Frequently Asked Questions

A hot-swappable battery lets users swap one of the two batteries (2nd battery is optional) in the unit without needing to shut down or suspend the laptop first. Both batteries are identical and can go in either the left or right battery slot.

There is a barcode trigger button located on the xPAK’s. The default setting for the trigger button is that the laser stays on for 8 seconds or until a barcode is scanned. This allows a user to hold a driver’s license and press the trigger button using the same hand for easy one-handed operation.

Essential for businesses and agencies, it allows remote management for IT departments and adds security, including Intel® Hardware Shield.

The TOUGHBOOK 55 has powerful 92db speakers so users can hear it even in loud environments. This is critical for rugged users who work in various situations, such as on a busy highway (around 85db) or inside a police vehicle with sirens on (85db to the lower 90’s).

The TOUGHBOOK 55 uses artificial intelligence (AI) combined with its dual array microphones for class-leading background noise cancellation and speech recognition accuracy in both quiet and noisy environments. Compared to the previous TOUGHBOOK 54, the TOUGHBOOK 55 offers up to 3x the accuracy in noisy environments.

The combination of an infrared (IR) webcam on TOUGHBOOK 55 and Windows Hello allows customers to use 3D facial recognition or fingerprint scanning (on units equipped with a fingerprint reader) for user authentication.

There is no theoretical maximum. Up to 99 has been tested. Each user will need to set their own account, but multiple users can set up their own account.

The TOUGHBOOK 55 has a color-selectable backlit keyboard, letting users select from four preset colors and define their own custom colors. Users can easily toggle between four colors with the mk3. Standard since the mk2, there is an onscreen notification system that displays the keyboard brightness (four levels in addition to off).

Day/Night Mode is Panasonic’s application that can apply a screen effect to reduce night blindness, eye strain, and neural stimulation by applying one of 12 screen effects (colors, inversion, grayscale, blue light reduction), keyboard color, and brightness. Concealed Mode is a Panasonic application that can dim or turn off the display, turn off keyboard LEDs, and mute the volume.

Panasonic does not recommend using it in the rain and instead offers a fully rugged lineup of products that are better suited for rain for maximum protection. However, the TOUGHBOOK 55 is IP53 certified to provide extra water protection compared to models that are only IP51 or IP52.

No, the TOUGHBOOK 55 has a flat bottom on all configurations. This was an area of improvement from the TOUGHBOOK 54, which required a bump out in certain configurations.

Yes, both can read/write. As part of Windows, Microsoft includes software to play and burn media. Special read-only versions can be requested at the time of purchase of a TOUGHBOOK 55 and will require a different SKU.