Dell Latitude 14 E7470 Ultrabook Review
For the original German review, see here.
Dell's 14-inch model is the heart of the upper business class. As a member of the Latitude 7000 series, the E7470 is not only up to date in terms of technology, but it is also well-equipped for any other scenario. Great input devices, excellent build quality, security features, simple maintenance and obviously very good ergonomics – those are not just highlights for the Latitude, but users will get them by default. The expectations of potential buyers are therefore very high.
We are reviewing the premium model with WQHD touch panel. How business-compatible 2560x1440 pixels is will depend on the application. We will answer the question if Dell uses a state-of-the-art panel.
We can easily find rivals for the 14-inch device with a retail price of almost 1,600 Euros (~$1822), even though none of them uses a WQHD screen: HP offers the EliteBook 840 G3, which we are reviewing right now. The thin EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 (2,000 Euros, ~$2277) is actually a better fit for this comparison, because it is classified as an Ultrabook by the manufacturer, just like the E7470 review model. Lenovo has the ThinkPad T450s, which is one of the best business laptops, an Ultrabook and it retails for around 1,300 Euros (~$1480) with the GeForce 940M. Another less expensive option is the 14-inch notebook Acer TravelMate P645 with IPS-FHD, SSD and maintainability (1,200 Euros, ~$1366, in a comparable configuration, matte FHD).
Update 04/02/2016: ThinkPad T460s FHD IPS and T460s WQHD IPS added to the tables.
Case
The thin chassis certainly looks the part, even though it does not use an ultra-light construction. 1,737 grams is significantly heavier than an EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 (1,510 grams). Only the ThinkPad T450s is similarly heavy. This does not affect the level of sophistication or the tactile feel, because Dell constructed a very sturdy notebook. The chassis construction follows the principle of a tub; it opens towards the bottom, where you can find a bottom cover. It sits flush with the rest of the case. There are no maintenance hatches; you can lift the whole cover pretty easily after the removal of some screws. The chassis is extremely torsion-resistant; it will just slightly warp under a lot of pressure (MIL-STD 810 testing).
On top of the base unit are two well-attached hinges with an aluminum cover. They keep the display firmly in position, so there is no bouncing or tilting during vibrations or touch inputs. The lid itself deserves the designation stiff board: You can neither twist nor dent it. It does not matter how hard we push on the back of the lid, there are no picture distortions.
Our touchscreen model uses an edge-to-edge panel, which means almost the whole surface is the display. There is a surrounding rubber lip, which will lie on the base unit when the lid is closed. Edge-to-edge should not be mistaken with Infinity Edge (XPS laptops), because the panel does not extend all the way up to the edges, but only the smooth surface. The black frame is, similar to many laptops, 12-22 mm wide.
Connectivity
The port variety of the E7470 is pretty good, especially since the 14-inch model has ports at the back, which is pretty rare for a modern device. Neither an HP Folio 1040 nor a ThinkPad T450s offers this. DisplayPort next to HDMI; only VGA d-Sub is missing, but you still get this old port on the optional docking station. The latter can be attached to the docking port at the bottom of the E7470.
The docking stations from the E series start at 120 Euros (~$136), like the Dell Euro Advanced E-Port-Replicator 130W with USB 3.0. Besides numerous video ports (VGA, 2x DisplayPort 1.2, 2x DVI-D) there are even some older ports: Serial, parallel, 2x PS/2. This means you can also attach older measurement and input devices in business environments.
Dell's Wireless Dock is unfortunately no alternative, since it requires a 5th generation vPro processor and Intel's Tri-Band Wireless-AC 17265. Our review unit on the other hand only uses a Dual-Band Wireless-AC 8260. If you want to use the Wireless Dock, potential buyers should watch out for corresponding hardware equipment; Dell Germany offers the AC 18260 3x3 Wireless as an optional Wi-Fi module. Triple-Band enables transfer rates of up to 1.3 Gbps; a 30% increase over the conventional 2x2 Wi-Fi technology.
