Notebookcheck Logo

Review Dell Latitude 10 Tablet

Record-breaking battery life. The 60 Wh battery the Dell Latitude 10 ships with is presumably one of the largest ones ever used to power a tablet. According to Dell, the result is a battery life of up to 30 hours. The business tablet is not without compromises, however.

For the original German review, see here.

The release of Windows 8 has started to bridge the gap between tablets and notebooks. Although the ARM-series of processors has been getting more and more powerful - two and even four cores, 3D graphics - they never really had a platform to develop their full potential. Windows 8 is about the change that: the new OS, with its touchscreen-interface on top of the well-known desktop, features the diverse software offerings we've come to expect from Windows.

Most of us are quite familiar with Intel's Atom processors, as they were once ubiquitous in the now pretty much defunct netbook-category. Atom CPUs have a new lease on life: Intel's Atom Z2760 is used in many different Windows 8 tablets, and is starting to become a serious competition for CPUs based on the ARM architecture. The 32-bit dual-core CPU is of course not nearly as powerful as full-sized notebook processors, but with a TPD of 1.7 Watts it is frugal, which extends battery life. The Dell Latitude 10 ships with 2 GB of RAM and 64 GB of storage - sufficient only for less demanding desktop and office-type tasks. 

The first impression confirms it: the Dell Latitude 10 comes closer to emulating a notebook than any Android tablet could ever hope to. Even though some of the devices were designed as convertibles and featured keyboard-docking stations, they usually lacked a replaceable battery. Dell also offers a docking station, which adds additional ports and makes the tablet suitable as a desktop PC replacement.

Dell offers many different configurations: the user can decide between batteries with 30 Wh or 60 Wh capacity, eMMC storage of 32 GB and 64 GB, and choose a UMTS module, if required. The slot for the microSIM card is located behind the battery. The least expensive version of the tablet retails for 499 Euros (~$650); our top-of-the-line review unit costs 785 Euros (~$1000). Either way: for a tablet with an Atom processor and Windows 8, the Dell Latitude 10 is expensive. Notebooks offer a lot more performance for this kind of money. With features like a TPM chip, Dell targets business more so than home users, however.

Case

The Dell Latitude 10 only comes in an unobtrusive black color. The touchscreen bezel is glossy; the back of the unit sports a no-frills matte finish. The edges of the tablet feature a non-slip rubber coating, which wraps from the back to the front - the display features Corning Gorilla Glass - without any unsightly gaps. The buttons are also integrated into the rubber and feature a distinct click point - although actuation requires significant pressure. According to Dell, the back of the unit features magnesium to increase strength. The tablet is quite sturdy and overall well made.

Weighing in at 820 grams (1.81 pounds), the Latitude 10 is a heavyweight among Windows 8 10-inch tablets. Before we go into specifics, please note that we tested the tablet with the heavier battery (60 Wh), which not only increases its weight by 170 grams (0.37 pounds), but also the thickness. The iPad 4 comes with a 42.5 Wh battery and weighs 653 grams (1.44 pounds). The Asus VivoTab Smart features the same Atom processor, a battery with a capacity of 25 Wh, and weighs in at 570 grams (1.26 pounds).

Connectivity

Although a docking station is available as an accessory, the tablet itself has plenty of connection options. On the right side, Dell includes a full-size USB 2.0 port - other tablets, like the Asus VivoTab Smart, only come with a microUSB port. When the tablet is inserted into the docking station, said USB port is deactivated - but the dock itself has five USB ports, which should be more than sufficient. On one side of the USB port there is a microHDMI port, on the other the 3.5-millimeter combination audio jack, which accepts headphones, external speakers, and microphones. The bottom of the unit houses the proprietary charging port, which is also utilized by the docking station, and an additional microUSB charge port. To insert the microSIM card, the battery needs to be removed.

