Best rugged laptops of 2021: Top drop-resistant laptops for outdoors or WFH

(Image credit: Future)

PRICE

VERDICT

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

VERDICT

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

Look no further than the best rugged laptops

of 2021 if you are looking for durability and power in one device. Although most laptops are not designed to withstand extreme temperatures, dust, water, drops and knocks, these laptops were designed for that purpose only. There may be plenty of lighter or thinner laptops out there, none will hold up like they will.

It doesn't matter if you're just a little clumsy, a writer on the go looking for the p>

best laptops for writers

, or work on a hectic job site, one of the best rugged laptops here will work for you. They've been put through all sorts of tests so you can be sure they'll stand up to any abuse.

With the

dell laptops

Heading the load, here are our top picks of the best rugged laptops that tout power and durability. Looking for a rugged laptop for your kids, be sure to check out our

best laptops for kids

listing. Meanwhile, those looking for a featherweight option, some of the

best chromebooks

are also robust.

Check out our

best 2-in-1 laptops

chooses whether you want a laptop and a tablet in one device.

Want your business or services considered for this buying guide? Please email your request to desire.athow@futurenet.com with the buying guide URL in the subject line.

We also featured:

the

The best rugged tablets

The best rugged hard drives

Best Rugged Laptops of 2021

Check out our full list of

best laptops

.

Image credit: Dell

1. Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme

The best rugged laptop

Specifications

CPU:

Intel Core i3-6100U

Graphics:

Intel Graphics 520

RAM:

4GB

Screen:

14-inch 1366 x 768

Storage:

128GB SSD

Connectivity:

WiFi, Bluetooth, optional GPS, LTE

Weight:

3.9kg

Dimensions:

356 x 246 x 52mm

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Reasons to buy

+

Very robust design

+

Can configure hardware

Reasons to avoid

-

Only 4 GB of RAM in base model

-

Big and heavy

If you're looking for a laptop that can handle anything the planet throws at it, you'll want to get your hands on the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme – it's all in the name. It's a little old at this point, but that almost doesn't matter. It's still a well-designed rugged laptop that meets military standard requirements. It features a hard magnesium alloy casing, shock absorbing casing, is IP65 certified against dust, sand and water - it can even withstand extreme temperatures. Like the rest of Dell's catalog, you can configure the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme however you see fit - or however you can afford.

This product is only available in the US and UK at the time of writing this article. . Australian readers: Check out a great alternative in the Panasonic Toughbook CF-33

Image credit: Dell

2. Dell Latitude 14 Rugged

A fantastic rugged laptop from Dell

Specifications

CPU:

Intel Core i5-6300U Processor

Graphics:

AMD Radeon R7 M360

RAM:

8GB

Screen:

14 inch 1920x1080

Storage:

128GB SSD

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, LTE, Ethernet< /p>

Weight:

1.9kg

Dimensions:

347 x 243 x 44.4mm

BEST DEALS OF THE DAY< /p>

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$975

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☆

☆

☆

☆

☆

Reasons to buy

+

Wearing

+

Good price

Reasons to avoid

-

Low capacity hard drive

-

Lack of ports

Dell is a household name when it comes to the best laptops, but it's still making the best rugged laptops right now. For example, the Dell Latitude 14 Rugged is a rugged laptop that combines a hard outer shell with fast components powerful enough for the class, including a 6th Gen Intel Core processor and dedicated AMD Radeon graphics. Even the screen is decent, with a matte finish that makes it comfortable to use outdoors - probably where it'll be used the most. It's the less "extreme" version of our number one pick, but it's still one of the best rugged laptops on the market right now.

