First Look At The Panasonic Let’s Note FV4

Bob recently took a close look at the Panasonic Let's Note FV4 business laptop and shared his impressions in this week's Rugged Rundown. Right out of the box, Bob noticed it's impressively lightweight: just 2.4 pounds. According to Panasonic, the battery is rated for at least 10 hours of use, though Bob acknowledged that real-world performance may vary.

Specs and Build Quality

This laptop comes standard with a 512GB SSD and 32GB of RAM, with no upgrade or downgrade options. Bob was particularly struck by the device’s thin profile and how light it felt in his hands, even though it was somewhat flexible. As a keyboard enthusiast, Bob appreciated the large, springy keys, describing them as a highlight of the user experience.

Distinctive Feature: The Round Mouse Pad

One unique feature that caught Bob’s attention was the round mouse pad, a nod to earlier Panasonic models like the W8, T8, and CF-C2. He pointed out that this iteration is noticeably larger than those on past devices.

Connectivity and Ports

When it comes to ports, the FV4 offers three USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, an HDMI output, a VGA port for an external monitor, and a 1-gigabit Ethernet port. However, Bob noted the lack of memory or storage upgradability and mentioned that, to his knowledge, there is no built-in option for 4G LTE connectivity.

Display and Performance

The laptop’s 14-inch, non-touch display features a 3:2 aspect ratio and a brightness of 350 nits, which Bob pointed out makes it unsuitable for daylight readability—it would need at least 450 nits for that. The device is powered by an Intel Core i7 1370P (13th gen) processor with integrated Intel Iris XE graphics, providing decent performance for a lightweight machine.

Should You Buy the Panasonic Let’s Note FV4?

Overall, Bob considered the Panasonic Let's Note FV4 to be a solid choice for those who need a lightweight, portable business laptop and don’t want the bulk of a heavier toughbook. He did caution against exposing it to harsh conditions or drops, but for typical business travel, Bob found it to be a "pretty cool little laptop."