Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight review: A mobile worker's best friend

Price When Reviewed

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Best Prices Today: Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight

Dell’s Latitude 7450 Ultralight is the form of laptop computer that you simply’re actually going to need for those who’re a busy working skilled who’s all the time on the run. Lightweight and skinny, it’s an actual satchel crammer’s dream. But the laptop computer’s glorious connectivity and enormous, spacious QHD+ touchscreen show may even win over a couple of PowerPoint presenter’s hearts too. Read on to seek out out extra!

Looking for extra choices? Check out PCWorld’s roundup of the best laptops obtainable proper now.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Specifications

Dell’s web site lets you tailor your Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight to finest fit your working wants. Mocking up totally different configurations, I discovered I might select from as much as 5 Intel Core Ultra processors, then choose from both 16GB or 32GB of RAM and between a FHD+ non-touch or QHD+ touchscreen show. Three SSD choices had been obtainable, together with 256GB, 512GB or 1TB storage. The actual specs of my assessment unit are as follows:

• CPU: Intel Ultra 7 165U
• RAM: 32GB DDR5 / 6400 MT/s
• Graphics: Integrated Intel Graphics
• Display: 14-inch, QHD+ (2560x1600p) decision, contact delicate, 60Hz refresh charge, Comfortview+ low blue gentle,
• Storage: 512MB PCIe NVMe Gen 4 SSD
• Webcam: 5MP IR Windows Hello appropriate digital camera
• Connectivity: 2 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, 2 x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm audio jack, wedge-shaped lock slot.
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.2
• Battery capability: 57WHr
• Dimensions: 12.32 x 8.67 x 0.71
• Weight: 2.33lbs (1.058kg)         
• Cost: $2,663

For me the massive query round value is how the Ultralight would possibly examine to rivals, a few of which have step-up OLED panels, just like the Asus ZenBook 14 Flip OLED. Just doing a fast value comparability and on Asus’s e-store you possibly can decide up a 14 Flip OLED for a beginning value of $999. Dropping all of the {hardware} choices all the way down to the bottom specs on Dell’s web site for the Ultralight and the most cost effective mannequin I might discover price $2,000. That makes the Ultralight a bit expensive in my opinion.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Design and construct

Dell’s Latitude 7450 is constructed for busy working professionals that don’t need to lug round monster-sized laptops. It is available in three mannequin sorts: a versatile 2-in-1, inflexible aluminum laptop computer, or a skinny Ultralight design, every one boasting a barely totally different chassis.

My assessment unit, the Ultralight, was the lightest and thinnest of the three. It measured simply 0.71 inches throughout and weighed 2.33 kilos, which made it tremendous straightforward to hold round my workplace and showoff to colleagues.

The laptop computer’s tall show is good for any trendy productiveness functions, spreadsheet work, searching, and working a number of applications. The Ultralight took the whole lot I loaded up on it in its stride, with ample area to show a number of home windows directly. That spaciousness is because of the laptop computer’s ultrathin bezels and the taller 16:10 side ratio. Indeed, the show towered over my previous Latitude 7330’s smaller 16:9 side show and I didn’t need to crane my neck down a lot.

Everything else about Latitude 7450 Ultralight is a category act, too. From its sides coated in helpful ports to the strong however enticing supplies Dell has utilized in its building, this laptop computer simply gels collectively so properly.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dell has integrated recycled supplies into the chassis, which I discovered didn’t take something away from how robust it felt. The base of the chassis is comprised of 90 p.c magnesium, but it felt remarkably robust and supportive. The lid, though plastic, didn’t flex till I utilized a ridiculous quantity of strain.

The hinges had been remarkably robust, too. They bend again simply previous the horizontal so you possibly can lay it flat and draw on the touchscreen such as you would a pill. Mind you the keyboard will get in the best way whenever you do this, you don’t get a pleasant compact unit such as you would with the 2-in-1 mannequin.