We check the performance of the card reader with our reference SD-card Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II. The maximum transfer rate is up to 206 MB/s when we copy large files, while the usual jpg. files (around 5 MB each) are copied at 183 MB/s. Those results are very fast and hardly any laptop reaches it! The average is 80 MB/s (copy) and 70 MB/s (jpg. files).
Communication
Mobile and stationary network connections are provided by Ethernet (1 Gbps) and Dual-Band Wireless-AC 8260 as well as Bluetooth 4.1. Intel's Wi-Fi card not only supports Wireless Display, it also uses very good antennas. We noticed this outside the building and actually outside the property. We did not get a signal at this distance to this router (Fritz!Box 7490 AC in the building) with any other device before. The signal was stable at approximately 60 meters, and notebookcheck.com was opened at the usual speed. An LTE modem is optional, and the antennas were already prepared in our review unit (Qualcomm Snapdragon X7 LTE (DW5811E) plus 87.10 Euros, ~$99, + VAT).
Security
Dell lists almost every modern security feature. TPM 1.2 (FIPS 140-2 and TCG) switches to TPM 2.0 in spring 2016 according to Dell. This includes a new specification, but 2.0 is not backwards-compatible. The following features are optional or were available in our review unit, respectively:
- Touch Fingerprint Reader
- Contacted FIPS 201 SmartCard Reader
- Contactless SmartCard Reader/NFC with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 (Spring 2016)
- Dell Control Vault 2
- Contacted FIPS 201 SmartCard Reader with Control Vault 2 FIPS 140-2 Level 3
- Hardware Crypto Accelerator (HCA) FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Certification
- Optional Computrace3
- DDP|Security Tools
- DDP|Protected Workspace (1 year subscription included)
- DDP|Encryption Software
- DDP|Endpoint Security Software
- Lock Slot
Maintenance
There is an owners manual for the E7470 with many pictures, which shows all details about maintenance and repair works. This covers the hardware, but Dell's business device also covers the software and BIOS, which can be adjusted to IT structures. Dell's Client Command Suite is the tool of choice for managing the BIOS and system configuration.
Accessories
Besides the compact 65-Watt power adaptor, there are no accessories in the box. Dell does, however, offer numerous ways to individualize your device:
- Dell Portable Power Companion – (18000 mAh)
- Dell Adapter – Mini Display Port to VGA
- Dell Simple E-Port Replicator
- Dell Wireless Dock
Warranty
The E7470 is offered with a three-year warranty in online shops. As per usual for business devices, you can purchase individual Care Packs when you get the device directly from the manufacturer. This also includes shorter warranty periods, and sometimes combined with additional insurances or particularly quick service responses (replacement device next business day etc.).
Maintenance
Webcam
The camera seems to be a bit better compared to the predecessor, but it still does not produce great pictures. Colors are rich, but unnatural. We manage sharp pictures with a good focus and a good depth of field in good lighting conditions. This will be sufficient for a couple of snapshots or eBay pictures. However, pretty much every smartphone camera will produce better results. The webcam is sufficient for Skype videos and the like.
Input Devices
Keyboard
If you type a lot on your notebook keyboard, you will want a high quality input device. The keys with a conical curvature have a firm, almost hard stroke. The whole keyboard area does not bounce and cannot be pushed in, either. The keys are not rubberized, but not slippery. The travel is pretty limited but still comparable to good professional inputs. In return, we can enjoy an excellent pressure point, which is immediately noticeable when you hit a key.
The arrow keys are smaller than usual and are slightly shifted towards the bottom, so you can easily find them. Bad lighting conditions are no problem, either, thanks to the two-stage illumination. Dell allocated the Fn keys with functionalities for volume, brightness, mic off, Wi-Fi off etc. in favor of the function keys F1-F12. The microphone off/on is interesting, which is similar to the speaker on/off. A numeric keypad is not available, which is similar to all the other 14-inch models. You can only use one on the right area of the keys via Fn combination.
Touchpad and TrackPoint
Laptops from the Latitude 7000-series are equipped with touchpad and TrackPoint, but the latter is paired with the illuminating keyboard (dual pointing). The touchpad is once again 10.0 x 5.4 centimeters (same as predecessor E7450). It supports numerous gestures with two, three or four fingers. Fingers glide easily and without stutters across the smooth surface, which can be automatically deactivated when you use the keyboard.