Top: microphone,  SD card reader, power LED, power button, button for automatic screen rotation
Top: microphone, SD card reader, power LED, power button, button for automatic screen rotation
Bottom: charge LED, propriatory charging jack, microUSB charging port
Bottom: charge LED, propriatory charging jack, microUSB charging port
Right: audio combination jack, USB 2.0, microHDMI
Right: audio combination jack, USB 2.0, microHDMI
Left: Kensington lock, volume rocker switch
Left: Kensington lock, volume rocker switch

Software

The preinstalled OS Windows 8 Pro almost seems tailor-made for tablets like the Dell Latitude 10. The well-known Desktop underneath the novel tile interface does not offer any real surprises - but it does offer voice control now. It would be nice if this feature was working as it should however, we had to more or less yell at the tablet to open programs...and very clearly and slowly to boot. As long as the voice control feature does not work as well as it does for the current crop of smartphones, it is more or less useless.

Communication & GPS 

The Dell Wireless 1536C module supports WLAN standards 802.11 a/b/g/n - the Windows tray icon shows 2 of the 5 bars 10 meters (~33 feet) away from the router in our test environment. In addition, Bluetooth version 4.0 LE (low energy) is also supported. The 3G/UMTS module (Dell Wireless 5565) is responsible for mobile Internet connectivity. HSPA+ theoretically allows a throughput of 42.2 Mbit/s.

 

Cameras & Multimedia

The back houses an 8-megapixel camera, which features a resolution of 3264x2448 pixels. The quality is on par with an inexpensive, but decent digital camera: outside, we were able to capture nice enough images. Low light results in a lot of noise, however. The LED flash automatically helps out in low-light conditions, but is not really sufficient most of the time.

The 2-megapixel camera up front compares best to the ones found in notebooks. The photo we took outside also shows some issues with the color temperature. At best, the camera is useful for video conferencing - but it was designed for just that.

Rear camera: 8 MP
Rear camera: 8 MP
Rear camera with LED flash
Rear camera with LED flash
Front camera: 2 MP
Front camera: 2 MP
Reference camera: Olympus E-PM1, 12.2 MP
Reference camera: Olympus E-PM1, 12.2 MP

Accessories

The optional docking station...
The optional docking station...
...with many additional USB ports.
...with many additional USB ports.

 

 

The only accessory included is the 30-Watt power adapter. We already mentioned the optional docking station, which not only offers HDMI and Gigabit LAN, but also five USB 2.0 ports. One of these ports is right next to the audio combination port (also found on the tablet itself). Because of the additional ports, the Dell Latitude can be used as a desktop replacement. The docking station itself appears to be well made, has a low center of gravity, and holds the tablet securely in place. Dell sells the docking station online for 159 Euros (~$200).

In addition to using the touch interface, the user can also control the tablet with the active Wacom stylus. The stylus has its own button and either end is usable. Dell sells it for 48 Euros (~$60); several other sources have it for a little less. The "Griffin Survivor Protective Case" is supposed to protect the tablet against humidity, sand, dirt, and vibrations. At the point of this writing, the case is not available in Germany.

Users wanting the drivers on DVD can order one at the time of purchase for 5 Euros (~$6.50) - although the same drivers can be downloaded free of charge from the support website.

Warranty

The standard warranty includes one year of pickup and return service. Dell offers different "Support Services" on their website: three-years on-site service (next business day) cost 48 Euros (~$60). For the same price, Dell offers one year of "Pro Support", which includes the on-site service but also technical support (even for software issues). Three years of Pro Support are available for 96 Euros (~$125).

In addition, the user can opt for accidental damage protection for one year for 85 Euros (~$110). In case of an accident, the tablet will then be repaired - or replaced, if a repair is not possible. For 25 Euros (~$32), Dell also offers a "stopTrack" theft protection, which is mostly a deterrent. Honest finders can enter a code on a website and inform the original owner that the tablet has been found.

Input Devices

Virtual keyboard

The capacitive touchscreen works well when using one's fingers to control it. The virtual keyboard Windows 8 ships can be used for 10-finger typing - although it is not nearly as fast or comfortable as a regular keyboard, which offers much better feedback. The virtual keyboard also takes up about half of the screen in landscape mode. For touch typists we definitely recommend an external keyboard. The 10-finger touch keyboard also has its limits: it cannot be used when holding the tablet with both hands. Fortunately, there is a split version of the layout, which allows using the thumbs. Both layouts work well in portrait mode.