My 7450 Ultralight got here in a shocking River Blue colour. It’s totally different sufficient to the ocean of gray and black laptops on the market to catch a couple of complimentary feedback, however nonetheless adequately subtle to not entice an excessive amount of consideration. If mixing into the gang is what you love to do, then this laptop computer remains to be nice for that.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Keyboard and touchpad

Typing on the 7450 Ultralight’s full-sized keyboard was very snug because of its massive measurement. It stretched virtually the complete size of the bottom, so I might loosen up my arms and ease into my writing.

If you’ve used a Latitude prior to now, the keys will really feel principally the identical as earlier than. They’re smooth, however not mushy, so typing feels fairly easy, a lot nicer than the Dell Vostro keys. That mentioned, the keyboard backlighting might have been stronger. I might nonetheless see the keys in low gentle, however a stronger gentle would have made visibility even simpler.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

While the keyboard has an ordinary configuration for a laptop computer this measurement, the additional performance within the laptop computer’s Collaboration Trackpad is the showstopper. It options conferencing icons alongside its prime, which allowed me to entry Zoom and Microsoft Teams straight with just some presses.

I might additionally management capabilities like Mic, Share Screen, and Mute, which meant I didn’t need to fuss about in search of these instructions within the applications themselves. The comfort right here can’t be understated – it saved me loads of time and awkwardness fussing about in conferences.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Connectivity

With two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a HDMI port, in addition to two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, and a 3.5mm audio jack on the laptop computer’s flanks, the Latitude 7450 has sufficient connectivity to confidently see cellular working professionals by means of busy productive days.

Dell

Dell

Dell

To show my level, I connected two shows to stream a 4K video clip externally, one connection I plugged right into a Thunderbolt 4 port and the opposite to the HDMI port. While that was occurring, I started copying a 30GB file to my desktop by way of the opposite Thunderbolt 4 port. On the suitable facet the place the USB-A ports are, I connected a wi-fi mouse and a wi-fi keyboard.

The Latitude 7450 Ultralight dealt with all these various actions effortlessly. My take away from this little experiment is that in an workplace surroundings you possibly can simply be leaping by means of hoops, loading stuff up, exhibiting off movies and have your peripherals connected abruptly and the Ultralight will just do advantageous, it received’t make a idiot of you.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Display

The Latitude 7450 Ultralight’s 2560x1600p show isn’t simply tall and spacious, it’s suitably detailed and colour correct for what it’s principally going for use for – that’s, rendering 2D or 3D pictures, exhibiting movies, and displaying dashboards in applications and functions.

The show produced crisp footage with a colour saturation that’s fairly first rate for an IPS grade LCD panel. Admittedly although, it’s a grade under the mesmerizing colours and distinction I’ve lately seen in some OLED shows this yr. Still, I got here to benefit from the advantageous element I noticed within the altering Windows 11 desktop backgrounds once I booted the laptop computer up.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

The contact sensitivity was the factor that impressed me essentially the most concerning the laptop computer’s panel. I discovered it was correct to a really advantageous level and responded instantly to my fingertip jabs. Quite usually I discover myself having to repeat a swipe on a touchscreen, however not this time. It registered my fingertips first go.

In regard to brightness, I measured 400 nits with my LUX meter. A more true take a look at, nevertheless, was utilizing the laptop computer close to my sunny front room window, the place I might nonetheless see the brightly coloured chook in my Windows 11 background, with out squinting my eyes or cranking the brightness to most.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Audio and webcam

The Ultralight comes with a 5MP IR digital camera which produces natural-looking pictures in conferences. I additionally discovered the microphone’s sound high quality might convey sound clearly, with an absence of tinniness or static.

The digital camera helps Dell applied sciences like ExpressSign-In for arms free sign-in and display locking and Intelligent Privacy which helps preserve your picture secure when others look over your shoulder. You additionally get a bodily privateness shutter for whenever you need to go utterly incognito.

