Dell Latitude 5490 review. Security and high performance
Dell Latitude 5490 - Which variants are available?
The differences in hardware start with the screen, which is available in three variants, through processors and memory options to a large selection of hard disks, security and graphics cards. Even a dedicated graphics card can be added to the configuration. The individual options are discussed in detail in the relevant sections of this review. The cheapest version at the time of publication, based on the i5-8250U processor with HD display, 8 GB RAM and 500 GB hard disk, was available for 839 euros excluding VAT. In our store, however, this model is available at a much more attractive price.
The case
The casing has not changed fundamentally compared to the previous model. This was not necessary, as the simple, matt black design still exudes elegance. Unfortunately, the matt surface quickly attracts stains and fingerprints. The only visual distinguishing feature is the Dell logo on the top. Although the casing is made of plastic, both the underside and the lid are very sturdy. The underside of the keyboard has been slightly improved. You can still press it in, but you now need considerably more pressure than on the previous model, which certainly improves the typing experience.
The edge of the screen has an inconspicuous plastic bezel. A narrow strip of hard rubber protects the device from dirt when the lid is closed. The hinges allow the display to be opened 180 degrees. The battery is mounted under a screwed flap, but Dell's website provides instructions for a possible replacement.
Connections of the Dell 5490
There is a USB Type C port with DisplayPort support on the left side, but Thunderbolt 3 is missing and is only available as an option. Despite these minor details, the number of ports is sufficient. In our opinion, the choice of USB 3.0 instead of 2.0 is the better solution and a combo socket for headphones is already standard in the business sector. The external SIM card tray on the back of the notebook is also worth mentioning. Overall, the number of ports is satisfactory, but the placement on the back has advantages and disadvantages.
Wireless communication
The previous iteration of this laptop used a wireless module with Qualcomm technology. This has now been replaced by an Intel tri-band adapter. This change led to a significant improvement in signal strength and brought the device up to the level of other top products on the market.
Alternatively, a SIM card can also be used for Internet access. Unfortunately, despite the SIM card slot, our device does not have an integrated WWAN module. This means that if you want to use this function, you have to buy and install a corresponding module. Fortunately, the antennas are already built in and the modems are available here.
Security - variety of options
Dell has placed great emphasis on security aspects in the Latitude 5490. Unfortunately, most components are only available as options. For example, our test device has neither a FIPS 201 smart card reader nor a contactless smart card NFC reader with Control Vault 2 FIPS 140-2 certification at level 3. The optional fingerprint reader is also not included as standard, which means that the device is not compatible with Windows Hello. However, it should be noted that this may vary depending on the configuration selected.
The device is equipped with TPM 2.0, which enables Windows 11 to be installed without any problems. This seems to be almost a standard feature at the moment.
As a standard alternative to the widely used Kensington lock, a Noble Wedge Lock security slot is offered to physically protect the device from theft. A Dell security software package is also supplied, which includes a file encryption function. This is available on the Dell website.
Accessories for Dell Latitude 5490
Dell offers a range of accessories on its website, such as the Dell Business Dock, which works with USB Type-C. It supplies the notebook with power and provides additional ports for connectivity. Various other docking stations are also available, including Thunderbolt 3 docking stations.
Flap for the motherboard:
The 5490 also remains true to its predecessor in this area and does not offer a service flap. However, the lower cover can be easily removed. Eight screws need to be loosened for this. The eight screws are positioned in such a way that they do not fall out when loosened. You then have access to the battery, hard disk, RAM, fans and (at least in our case) an unused WWAN slot. Since only an 8GB RAM module is used, an upgrade is easily possible via the second RAM slot
Dell 5490: The keyboard
Despite the small keys (14 mm, approx. 0.55 inch), they are well arranged and the key travel is appropriate for this notebook class. The keyboard frame appears more stable than on the predecessor model, even if the center bends slightly. The pressure point is soft and at the same time enables fast and fluid typing. The enter key is smaller, but it takes some getting used to. The typing noise is not too loud, the space bar could be a little quieter. But it is not annoying. The "quasi-numeric keyboard" with the Fn key is very practical, but unfortunately still not standard on most laptops.
Dell 5490: Touchpad
The touchpad stood out very positively in our tests. Its surface enables smooth and easy navigation, the gesture control works flawlessly and even supports up to four fingers. The dedicated keys produce a muffled noise when clicked and at the same time offer a long stroke without feeling "spongy".
Processor selection
The processor in our device is the Intel Core i5-8350U. It is very powerful and should be sufficient for most business applications. It belongs to the Kaby Lake refresh series and offers four cores with Hyper-Threading technology. Compared to the Latitude 5480, which only had an i7-7600U with two Hyper-Threading cores, the new processor can process twice as many threads simultaneously. However, due to this compromise, the clock frequency has been slightly reduced (3.6 GHz compared to 3.9 GHz). In addition, an M.2-2280 SSD, which is connected via a SATA III interface, and 8 GB DDR4 RAM ensure adequate performance. The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 graphics card is also worth mentioning. In our test model, this integrated graphics unit is at best suitable for occasional Gaming in low resolutions, but this is not a realistic scenario for the Latitude 5490. The unit should be sufficient for occasional rendering or other graphics-intensive tasks.
Dell 5490: Speakers
The Dell laptop's speakers are quite good compared to those of other manufacturers. Considering the size of the laptop and the fact that most speakers in laptops fail to impress, the speakers on the 5490 seem to be of high quality. The considerable volume and the linear, balanced mids and highs are a good example of this.
Of course, the bass quality is not outstanding, which in combination with the high volume can lead to a rather "empty" sound. We therefore recommend the use of headphones or external speakers. A combo socket is available for this case, but there is no separate microphone input.
Battery life
Test in idle/read mode: This test aims to find out the absolute maximum battery life with BatteryEater. Surfing via WLAN: This test approximates a more realistic scenario by using the "Balanced" mode, setting the brightness to approx. 150 cd/m² and activating WLAN. A script is used to access various websites every few minutes and YouTube videos are occasionally played. In this test, the Dell Latitude 5490 achieved almost 12 hours, which is very impressive.
Video playback:
The "energy-saving mode" is activated, the brightness is set back to approx. 150 cd/m² and all communication modules are deactivated. A continuous movie is played in H.264 format. The Latitude also achieves an excellent result of 10 hours in this test.
In summary, it can be said that the battery life of the Latitude is impressive under real-world conditions and is one of the greatest strengths of this model. However, those who value a long battery life should not overload the device. While the notebook achieves the best results compared to other models when idling, during video playback and when surfing, it unfortunately does not perform as well under heavy load.
The Dell Latitude 5490 offers many advantages, especially for companies and their employees. It is very powerful and very quiet in office applications. The device also has a large number of input ports and the impressive battery life enables hours of work