Inputs using the active Wacom stylus

The Wacom stylus allows the user to convert their handwriting into typed text. Even though this works pretty well, it is not nearly as easy and quick as when using the fingers. Those who are familiar with using a stylus on an Android device will have to get used to the change in functionality: a single tap on the Desktop is not the same thing as touching the screen with a finger. Double-clicking is possible with increased pressure - otherwise, the object/text just gets marked (same as with a single mouse click). Marking text is also possible if the user moves the stylus lightly over the screen - this also opens "balloon tips" much in the same way as hovering a mouse pointer over an object does. The upper end of the stylus functions like an eraser, which is really useful when drawing freehand. Palm check does not always work accurately - sometimes, the palm can be interpreted as a finger, which can be annoying. Finger input can be deactivated in the settings, which is a bit cumbersome. The display also responds to the amount of pressure that the user applies with the stylus - interesting for graphic artists.

Standard keyboard layout
Standard keyboard layout
Split layout
Split layout
Standard keyboard layout portrait mode
Standard keyboard layout portrait mode
Split layout portrait mode
Split layout portrait mode

Display

As we previously noted, the active digitizer allows the capacitive touch display to receive input using both the fingers and the stylus. The 10.1-inch display features a resolution of 1366x768 pixels - pretty common for screens this size. Using the HDMI port, the Latitude 10 supports Full HD resolution on external monitors. The average display brightness of 450 cd/m² is sufficiently bright even for outdoor use. The reflections on the glossy screen distract a bit - but most tablets with touchscreens have the same issue.

452
cd/m²
455
cd/m²
456
cd/m²
434
cd/m²
485
cd/m²
456
cd/m²
427
cd/m²
447
cd/m²
457
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 485 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 452.1 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 376 cd/m²
Contrast: 1516:1 (Black: 0.32 cd/m²)

The contrast ratio of the IPS panel is an excellent 1516:1 - even better than the already very good result of the Asus VivoTab TF801C. The color temperature is pretty close to the ideal of 6500 Kelvin - we measured 6691 K. The color accuracy out of the box is not that great: especially blue and magenta are far from the ideal (DeltaE 19.5 and 9.2, respectively). Color saturation is also along the same lines - especially at a saturation of 20%. Gray levels are reproduced quite well, though.

Color accuracy
Color accuracy
Saturation
Saturation
Gray levels
Gray levels
Outdoor use
Outdoor use

A test outdoors confirms that the tablet is quite usable due to the high brightness and very good contrast ratio. The reflective screen does take away from the performance, though - we recommend staying in the shade. If it is not too sunny (see our pictures), the Latitude 10 works well outside.

Viewing angles Dell Latitude 10
Viewing angles Dell Latitude 10

The display panel uses IPS technology - and it shows as far as the viewing angles are concerned. TN panels do not compare and are subject to changes in picture quality pretty much immediately. The panel used in the Latitude 10 only shows slight color changes at very extreme angles.

Performance

The Latitude 10 incorporates the Intel Atom Z2760. This SoC (System on a Chip) integrates both CPU and GPU in one unit. As a member of the Atom series, clearly Intel's main goal is energy conservation and not flat-out performance. Because of the very low TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 1.7 Watts, the Z2760 is suitable for slim and passively cooled systems. In addition, the tablet comes with 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM (running at 800 MHz) and TPM-compatible eMMC flash storage with 32 or 64 GB - our review model features the latter.

System information Dell Latitude 10

Processor

The processor component of the Intel Atom Z2760 features dual cores running at 1.8 GHz, which idle at 600 MHz to conserve power. Each core can execute two threads for a total of four. Even though the cores are theoretically designed for 64-bit, the Intel chip only supports 32-bit. Because of that, its performance is more comparable to the ARM processors found in tablets and smartphones - like the Nvidia Tegra 3 - and not other x86 processors.

A look at the benchmark results reveals that AMDs E1-1200 offers more than 50 percent more performance when tasked with single-core rendering. The 64-bit AMD processor also has a much higher TDP of 18 Watts (compared to 1.7 Watts for the Atom) and is therefore predominantly used in notebooks.