Positive for the ergonomics: You still get dedicated mouse buttons with a firm pressure point and a smooth stroke. The buttons are slightly rubberized and therefore not slippery. Because of the slanted mounting, you can use the pad very quickly.
We cannot judge the advantages or disadvantages of the TrackPoint, because it is just a matter of getting used to. Some users do not want to waive the small joystick, especially since it has been standard for years, which is also the case for the HP EliteBooks and Lenovo ThinkPads from the T-series. The fingers just do not have to move away from the keys during typing to use the cursor, which can save time. The three buttons belong to the TrackPoint, but can be customized or used without it. The middle button is a replacement for a mouse wheel.
Display
The E7470 is offered with three different panels, and HD (1366x768) as well as FHD (1920x1080) are the most common. If you want to have a touch panel, you have to select the WQHD version (2560x1440 pixels) from the AUO B140QAN. It is an IPS panel with a specified brightness of 340 cd/m² and contrast of 700:1. Our touch version does not have an anti-glare hard coating but uses Corning's Gorilla Glass NBT, so it is very reflective.
Our lab measures better results; the lower black value of 0.26 cd/m² alone results in a contrast of 1,462:1 at the highest luminance setting. Vivid colors and rich blacks are the pleasant result. The luminance is 380 cd/m², and it is not reduced on battery power. Both values are above average, which is supported by the following table. None of the rivals can compete with the E7470 in this discipline.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Brightness Distribution: 81 %
Center on Battery: 380 cd/m²
Contrast: 1462:1 (Black: 0.26 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.11 | 0.5-29.43 Ø4.91
ΔE Greyscale 4.35 | 0.5-98 Ø5.2
96% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
69.3% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
95.9% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
67.2% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.37
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 FHD IPS Touch | HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD FHD TN | Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE WQHD IPS | Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20F9003SGE FHD IPS | HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 WQHD IPS | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK FHD IPS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | -26% | 2% | -37% | -1% | -3% | |
| Display P3 Coverage | 67.2 | 48.93 -27% | 68.7 2% | 41.65 -38% | 66.1 -2% | 66.7 -1% |
| sRGB Coverage | 95.9 | 73.7 -23% | 98.1 2% | 61.6 -36% | 94.8 -1% | 90.8 -5% |
| AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage | 69.3 | 50.5 -27% | 70.4 2% | 43.14 -38% | 68.3 -1% | 66.5 -4% |
| Response Times | 9% | 9% | 2% | |||
| Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% * | 48 ? | 43 ? 10% | 35.6 ? 26% | 42 ? 12% | ||
| Response Time Black / White * | 27 ? | 25 ? 7% | 29.2 ? -8% | 29.2 ? -8% | ||
| PWM Frequency | 204 ? | 220 ? | ||||
| Screen | -73% | -21% | -46% | -11% | -20% | |
| Brightness middle | 380 | 366 -4% | 257 -32% | 226 -41% | 274 -28% | 331 -13% |
| Brightness | 354 | 336 -5% | 248 -30% | 211 -40% | 263 -26% | 309 -13% |
| Brightness Distribution | 81 | 87 7% | 94 16% | 89 10% | 85 5% | 82 1% |
| Black Level * | 0.26 | 0.65 -150% | 0.26 -0% | 0.22 15% | 0.21 19% | 0.4 -54% |
| Contrast | 1462 | 563 -61% | 988 -32% | 1027 -30% | 1305 -11% | 828 -43% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 * | 3.11 | 10.26 -230% | 4.59 -48% | 6.44 -107% | 3.93 -26% | 4.07 -31% |
| Colorchecker dE 2000 max. * | 6.73 | 9.72 -44% | 17.18 -155% | |||
| Greyscale dE 2000 * | 4.35 | 11.51 -165% | 6.38 -47% | 5.87 -35% | 5.28 -21% | 4.86 -12% |
| Gamma | 2.37 93% | 2.4 92% | 2.51 88% | 2.37 93% | 2.49 88% | 2.49 88% |
| CCT | 6771 96% | 12725 51% | 6238 104% | 6856 95% | 7108 91% | 6109 106% |
| Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998) | 62 | 47 -24% | 65 5% | 39.58 -36% | 61 -2% | 59 -5% |
| Color Space (Percent of sRGB) | 96 | 74 -23% | 98 2% | 61.15 -36% | 90.6 -6% | |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -30% /
-51% | -3% /
-12% | -27% /
-38% | -6% /
-9% | -12% /
-16% |
* ... smaller is better
Our spectrophotometer determines the color-space coverage. Can the E7470 meet the professional demands in terms of color accuracy? A panel with a 100% AdobeRGB coverage would be perfect, but our sample is far from it. However, even very good laptop panels usually only cover the small but fine sRGB space, which is at least covered by 96%. The DeltaE values are also low at 3 and 4, respectively. The ideal value would be smaller than three; however, the rivals are not better, either – but rather worse.
