OS Windows 11 (Pro), Windows 10 (Pro) | CPU Core i3-7130U, Core i5-8350U, Core i7-8650U | GPU Intel HD 620 Graphics | RAM 8GB, 16GB, 32GB | Storage 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | Screen 14in. WVA, 1920 x 1080 (non-touch, non-touch/outdoor-readable, touch/outdoor-readable) | Wireless Bluetooth 4.2, 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5), 4G LTE (option) | Ports and slots 3x USB 3.0, USB-C, RS-232 serial, RJ-45 Ethernet, HDMI, SD card slot, SIM slot, SmartCard reader (option) | Cameras FHD web or IR camera with privacy shutter (option) | Audio 2 mics, speaker, 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jack | Battery 51Wh, optional 2nd 51Wh hot-swap battery | Dimensions 347mm x 244mm x 32.8mm (ex. bumpers and handle) | Weight from 2.22kg (1 battery, no handle)
Laptops must often brave the elements, which can include bright sunshine, rain, a dust storm, baking heat, serious vibration, and drops from a variety of heights onto different surfaces. No wonder that “rugged” laptops come in many shades — extreme or fully rugged, semi or business rugged, for example. Two main classifications are used to assess the ruggedness of laptops and other equipment: the US military’s MIL-STD 810 series (commonly 810G, or the latest 810H); and the IP or Ingress Protection code.
There are numerous MIL-STD 810 tests, and most laptops will only undergo a subset, so check the specs carefully to see which they are. The IP code reports two numbers, the first concerning resistance to solids (5 denotes ‘dust protected’, for example, while 6 means a device is ‘dust tight’) and the second to liquids (1 = ‘dripping water’, 9K = ‘powerful high-temperature water jets’).
Our choice in this tough-laptop category, Dell’s 14-inch Latitude 5420 Rugged Business Laptop, isn’t the most bulletproof portable computer on the market by any means, but it offers a good mix of price, performance, features and robustness for business users. Like all rugged laptops, the Latitude 5420 is bulkier and heavier than mainstream devices, thanks to extra protection for the screen and keyboard sections. Still, it weighs a reasonable (for its class) 2.22kg with one battery and no (optional) handle. You can specify a second hot-swappable 51Wh battery to ensure greater longevity in the field.
The 14-inch FHD screen comes in touch, non-touch and outdoor-readable versions, and there’s plenty of configurable wired and wireless connectivity, including Ethernet and (optional) 4G LTE broadband. If you need a portable computer that can take a few knocks, this is an excellent choice that’s already available with Windows 11.
Pros:
- Military-grade build
- LTE connectivity option
- Hot-swappable battery available
- Touch and outdoor-readable screen options
Cons:
- Expensive
- No integrated handle
- Very heavy
Read the review: Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged review
Dell has the widest range of rugged laptops among the top-tier laptop-makers, but there are a number of specialist vendors, including Getac, Xplore, DT Research and Panasonic. The latter’s Toughbooks are probably the best-known specialist brand. Here are some notable examples:
- Panasonic Toughbook G2 (10.1-inch)
- Panasonic Toughbook 33 (12-inch)
- Panasonic Toughbook 55 HD (14-inch)
Read more: The best rugged laptops
Article source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/best-windows-laptop/#ftag=RSSbaffb68