Surprisingly enough, the Z2760 offers the same performance as the AMD E1-1200 during the multi-core test. Most likely, Intel's hyperthreading technology has distinct advantages here.

The difference to i3 CPUs is substantial: the Intel i3-3110M, which is used in entry-level notebooks (an example is the 15-inch Acer Aspire E1-571G, which retails for around 500 Euros / ~$650), scores about three times higher than the Atom CPU.

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
596
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
1637
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
427
Help
Cinebench R10 - Rendering Single 32Bit (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 10
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB eMMC Flash
596 Points
Asus VivoTab TF810C-1B026W
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
602 Points +1%
HP Envy x2 11-g000eg
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
592 Points -1%
HP Pavilion dm1-4200sg
Radeon HD 7310, E1-1200, Toshiba MK3276GSX
912 Points +53%
Acer Aspire E1-571G-3114G50Mnks
GeForce GT 620M, 3110M, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
1799 Points +202%
Cinebench R10 - Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 10
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1637 Points
Asus VivoTab TF810C-1B026W
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
1692 Points +3%
HP Envy x2 11-g000eg
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
1644 Points 0%
HP Pavilion dm1-4200sg
Radeon HD 7310, E1-1200, Toshiba MK3276GSX
1654 Points +1%
Acer Aspire E1-571G-3114G50Mnks
GeForce GT 620M, 3110M, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
7137 Points +336%

System Performance

The CPU benchmarks make it clear that the Latitude 10 will not be able to deliver performance equivalent to a notebook. Because of Windows 8, quite a few office-type applications are available and work well- a significant advantage compared to Android and iOS. Together with the docking station, the Dell tablet makes for a better PC replacement than devices with other operating systems. Because of the low performance of the Atom SoC, compromises are necessary: the GPU part, for example, does not support DirectX 10 on up. CPU intensive tasks like photo and video editing are better suited for conventional notebooks - simpler tasks like spreadsheets and word processing the tablet handles well.

We did not have a lot of options as far as running benchmarks is concerned. Pretty much all notebooks support 64-bit operating systems and applications, so a direct comparison is difficult. To evaluate overall performance, we used PCMark 7. Not surprisingly, the Dell Latitude 10 scored similar to other tablets with the Atom processor. AMDs E1-1200 in the HP Pavilion dm1-4200sg falls behind our test candidate by more than one third. The Acer Aspire E1-571G with its i3 processor, on the other hand, outscored our tablet by 67%.

The cross-platform benchmark Geekbench 2 shows that the class leader iPad 4 is still a bit more powerful: its score was about one third higher.

3.3
Windows 8 Experience Index
Processor
Calculations per second
3.4
Memory (RAM)
Memory operations per second
4.7
Graphics
Desktop performance for Windows Aero
3.8
Gaming graphics
3D business and gaming graphics
3.3
Primary hard disk
Disk data transfer rate
5.4
PCMark 7 Score
1428 points
Help
PCMark 7 - Score (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 10
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1428 Points
Asus VivoTab TF810C-1B026W
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
1240 Points -13%
HP Envy x2 11-g000eg
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
1430 Points 0%
HP Pavilion dm1-4200sg
Radeon HD 7310, E1-1200, Toshiba MK3276GSX
878 Points -39%
Acer Aspire E1-571G-3114G50Mnks
GeForce GT 620M, 3110M, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
2382 Points +67%
Geekbench 2 - 32 Bit - Total Score (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 10
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1391 Points
Asus VivoTab TF810C-1B026W
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
1404 Points +1%
HP Envy x2 11-g000eg
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
1397 Points 0%
Apple iPad 4
SGX554MP4, A6x, 32 GB SSD
1768 Points +27%
Google V8 Ver. 7 - Google V8 Ver. 7 Score (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 10
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB eMMC Flash
1382 Points
Dell XPS 10 Tablet
Adreno 225, S4 Plus APQ8060A, 64 GB SSD
804 Points -42%
Apple iPad 4
SGX554MP4, A6x, 32 GB SSD
1661 Points +20%
Sunspider - 0.9.1 Total Score (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 10
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB eMMC Flash
951 ms *
HP Envy x2 11-g000eg
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
712 ms * +25%
Dell XPS 10 Tablet
Adreno 225, S4 Plus APQ8060A, 64 GB SSD
942 ms * +1%
Apple iPad 4
SGX554MP4, A6x, 32 GB SSD
895 ms * +6%

* ... smaller is better

Storage Devices

The eMMC flash storage features a capacity of 64 GB and cannot really be compared to the much faster SSDs. The reason why it is used in tablets has to do with the compact dimensions and low power consumption. We saw an average transfer speed of almost 80 MB/s during sequential reads - quite comparable to other tablets, like the Asus VivoTab TF810C. Compared to regular hard drives, the eMMC flash has advantages when dealing with smaller block sizes.

