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We all want to have the most premium laptops available. While many options on the market hit the mark when it comes to portability, there are few choices for those looking for a genuinely durable laptop. Those who need a laptop that will survive extreme weather conditions or accidental high drops should go for a more rugged laptop. Such laptops are water, dust, and drop resistant. They can survive in scorching temperatures or a freezing winter storm. These laptops still offer the same features most modern laptops have, but they won’t have the most minimalist or modern designs. For these laptops to have the utmost durability, they need a thick, tough casing with durable bumpers. All of their ports will have to be sealed off if you want it to survive getting dropped into a body of water. Their keyboards are also built in a way where they can take on accidental spillage of liquids. Rugged laptops often come with a touchscreen display for a more user-friendly experience. We know seeing all the choices on the market can get confusing, but we’re here to let you know what the best rugged laptops you can get your hands on in 2022 are.
The Dell Latitude 14 7404 Rugged Extreme is undoubtedly one of the most life-proof laptops you can find. It features a 14-inch touchscreen LED display, and its touchscreen is fully functional, even if you’re wearing protective gloves. The display’s resolution is 1366 x 768 HD, and it has a resistive coating. You can expect an impressive performance from it because it has an Intel Core i7-4650U processor with a CPU speed of 1.7 GHz (3.3 GHz Turbo). The laptop uses an SSD, and you can pick between 128 GB, 256 GB, 512 GB, and 1 TB. Its RAM is only 4 GB, but you have the option to upgrade it to 8 GB or 16 GB. Its battery life isn’t as strong as other laptops; you only get 10 hours of usage per charge. This laptop is built to be extremely durable, so you can expect it to withstand extreme weather and high drops. The 7404 Rugged Extreme uses an Intel HD4400 Graphics Card, Intel Dual Band WLAN, and Triple RF Passthrough. You can connect other devices to it using its Bluetooth 4.0, and it has a contactless Smart Card reader. The laptop also has two USB 2.0 slots, two USB 3.0 slots, an HDMI port, and a stereo headphone/mic jack. Upon purchase, you also get a three-year DELL Next Business Day warranty.
Extremely durable designUpgradeable hardware
Bulky designBase model only comes with 4 GB RAM
The Dell Latitude 5414 Rugged is another fantastic option from Dell. It has a 14-inch Full HD display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080, and it features 802.11AC Dual-Band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. You get a 512 GB SSD, which is enough to store large files and heavy programs, and it has an 8 GB 2133 MHz DDR4 RAM. You can tell right off the bat that it has a durable design. It was built in a way that it can survive intense vibrations, drops, and shocks. It comes with IP52 water and dust resistance rating, so you can freely carry it when you’re by the ocean or swimming pool. The laptop packs a punch with its Intel Core 6th Generation i5-6300U processor, and it runs on Windows 10 Professional 64-bit. You can make video calls on this laptop since it has a webcam with a built-in microphone and privacy shutter. The design of the laptop might not be the most aesthetically pleasing, but it comes with a sealed RGB backlit keyboard. The Latitude 5414 Rugged has a micro-SIM slot, a VGA port, an HDMI port, a docking port, two USB 3.0 ports, one USB 3.0 port with PowerShare, two DB9 pin serial ports, two RJ45 connectors, and one jack for speakers, headphones, or mics.
Reasonable priceDurable designRGB backlit keyboard
Limited availability for new stock
If you have extra cash to spend and need a reliable and durable laptop for your job, you might want to check out the Getac B360. It’s a tough laptop with a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touch display. It comes with an Intel Core i5 10210U 1.6 GHz processor, 8 GB RAM, and 256 GB SSD storage. The laptop might have a smaller display than its competitors, but it gives users a better experience because of its Intel UHG graphics. Since it has an LED backlight display, you can expect it to look fantastic in bright or dark environments. The laptop also has an 8 MP webcam for better Zoom calls, and it even comes with an autofocus feature. You won’t have issues with your network signal because the laptop supports Wi-Fi 6. It also has Bluetooth 5.1, and it supports Ethernet connections. The B360 has an HDMI port, two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports, one USB 2.0 port, and a microphone/headphone combo jack. A unique feature this rugged laptop has is its dual, hot-swappable batteries. It allows you to quickly change its battery once its juice runs out without worrying whether or not you have a charger. Getac also offers customers a three-year warranty, which covers any accidental damages.
Sleek yet rugged designHigh-quality and bright display8GB RAM and 256GB SSDThree-year warrantyHot-swappable batteries
Touchpad is smallSome say its keyboard can get wobblyExpensive
The Panasonic Toughbook CF-33 undoubtedly stands out because of its two-in-one design. You can use it as a standard, rugged laptop or a heavy-duty tablet. It features a 12-inch WUXGA 1200-nit multi-touch display that has a digitizer. Its CPU is an Intel Core i5-10310U vPro processor with a speed of 2.6 GHz. It comes with 8 GB RAM and its 256 GB SSD is enough for you to bring your files on the go. The laptop has a 10-hour battery life, but you can quickly renew its juice thanks to its hot-swappable twin batteries. When it’s time to charge, it will take approximately 3 hours for it to reach 100%. The CF-33 comes with an HDMI port, a USB-C port, a USB-A port, an audio in/out, a docking connector, and an ethernet port. It even supports a Nano-SIM and eSIM for those who want quick access to text messaging. If you’re in a remote location and have to hop on a video call, you will love its 1080p webcam with a dual-array mic and privacy cover. It even has an 8 MP rear camera with autofocus and LED flash since it’s also a tablet. Customers receive a 3-year limited warranty upon purchase.
Laptop and tablet hybridHigh-quality displayHot-swappable twin batteriesHas a 1080p webcam and 8MP rear camera
ExpensiveSmall trackpadHeavy
The Panasonic Toughbook 55 comes with some pretty top-notch specs, but it’s not quite as durable a laptop as others. Despite this, it’s MIL-STD and IP53 certified. The laptop has a 14-inch FHD touch display, and it’s equipped with an Intel Core i5-1145G7 vPro processor. Its initial battery life is 19 hours, but you can get up to 38 hours if you hot-swap with an optional second battery. Its 8 GB of RAM guarantee fantastic speeds, and you get 512 GB SSD storage. The laptop has an integrated tetra-array microphone that works great with its 1080p webcam and built-in 92 db speakers. The Toughbook 55’s display supports a stylus pen, and you can use it with gloves. The laptop comes with an HDMI 2.0 port, a USB-C Thunderbolt 4 port, two USB-A ports, an ethernet port, an audio in/out, and dual SIM support. If you plan to use the laptop for long hours at night, you can use its handy Night Mode, which helps preserve night vision and decrease eye strain. Customers get the Toughbook 55 preloaded with Windows 10 Pro and a three-year limited warranty with the purchase.
Swappable batteries and components14-inch FHD touch display1080p webcam with tetra-array microphoneNight Mode
ExpensiveSmall touchpad
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