The best laptops of 2023: Expert tested and reviewed

Tech specs: Operating system: Windows 11 Pro | CPU: Intel Core i5-1145G7 vPro, Core i7-1185G7 vPro | GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics, AMD Radeon Pro W6300M | RAM: 16GB, 32GB, 64GB | Storage: 512GB, 1TB, 2TB | Screen: 14-inch IPS FHD (1920 x 1080) touch, 1200 nits | Ports and slots: 2x USB-A (10Gbps), 1x Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps), 1x RJ-45 Ethernet (1Gbps), 1x MicroSD card slot, 1x HDMI, 1x port replicator connector, 1x quad pass-through antenna connector | Battery: 6500mAh | Weight: 7.4 pounds | Price: Starting from $4,899

Laptops often have to endure harsh conditions, including extreme sunlight, rain, dust storms, high temperatures, significant vibration, and drops from various heights onto different surfaces. With so many hazards to face, it’s no wonder that rugged laptops come in many forms, such as fully rugged, semi-rugged, business rugged, or extreme rugged. 

To evaluate the ruggedness of laptops and other equipment, two primary classifications are used: the US military’s MIL-STD 810 series (810G or the latest 810H), and the IP or Ingress Protection code. Most laptops only undergo a subset of the numerous MIL-STD 810 tests, so it’s essential to carefully review the specifications to see which ones are performed. The IP code features two numbers; the first indicates resistance to solids (5 indicates “dust-protected,” while 6 means a device is “dust-tight”), and the second refers to liquids (1 signifies “dripping water,” while 9K denotes “powerful high-temperature water jets”).

Our choice for the rugged laptop category is Panasonic’s 14-inch Toughbook 40, a fully modular device that can be customized to fit a wide range of challenging applications in industries such as the military, police, and utility companies. The Toughbook 40 has undergone MIL-STD 810H temperature, humidity, and vibration tests, and carries an IP66 rating, meaning it is extensively drop-tested from a height of 1.8 meters (6 feet).

Review: Panasonic Toughbook 40

Thanks to its modular design, there are multiple configuration options for the Toughbook 40. Besides the ability to replace the main battery, RAM, and SSD drives, four areas – left and right sides, rear, and palm-rest – can accept a variety of options. These options include a second SSD and a second battery, an optical drive, a smart card reader, various combinations of ports, and a fingerprint reader. If that’s not enough, a fully-featured desktop port replicator is also available, along with an ecosystem of accessories, such as a vehicle mount and a four-bay battery charger. Panasonic claims the Toughbook 40 will last for 18 hours on one battery and double that with two batteries installed. There’s even a one-touch Concealed Mode function that disables light and electronic transmissions, designed for military operations.

Top PC manufacturers such as Lenovo, HP, and Dell offer rugged laptops, and there are also several specialist vendors such as Getac, Xplore, and DT Research.