64 GB eMMC Flash
Transfer Rate Minimum: 23.5 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 59.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 41.4 MB/s
Access Time: 0.5 ms
Burst Rate: 46.7 MB/s
CPU Usage: 11.8 %

GPU Performance

The Intel Atom Z2760 comes with integrated graphics based on the PowerVR SGX 545, which features a clock speed of 533 MHz. DirectX is not supported - so most 3DMark benchmarks won't run. Normally, this GPU supports DirectX 10.1 - but not in this Atom chip. The only benchmark we were able to use is 3DMark 06.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
453 points
Help
3DMark 06 - 1280x1024 Standard Score AA:0x AF:0x (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 10
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB eMMC Flash
453 Points
HP Envy x2 11-g000eg
SGX545, Z2760, 64 GB SSD
401 Points -11%
HP Pavilion dm1-4200sg
Radeon HD 7310, E1-1200, Toshiba MK3276GSX
1455 Points +221%
Acer Aspire E1-571G-3114G50Mnks
GeForce GT 620M, 3110M, Toshiba MQ01ABD050
6768 Points +1394%

Gaming

The Atom SoC does not have a lot of power to spare - so as far as PC games are concerned, our expectations are low. We tried Starcraft 2 and recorded a paltry 11 frames per second - even with the resolution and details set to their lowest levels. The tablet is only suitable for "casual gaming" - games like Solitaire, Minesweeper, and others. The Appstore that comes with Windows 8 offers further choices.

low med. high ultra
StarCraft 2 (2010) 11

Emissions

Temperature

Stress test
Stress test

The tablet is passively cooled and completely silent. The only areas that get warm are around the location of the cameras. During our real-life test, the tablet never exceeded 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).

When we ran our stress test (Prime95 and FurMark together), the CPU only reached 77 degrees Celsius (170.6 degrees Fahrenheit - far from critical) and the tablet itself a maximum of 44 degrees Celsius (111.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Subsequent testing after the stress test with Cinebench R10 and 3DMark 06 revealed no decrease in performance.

Max. Load
 35.2 °C
95 F
41.3 °C
106 F
35.2 °C
95 F
 
 32 °C
90 F
33.8 °C
93 F
31.9 °C
89 F
 
 33 °C
91 F
37 °C
99 F
33.7 °C
93 F
 
Maximum: 41.3 °C = 106 F
Average: 34.8 °C = 95 F
40.7 °C
105 F
44.1 °C
111 F
39 °C
102 F
29.6 °C
85 F
29.5 °C
85 F
29.1 °C
84 F
31.8 °C
89 F
31.1 °C
88 F
30.3 °C
87 F
Maximum: 44.1 °C = 111 F
Average: 33.9 °C = 93 F
Power Supply (max.)  40.1 °C = 104 F | Room Temperature 22 °C = 72 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 34.8 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 30 °C / 86 F for the devices in the class Tablet.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.3 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F, ranging from 20.7 to 53.2 °C for the class Tablet.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 44.1 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 33.3 °C / 92 F
(±) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 32.1 °C / 90 F, compared to the device average of 30 °C / 86 F.

Speakers

The back of the tablet houses two speakers, which are "high quality" - at least according to Dell's spec sheet. We were not too impressed: the sound quality is on par with a middle-class smartphone. Mids and bass are definitely lacking, which makes external speakers or headphones a necessity if music is on the agenda.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Depending on the applications in use, we recorded a power consumption between 2.7 and 11.2 Watts. The Asus Vivotab TF810C features the same processor, but needs a few Watts less on the top end - the reason could be the display panel, which does not get as bright as the one the Dell Latitude 10 uses. The power adapter supplies 30 Watts and has more than enough power.

