Hands On with Panasonic's Toughpad Phone
Feb 22, 2016, 12:14 PM by Rich Brome @richbrome
Panasonic has a new rugged smartphone for field workers. It's big, tough, and scans barcodes like a champ. It's not for consumers, but if your company has a warehouse or delivery people, this phone is tailor-made for those employees. We checked it out. Read on for more info on what makes these phones special.
There are two reasons the Toughpad probably isn't for you. First, it costs in the neighborhood of $1500. Second, it has a really massive hump on the back. This isn't going in your pocket, probably not even your cargo pants. But again, this phone is for people who need to scan a lot of barcodes, which is what the big hump is all about.
The new Toughpad FZs come in two base versions: the FZ-N1 with Android, and the FZ-F1 with Windows 10. Otherwise, they are the same.
The big hump does barcode scanning, using lasers, lights, and a special imager. There's also a regular camera and flash in the same hump area. Part of the reason it's so big is that the scanner is mounted at an angle, for better ergonomics. The user can hold the phone naturally with the screen pointed at their face, while also clearly seeing what they're aiming at to scan. It's a good setup for people who do a lot of scanning.
These Toughpads are also rugged and waterproof, and have insanely bright screens for use outdoors. The screen also works with gloves and when wet. There are also a couple of stylus options for workers that need to collect a lot of signatures.
There are a number of other accessories, such as a hand grip strap and several charging dock options.
There's also an extended battery option. The standard battery is 3,200 mAh; the extended model is double that, clocking in at a whopping 6,400 mAh.
$1500 is a lot of money for a phone. Fortunately, it includes a three-year warranty and free overnight repair service if anything goes wrong.
About the author, Rich Brome:Editor in Chief Rich became fascinated with cell phones in 1999, creating mobile web sites for phones with tiny black-and-white displays and obsessing over new phone models. Realizing a need for better info about phones, he started Phone Scoop in 2001, and has been helming the site ever since. Rich has spent two decades researching and covering every detail of the phone industry, traveling the world to tour factories, interview CEOs, and get every last spec and photo Phone Scoop readers have come to expect. As an industry veteran, Rich is a respected voice on phone technology of the past, present, and future.
Samsung Refreshes Galaxy S Series with S Pen, New Cameras
Samsung Galaxy XCover6 Pro is Rugged, Ready for Business
Sonim XP5plus Emulates Traditional Two-Way Radios
Apple Watch Goes Ultra
Samsung Brings Galaxy XCover6 Pro to US Businesses
Comments
No messages
