Panasonic Toughbook CF-52 review

A reassuringly well-built laptop that is suited to outdoor business use

  • £1200

MusicRadar Verdict

Sturdy but not completely safeguarded in all conditions, this is nevertheless a well-built laptop

Pros

  • +

    Robust design. Decent performance. Good battery life

Cons

  • -

    Basic feature set

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The Panasonic Toughbook range is best known for its fully-ruggedised industrial laptops. However, the CF-52 (£1551 inc. VAT) takes a slightly different approach.

Its semi-rugged casing can be used on building sites and site maintenance, but won't offer the same degree of protection as some more specialised laptops.

The main difference is a lack of bulk and, while the ports have rubber stoppers to protect from dust and water, this isn't a sealed unit. You'll find exposed elements, such as the optical drive and SD card reader lacking protection.

The design is simple and looks like a standard issue briefcase. The body is made from magnesium-alloy and is incredibly sturdy.

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