Dell offers either a two-cell battery with a capacity of 30 Wh or a (much heavier) four-cell battery with 60 Wh. Of the tablets we mentioned before, the Asus VivoTab TF810C comes closest, as it has a main battery of 30 Wh and features an additional battery in the keyboard dock with 25 Wh. HP's Envy x2 11 has a main battery with 26 Wh and an additional one with 25 Wh integrated into the dock. Dell's XPS 10 Windows RT tablet has only the main battery with a capacity of 28 Wh.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.9 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.7 / 6 / 6.2 Watt
Load midlight 10.5 / 11.2 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

Maximum battery life (Reader's Test)
Reader's Test
Minimum battery life  (Classic Test)
Classic Test

Our review of the Envy x2 11 attests the device’s "exceptional" battery life - and we called the Dell XPS 10 a "Marathon tablet". The Dell Latitude 10 has no problem raising the bar: featuring the largest battery in a tablet ever, it outlasts all other tablets in this area. When we ran the Battery Eater test, we recorded a battery life of almost 30 hours. If the Latitude is used as an eBook Reader (with Wi-Fi turned off and the screen set to its lowest brightness), the tablet lasts longer than a whole day. The Asus VivoTab TF810C needs the battery in its dock to eek out an additional 3 hours.

The WLAN test is more realistic: we set the screen to medium brightness and use a script that cycles through different websites. The tablet lasted about half the time - but 15 hours are still very good indeed.

With the brightness set to its maximum and the hardware under load, the Latitude 10 still lasted longer than the other three tablets we mentioned in this review - a record-setting 7 hours and 45 minutes.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
30h 22min
WiFi Surfing
15h 52min
Load (maximum brightness)
7h 45min

Verdict

The Latitude 10 supplies sturdiness and security instead of good looks and gimmicks. Dell designs this tablet for business use - and does it right. There are definitely better looking and more powerful tablets out there - but that is important for the private and not the business user. As long as looks are not of the utmost importance, the chassis is a good one. It is unobtrusive and built very well. Because of its excellent display and the high maximum brightness of over 450 cd/m², the tablet can also be used outdoors - even though the screen is reflective. The IPS panel also has exceptional viewing angle stability. The overall quality of the display compares well even with higher-priced devices.

The tablet is not really well suited for multimedia tasks - not surprising, since business users usually do not need the best sound and high quality cameras. As such, the Latitude 10 is no substitute for a digital camera - the quality of the pictures is not good enough. For listening to music or watching movies, we recommend using headphones - the speakers cannot convince.

The plethora of accessories allows for increased flexibility. The docking station adds several USB ports and an additional full-sized HDMI port. The active Wacom stylus turns the tablet into a notepad. While the pressure-sensing technology works well for drawing, the palm check feature is not quite as robust.

Tablets usually don't have replaceable batteries, so we appreciate the fact that there are two to choose from: either a small and light one with 30 Wh or the heavier model with 60 Wh. Only some convertibles come close in capacity - if you also count the battery in the dock. The large battery allows for a runtime of up to 30 hours when the tablet is used as an eReader; the 15 hours we recorded during our WLAN test are also very decent, since the Latitude 10 lasts almost for two workdays without needing a charge. The only disadvantage: the larger battery pushes the weight of the unit beyond 800 grams (1.75 pounds) - something to consider.

Although the overall performance is pretty average, it is still good enough for simple office tasks. Those who do not need a top performing tablet but rather want a sturdy and secure device should definitely consider the Dell Latitude 10.