The outdoor capabilities are limited, and there is also a deduction in the display rating. For illustration, we put the E7470 WQHD next to two anti-glare non-touch business rivals. The HP 840 G3 reaches the same luminance on battery power and is easier to read.
Display Response Times
| ↔ Response Time Black to White | ||
|---|---|---|
| 27 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 7 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 20 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows relatively slow response rates in our tests and may be too slow for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 64 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (20.9 ms). | ||
| ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey | ||
| 48 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined | ↗ 15 ms rise |  |
| ↘ 33 ms fall | ||
| The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers. In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.165 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 81 % of all devices are better. This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (32.8 ms). | ||
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM not detected | ||
In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8705 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | ||
There is absolutely no criticism for the viewing angles; you can see fonts, contours and colors very clearly from any position. This is the case for all competitors, because you only get IPS panels in this price range.
Performance
Dell's E7470 can be equipped with a lot of Skylake SoCs (i5-6300U), but the review unit uses the fastest available chip Core i7-6600U (2.6 GHz). The more expensive versions are equipped with a 256 GB SSD (SATA, M.2 2280), in our case a Samsung SSD PM871. There is no room for a 2.5-inch drive, which is different in the case of the EliteBook 840 G3 (m.2 + SATA 2.5-inch). The alternatives are therefore limited to a 128 or 512 GB SSD. The graphics solution is always the integrated processor GPU HD Graphics 520.
Processor
The Core i7-6600U is supposed to move in the range between 2.6-3.4 GHz under load, while the latter is typically achieved when you stress one core. But the clocks are not that high, we can see between 2.9-3.1 GHz on mains in the Cinebench CPU benchmarks. The performance cannot be maintained on battery power (2.5-3.0 GHz). We can once again see the typical behavior for the Turbo Boost: You can use the highest performance during the first 30 seconds with 3.2 GHz in the Multi-Core test. After this time, the thermals cause a slight throttling. The scores are normal for a Core i7-6600U. The Broadwell predecessor i7-5600U in the EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 is 17 and 15% behind (Multi and Single core, respectively).
System Performance
We checked the application performance once with Windows 7 (ex-works) and once with Windows 10 (via upgrade). The old PCMark 7 determines a slightly higher score under Windows 10. More important are the PCMark 8 scores, we determined under Windows 7: The E7470 is among the best, no competitor is faster. The subjective performance impression corresponds with that: extremely fast installations, fast file transfers and hardly any delays when you launch applications.
| PCMark 7 Score | 5194 points | |
| PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2 | 3344 points | |
| PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2 | 4543 points | |
Help | ||
Storage Devices
The Samsung SSD PM871 (M.2 2280 256 GB) convinces but does not lead in every section of our SSD benchmarks. The SM951a in the ThinkPad T460s is much faster, which can also be a reason for the small advantage in PCMark 8. However, other premium SSDs are not really worse.
