet.
Panasonic has added five user-configurable buttons to the TOUGHBOOK A3. Users can set those buttons to do everything from launching an app to launching the camera or the barcode reader.
Panasonic’s Productivity+ takes care of the software side of things
In addition to the new rugged tablet, Panasonic has also announced its Productivity+ program. It is a suite of Android support solutions that include hardware, software, professional services, and Panasonic’s partners.
Productivity+ will provide software solutions for the TOUGHBOOK A3, and future similar offerings from the company. Be it Android OS updates, security updates, or additional optional accessories, Panasonic promises support through the entire life cycle of devices. The platform supports mobile deployments across industries.
As for the TOUGHBOOK A3, Panasonic is offering a 3-year standard warranty, labor, and parts. The tablet is now available to buy from the company’s retail partners. Pricing starts at $2,699 and varies depending on the configuration.