Read all 3 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
In Review: Dell Latitude 10
In Review: Dell Latitude 10

Specifications

Dell Latitude 10
Processor
Intel Atom Z2760 2 x 1.8 GHz, Cloverview
Graphics adapter
PowerVR SGX545, Core: 533 MHz
Memory
1967 MB 
, DDR3 SDRAM
Display
10.10 inch 16:9, 1366 x 768 pixel, 10 finger, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass, glossy: yes
Storage
64 GB eMMC Flash, 64 GB 
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Headphone and microphone combo-jack, Card Reader: fullsize SD card reader
Networking
Dell Wireless 1535C Half MiniCard (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0 LE, WWAN, HSPA+
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 11 x 274 x 178 ( = 0.43 x 10.79 x 7.01 in)
Battery
60 Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 8 Pro 32 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 2 MP front, 8 MP rear
Additional features
Speakers: mono speaker, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
820 g ( = 28.92 oz / 1.81 pounds), Power Supply: 80 g ( = 2.82 oz / 0.18 pounds)
Price
785 Euro

 

The Dell Latitude 10: a tablet with Windows 8 Pro
The Dell Latitude 10: a tablet with Windows 8 Pro
In order to inser the microSIM card, the battery needs to be removed
In order to insert the microSIM card, the battery needs to be removed
The stylus for the tablet costs 30 Euro
The stylus for the tablet costs 30 Euros
Handles just like any pen
Handles just like any pen
The tablet is pressure sensitve
The tablet is pressure sensitive
Windows 8 boots in just a few seconds
Windows 8 boots in just a few seconds
The tablet inserted into the optional docking station
The tablet inserted into the optional docking station
Plenty of additional ports
Plenty of additional ports
The rear camera has 8 megapixel
The rear camera has 8 megapixels
The openings for the speakers to the left and right
The openings for the speakers to the left and right
Up front: the Windows button
Up front: the Windows button
On the top: the webcam (2 megapixel)
On the top: the webcam (2 megapixel)
The display is very bright and has excellent viewing angle stability
The display is very bright and has excellent viewing angle stability
Unusual but useful: the button to activate/deactivate rotation
Unusual but useful: the button to activate/deactivate rotation
The 60 Wh version of the battery is thick and heavy...
The 60 Wh version of the battery is thick and heavy...
..but there is also one with a capacity of 30 Wh
..but there is also one with a capacity of 30 Wh
The battery can be removed fairly easily...
The battery can be removed fairly easily...
...via the slide-lock
...via the slide-lock
Some are located in the front
Some are located in the front

Similar Devices

Similar devices from a different Manufacturer

Devices with the same GPU

Review Acer Iconia W3-810-27602G03nsw Tablet
SGX545, Atom Z2760, 8.10", 0.5 kg
Review Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx K3011 Tablet
SGX545, Atom Z2760, 11.60", 0.646 kg

Devices with Same Screen Size and/or Weight

Dell Latitude 11 5175/5179 Tablet Review
HD Graphics 515, Core m5 6Y57, 10.80", 0.71 kg
Dell Venue 8 Pro 5855 Tablet Review
HD Graphics (Cherry Trail), Atom x5 Z8500, 8.00", 0.377 kg

Links

  • Manufacturer's Information

Price Comparison

Pros

+Very good battery life
+Battery is removable
+High-quality display
+Active digitizer
+3G/UMTS
+Solid and sturdy chassis
+Good build quality
+Configurable
 

Cons

-Not very powerful
-Sound quality not that great
-Inferior camera

Shortcut

What we like

Finally: software supported under Windows combined with the usability of a tablet. Dell also offers many different configuration options - a clear advantage. UMTS and an active stylus are also noteworthy features.

What we'd like to see

More power. Compared to the processors used in notebooks in the same price range, the Intel Atom Z2760 is pretty weak.

What surprises us

The battery life. Those who are happy with less can opt for the smaller battery. The display is outstanding: both brightness and quality are top notch.

The Competition

Tablets with Atom CPUs and Windows are going mainstream. The Asus VivoTab Smart ME400C and the convertibles Asus VivoTab TF810C and HP Envy x2 11-g000eg use the same processor. The Dell XPS 10 uses ARM architecture and Windows RT.

Rating

Dell Latitude 10 - 08/05/2013 v3(old)
Manuel Christa

Chassis
89%
Keyboard
67%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
49%
Weight
96%
Battery
100%
Display
85%
Games Performance
17%
Application Performance
77%
Temperature
83%
Noise
100%
Add Points
84%
Average
78%
88%
Tablet - Weighted Average
Manuel Christa, 2013-03- 6 (Update: 2018-05-15)