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB | Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512) | Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00 GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP | HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CrystalDiskMark 3.0 | 134% | 7% | -9% | -2% | -29% | |
| Read Seq | 518 | 1778 243% | 517 0% | 497.8 -4% | 499.9 -3% | 506 -2% |
| Write Seq | 300.7 | 1530 409% | 302.4 1% | 241.4 -20% | 264.3 -12% | 343.2 14% |
| Read 4k | 36.32 | 51.3 41% | 36.72 1% | 27.02 -26% | 28.4 -22% | 28.73 -21% |
| Write 4k | 110.9 | 139.3 26% | 99.4 -10% | 82.6 -26% | 101.2 -9% | 66.4 -40% |
| Read 4k QD32 | 400.9 | 561 40% | 387.1 -3% | 388.5 -3% | 393.3 -2% | 91.6 -77% |
| Write 4k QD32 | 191.7 | 277 44% | 293.2 53% | 242.8 27% | 265.3 38% | 95.7 -50% |
| AS SSD | 182% | 14% | -5% | -3% | -9% | |
| Seq Read | 495.5 | 2039 312% | 503 2% | 505 2% | 480.7 -3% | 502 1% |
| Seq Write | 283.7 | 1407 396% | 285.2 1% | 231.6 -18% | 250.1 -12% | 324.6 14% |
| 4K Read | 30.91 | 45.41 47% | 33.27 8% | 25.24 -18% | 25.98 -16% | 31.82 3% |
| 4K Write | 85.1 | 114.4 34% | 84.6 -1% | 72.4 -15% | 84.4 -1% | 58 -32% |
| 4K-64 Read | 336.1 | 968 188% | 380 13% | 362 8% | 356.1 6% | 194.7 -42% |
| 4K-64 Write | 170 | 366 115% | 272.3 60% | 190.6 12% | 182.7 7% | 169.2 0% |
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | 158% /
158% | 11% /
10% | -7% /
-7% | -3% /
-2% | -19% /
-19% |
GPU Performance
The HD Graphics 520 GPU supports DirectX 12 and runs with a core clock of up to 1,000 MHz, also on battery power. The memory only runs in a single-channel configuration (one RAM module), so the GPU cannot utilize its full performance and the results are also a bit lower in the 3D benchmarks as well as the real gaming tests. The Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 P20W is equipped with the same GPU but dual-channel memory (+8%). The TravelMate P645-S with the Broadwell HD Graphics 5500 GPU is just beaten if it runs in a dual-channel configuration (TravelMate P645-S). One new feature of the Skylake GPUs is the integrated H.265 decoder. The H.265 format is the successor to the familiar H.264 format. The decoder relieves the CPU during the playback of corresponding videos.
| 3DMark 11 Performance | 1418 points | |
| 3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score | 39400 points | |
| 3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score | 5173 points | |
| 3DMark Fire Strike Score | 707 points | |
Help | ||
Gaming Performance
The E7470 is not designed for gaming, even though the HD 520 can handle some games. The results are influenced by the dual-channel configuration, which can be easily achieved by adding another module in the free DDR4 slot. The test device did not manage more than low details; one exception was FIFA 16 at high details. Some older titles should therefore be playable with medium details at 1366x768 pixels. Playing in the native WQHD resolution is not possible with the rather low performance of the HD 520.
| Battlefield Hardline - 1024x768 Low Graphics Quality (DX11) (sort by value) | |
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 | |
| Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 260 20FD001XGE | |
| Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 P20W-C-106 | |
| FIFA 16 - 1366x768 High Preset AA:2x MS (sort by value) | |
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 | |
| Star Wars Battlefront - 1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value) | |
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 | |
| Acer Aspire R14 R5-471T-79GQ | |
| low | med. | high | ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battlefield Hardline (2015) | 42 | 26 | 8 | |
| FIFA 16 (2015) | 48.8 | 31.4 | ||
| Star Wars Battlefront (2015) | 26 | 15 |
Emissions
System Noise
The noise development is completely convincing, because there is hardly any. We do not really know how Dell manages that, but the E7470 only reaches 31.9 dB(A) under load – it does not matter if we use our stress test or play a game. The active cooling is completely deactivated while idling, which is also the case during many common tasks (office, browsing). Access noises of the hard drive are no problem due to the SSD in our review unit. None of the competitors are this quiet: Our table does show slightly less than 30 dB(A) for the ThinkPad T450s or the EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 while idling, but this is the base noise of the room, which was 31.2 in the case of our review unit.