The Ultralight’s upward dealing with audio system produce clear sound appropriate for taking part in music and producing sound results. But don’t count on the audio soundscape to be too detailed. As you’d count on in a laptop computer this skinny, the treble and mid tones are conveyed nicely, however the depth of the bass received’t knock your socks off.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Performance

Intel’s Core Ultra chips are a big development over the corporate’s 13th technology Intel Raptor Lake chips. Their 7nm hybrid structure features a CPU, GPU and NPU (Neural Processing Unit) the latter of which supplies a spread of low-power AI acceleration and CPU to GPU offload advantages.

My assessment unit featured an Intel Core Ultra 165U processor. Intel says this chip gives an 11 p.c enchancment in multi-threading efficiency in comparison with rival chips just like the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U. It’s additionally extra power environment friendly than earlier intel chips.

To take a look at out how nicely it might deal with a spread of productiveness duties and functions within the Latitude 7450 Ultralight I ran PCWorld’s typical productiveness benchmarks. The outcomes had been then in contrast in opposition to different gentle and skinny laptops in our charts.

In the primary take a look at, Maxon Cinebench’s Multi-Threaded benchmark, the Ultralight scored 3,573. This take a look at fires all of the Cores of the laptop computer’s Core Ultra chip in an analogous option to how a really taxing process like encoding would possibly do the identical. The Ultralight’s consequence infers it’s a average performer in related duties.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

In our HandBrake take a look at that duties the laptop computer to encode a 30GB MKV file to MP4 utilizing the Android Tablet preset, the Ultralight completed within the process in 1518 seconds. This isn’t a nasty consequence for a laptop computer with a chassis as skinny as this one.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

It exhibits that regardless of its sleekness, the Ultralight can preserve rising thermal temperatures in verify and efficiently energy on by means of troublesome duties to complete them moderately shortly, when in comparison with different skinny and lightweight laptops of its ilk.

Next up was PCMark’s Productivity benchmark, which supplies a snapshot of how the laptop computer is more likely to carry out in several work functions. Among our comparisons the Ultralight’s efficiency gave the impression to be barely missing in comparison with our comparisons.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

3Dmark’s Time Spy 1.2 offered me with a snapshot of how the Ultralight ought to deal with graphics-based duties like 3D rendering. Ultra-books as gentle and skinny because the Ultralight aren’t normally identified for his or her super graphics processing energy, however then once more, the Ultralight got here second in our discipline of comparisons indicating that it does have some grunt for these duties.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

To sum up these outcomes, they present that the Ultralight has first rate processing energy and graphics efficiency energy for duties like video conferencing, important apps like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Adobe Photoshop.

As the HandBrake take a look at exhibits, it’s going to additionally run heavier duties moderately nicely for a laptop computer so skinny. In different works, it’s splendid for cellular professionals that want a extremely moveable laptop computer for a spread totally different duties, be that basic workplace functions, or a couple of heavier duties, however that don’t want dollops of energy such as you’d discover in a gaming laptop computer.

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Battery efficiency

I ran our typical battery take a look at that entails looping a 4K video on repeat and timing how lengthy it took to enter standby mode. Before I began the take a look at, I set the laptop computer up by turning off the keyboard backlighting, setting Wi-Fi to airplane mode and setting the sound to 50 p.c. I additionally plugged in an affordable pair of headphones to manage noise.

The Latitude 7450 Ultralight lasted for 10 and a half hours. While that’s not distinctive for a productiveness laptop computer, it’s nonetheless sufficient to comfortably get you thru a working day, which implies that extremely mobility and portability you’re getting received’t go to waste.

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dominic Bayley / IDG

Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight: Conclusion

The Dell Latitude 7450 Ultralight does what it’s made for very nicely – it’s exceptionally skinny, remarkably gentle and has sufficient energy for each gentle functions and a few heavier duties. The connectivity can also be glorious and a number of Dell applied sciences go a protracted option to making life a lot simpler.

Its Achillies heel, nevertheless, is its excessive value level in comparison with some rivals. Still, it does have the benefit of an Intel Core Ultra processor, which might be a worthwhile version to your working life.