How is Panasonic’s Toughpad FZ-F1 Windows Phone a tough smartphone?
Panasonic launched their Toughpad FZ-F1 industrial Windows Phone in Australia. The rugged device is intended for the automobile, pharmaceuticals and the oil and gas industries, runs Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise and boasts 3-in-1 capabilities combining a mobile barcode reader, phone and tablet into one device with a long-lasting battery that provides up to eight hours of continuous use.
It is MIL-STD-810G rated, covering a broad range of environmental hazards, and also IP65 and IP67 with an all-weather sealed body, including seal covers for the ports. The design also accommodates for any drops, with a raised bezel around the screen, but still come in at a mere 277 grams.
The OS Windows 10 IoT Mobile Enterprise offers native support for barcode scanning and instantaneous application access. It also supports multiple user profiles and an advanced lockdown mode.
Panasonic says the Toughpad FZ-F1 is one of the thinnest and lightest smartphones in the 4.7-inch (1193mm) category and is intended for use in tough and high-risk work environments.
The Toughpad FZ-F1 has 3-in-1 capabilities combining a phone, tablet and mobile barcode reader into one device. The FZ-F1 also has a long-lasting battery that can provide up to eight hours of continuous operation, useful for long days in the field.
Under the hood, the Toughpad is running on a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, has dual SIM slots and is compatible with major mobile carrier networks providing 4G LTE/3G/GPRS/CDMA200 mobile broadband. The smartphone can also connect through WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, near-field communications (NFC) and Bluetooth.
On top of that, the FZ-F1 has an angled barcode reader that has been ergonomically designed to allow the user to scan items without bending at the elbow or wrist.
The Toughpad FZ-F1 wouldn’t be much use in industry without being fully rugged. The phone is durable to US military standard MIL-STD-810G, can handle high-pressure jet spray to IP66 levels, is submersible up to one metre for thirty minutes. Panasonic also says it subjected the FZ-F1 to over 2,000 consecutive one-metre drops to ensure the phone meets today’s ruggedness standards.
According to Marc Amelung, general manager of Mobile Solutions at Panasonic Australia, “It’s no surprise that the rugged mobile market is expected to continue its steady growth – Australian companies are realising consumer-grade products do not provide the necessary value or sophistication required to address business needs. This has resulted in thousands being lost in repair costs and days being lost each year in productivity.
The FZ-F1 will help to slash field failure rates, raise productivity and reduce work-based injuries thanks to its innovative design. Panasonic has a strong 20 year heritage in the Toughbook category and we will continue to adapt and serve businesses with the tailored solutions.”
The Windows-powered Toughpad FZ-F1 is priced from A$2799. Also you can compare the best prices if you wish to buy this phone online. Or buy directly from Panasonic store Australia.