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB | Dell Latitude E7450 HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB | HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512) | HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00 GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noise | -3% | -7% | -1% | -4% | 2% | -2% | |
| off / environment * | 31.2 | 31.2 -0% | 29.2 6% | ||||
| Idle Minimum * | 31.2 | 29.1 7% | 31.2 -0% | 29.2 6% | 29.6 5% | 29.1 7% | 29.6 5% |
| Idle Average * | 31.2 | 29.1 7% | 32.1 -3% | 29.2 6% | 29.6 5% | 29.1 7% | 29.6 5% |
| Idle Maximum * | 31.2 | 30 4% | 33.1 -6% | 29.2 6% | 32.2 -3% | 29.1 7% | 30.2 3% |
| Load Average * | 31.9 | 36.4 -14% | 36.2 -13% | 33.7 -6% | 36.4 -14% | 33.1 -4% | 35.6 -12% |
| Load Maximum * | 31.9 | 37.8 -18% | 37.8 -18% | 38.5 -21% | 36.4 -14% | 34.3 -8% | 35.9 -13% |
* ... smaller is better
Noise Level
| Idle |
| 31.2 / 31.2 / 31.2 dB(A) |
| Load |
| 31.9 / 31.9 dB(A) |
 | ||
30 dB silent 40 dB(A) audible 50 dB(A) loud |
||
min:  , med:  , max:  Audix TM1 Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 31.2 dB(A) | ||
Temperature
Is the pretty much phenomenally low fan activity made possible by throttling under load? Not when you just stress the CPU or GPU, which was shown by the Cinebench tests. The clock will actually drop to the nominal value in the stress test, but it would not be appropriate to call this throttling, especially since the HD 520 is not really affected. It will always maintain more than 1,000 MHz, despite the stress test with Prime95.
Is there a lot of heat transferred to the chassis? Not at all, at least you cannot feel it at any point. We can measure up to 38 °C at one spot on top of the base unit. This is a great result, because the competitors can reach 42 °C (TravelMate P645-S) or even 50 °C (ThinkPad T450s). The temperature differences are not that big in general, but you have to consider the thin Ultrabook construction of the E7470. The EliteBook 840 G3 and TravelMate P645-S are not Ultrabooks and are significantly thicker.
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB | Dell Latitude E7450 HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB | HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512) | HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00 GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heat | -12% | -1% | -10% | -9% | -27% | -13% | |
| Maximum Upper Side * | 38.2 | 41.6 -9% | 37 3% | 40.8 -7% | 35.9 6% | 49.6 -30% | 41.6 -9% |
| Maximum Bottom * | 36.5 | 37.1 -2% | 37.1 -2% | 40.3 -10% | 42.4 -16% | 51.9 -42% | 41.7 -14% |
| Idle Upper Side * | 25.1 | 28.7 -14% | 25.3 -1% | 27.6 -10% | 28.5 -14% | 29 -16% | 30.6 -22% |
| Idle Bottom * | 25.8 | 31.4 -22% | 26.6 -3% | 28.7 -11% | 29 -12% | 30.9 -20% | 27.5 -7% |
* ... smaller is better
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.2 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 34.3 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 36.5 °C / 98 F, compared to the average of 36.8 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 24 °C / 75 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 28.2 °C / 82.8 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-0.5 °C / -0.9 F).
Speakers
The quality of the speakers is obviously lower: While the reviewer of the E7450 still described a balanced and rich sound as well as clear high tones and surprisingly strong bass, we can hear pretty loud speakers in the case of the E7470, but they are certainly not balanced. The medium tones are covered, but there aren't any differentiated high or deep tones.
The microphone is free of static and records voices – even at a longer distance to the device – clearly. You will need a headset or a directional microphone for a better performance. Such a device can be attached at the 3.5 mm combo port. The audio rating for the review unit is comparatively good because of the microphone.