This product is only available in the US and UK at this time. writing. Australian readers: Check out a great alternative in the Panasonic Toughbook CF-33

Image credit: Panasonic

3.Panasonic Toughbook CF-33

Rugged 2-in-1 laptop

Specifications

CPU:

Intel Core i5-7300U Processor< /p>

Graphics:

Intel HD Graphics 620

RAM:

8GB

Can your laptop do this? @henrytcasey of @laptopmag visited @Dell's Rugged Lab and put rugged devices to the test… https://t.co/1UtkEdbmDe

— Rosie Izzi Mon Tue 18 14:53:30 +0000 2019

Screen:

Storage:

256GB SSD

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, LTE, Ethernet

Weight:

2.76kg

Dimensions:

313.0 x 288.4 x 46.1mm

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Reasons to buy

+

2-in-1 design

+< /p>

Fantastic screen

Reasons to avoid

-

heavy

-

Expensive

If you want one of the best 2-in-1 laptops, but don't want something that feels like it's going to snap in half at the first chance, the Panasonic Toughbook CF-33 is for you. This 2-in-1 has flexibility that most rugged laptops simply don't have. If you need something easy to carry around while you do inventories and take notes, the tablet mode will do wonders. Then, if you need to type some documents, you can attach the keyboard and type comfortably. It may be pricey, but it's one of the only 2-in-1 laptops that can actually be beaten.

Image credit: HP

4. HP ProBook x360 11 G1 EE Laptop

A rugged laptop

Specifications

CPU:

Intel Celeron N3350 processor

Graphics:

Intel HD Graphics 500

RAM:

2 - 8GB

Screen:

11.6 inches 1366 x 768

Storage:

128GB SSD

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,

Weight:

1.35kg

Dimensions:

207 x 302.4 x 19.9mm

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Reasons to buy

+p>

Good price

+

Thin and light

Reasons to avoid

-

Not as robust as other devices

-

Underfed

You might think the HP ProBook x360 11 G1 EE is a normal laptop at first glance. However, once you delve deeper, you'll see there's more to it than meets the eye. Although it's not designed for big drops and hazardous environments, it's still one of the best rugged laptops for most everyday users - it's built to withstand more knocks, drops and liquids than the everyday laptop. That's down to an industrial rubberized body, spill-resistant keyboard, and Corning Gorilla Glass 4 display. It won't be as rugged as some of the other rugged laptops on this list, but it's easily portable and the screen can be flipped over, making it a sturdy 2-in-1 laptop.

Image credit: Lenovo

5. Lenovo ThinkPad 11e

Robust performance

Specifications

CPU:

Intel Core i3-6100U Processor

Graphics:

Intel HD Graphics 520

RAM:

8 GB

Screen:

11.6 inches 1366 x 768

Storage:

128GB SSD

Connectivity:

Wi-Fi, Bluetooth,

Weight: p>

1.5kg

Dimensions:

300 x 210 x 22.3mm

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$68.80

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Reasons to buy

+

Good performance

+

Robust design

Reasons to avoid

-

Bulky compared to normal laptops

Similar to the HP ProBook x360 we mentioned earlier, the Lenovo ThinkPad 11e looks more like a standard laptop that just happens to be a little heavy-duty. Still, you can just say that Lenovo has put some effort into building this device as it includes sturdier inputs and can withstand drops of up to 90cm. It also features military specs, which make it a laptop capable of surviving the harshest conditions. Plus, it's affordable, while providing enough processing power for day-to-day tasks.

Don't need a rugged laptop? See our list of

best business laptops

Summary of today's best deals

Dell Latitude 14 7404 Rugged...

Dell Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme

Amazon

$1449.90

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Reduced price< /p>

Dell Latitude 5414 Rugged...

Dell Latitude 14 Rugged

Amazon

$1139.95

$975 p>

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Recommended retailer

HP ProBook x360 11 G5 EE...

HP ProBook x360 11 G1 EE Laptop

HP (US)

$678.60

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Lenovo THINKPAD 11E 20DU...

Lenovo ThinkPad 11e

Amazon

$68.80

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Matt Hanson

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Matt (

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) is TechRadar's primary computing publisher. Having written for a number of magazines and websites, there's no aspect of technology that Matt isn't passionate about, especially computing and PC gaming. If you're having a problem or need advice with your PC or Mac, message him on Twitter.

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