Energy Management
Power Consumption
Our consumption measurements show a slight throttling of the SoC during the stress test. 31 Watts is 4 Watts below the consumption during normal load (3DMark06). This result is on par with almost all the other competitors during the stress test. One exception is the ThinkPad T450s with the GeForce 940M. The results are not that good when we look at the idle results of our E7470. 5 up to 10 Watts are higher than the rivals. Particularly frugal in this case is the HP EliteBook 840 G3 with 4 up to 7 Watts.
| Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB | Dell Latitude E7450 HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB | HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512) | HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP | Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00 GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP | Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Consumption | 11% | 19% | 3% | 26% | -3% | 19% | |
| Idle Minimum * | 5.1 | 4 22% | 3.8 25% | 3.8 25% | 3.2 37% | 3.1 39% | 3.2 37% |
| Idle Average * | 8.5 | 7.8 8% | 6.3 26% | 7.1 16% | 6.5 24% | 8.6 -1% | 6.3 26% |
| Idle Maximum * | 10.1 | 9 11% | 6.8 33% | 7.8 23% | 7.4 27% | 9.6 5% | 8.6 15% |
| Load Average * | 35.2 | 31.6 10% | 34.4 2% | 36.3 -3% | 25.6 27% | 35.6 -1% | 30.3 14% |
| Load Maximum * | 31 | 29.6 5% | 28.3 9% | 46 -48% | 26.1 16% | 49.4 -59% | 30.4 2% |
* ... smaller is better
| Off / Standby | 0.3 / 0.7 Watt |
| Idle | 5.1 / 8.5 / 10.1 Watt |
| Load |
35.2 / 31 Watt |
   
| |
Key:
min: ,
med: ,
max: Metrahit Energy | |
Battery Runtime
We could only determine the battery runtimes for the two shown scenarios. The idle test was repeatedly stopped after two hours on the E7470 (also with Windows 10). The Wi-Fi runtime of 5:46 hours is disappointing – after a pretty excellent performance so far. Every competitor is superior, including the predecessor E7450. But the latter was not even the best device with its 422 minutes. The ThinkPad T450s (648 minutes) and TravelMate P645-S (535 minutes) have more stamina, even though the ThinkPad T450s (96 Wh) has a much bigger battery. The TravelMate P645-S (54 Wh) and EliteBook Folio 1040 G2 (42 Wh) have the same or even a smaller battery. The Classic Test on the other hand is on par with the other 15-Watt SoCs, only the 96 Wh of the T450s provides a better result.
Pros
Cons
Verdict
Dell stays true to its philosophy and does not waive any features for the successor to the business Ultrabooks. The 14-inch device is well-built and capable enough for business as well as any other practical tasks. This excludes the glossy touchscreen, which will create annoying reflections under daylight. The WQHD panel convinces with excellent specs in return, which are very convincing indoors. Great input devices are mandatory for a high-end Latitude, and the E7470 does not disappoint. The same applies for management and security: Rarely any notebook sports so many (optional) security features. The maintainability deserves praise as well; just remove the bottom cover and you gain access to all components.
The only drawback is the runtime, more than 5:46 was not possible in our Wi-Fi test. This does not really suit the pretty high expectations or the high price of 2,300 Euros (~$2620). Versions with HD or FHD screens should have slightly more stamina based on our experiences with 4K and FHD configurations of the same model.
Probably the best alternative is HP's EliteBook Folio 1040 G2, but even the version with a matte FHD panel costs 200-300 Euros (~$227-~$341) more. The runtime is better, but the Folio 1040 G2 offers fewer ports in return. The IGP version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T450s is interesting if you want to save some money; a comparable configuration starts at around 1,850 Euros (~$2107). The price-performance ratio between the E7470 and T450s is actually pretty similar when you compare the matte FHD versions.
Update 04/02/2016: ThinkPad T460s FHD IPS and T460s WQHD IPS added to the tables.
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
- 03/23/2016 v5 (old)
Sebastian Jentsch
Price comparison
