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Dell Latitude 14 E7470 Ultrabook Review

New benchmark. A laptop rarely manages such a high score. Can the expensive WQHD version meet the highest expectations? To say it right away, the battery runtimes are a bit disappointing, but the rest of the 14-inch device will be the benchmark for the ultimate business to go.
More pixels for business: Latitude 14 7470 with 4K WQHD touch panel (touch, right) next to the HP ProBook 840 G3 FHD
More pixels for business: Latitude 14 7470 with 4K WQHD touch panel (touch, right) next to the HP ProBook 840 G3 FHD

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.

 

 

Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470 (Latitude E7470 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-6600U 2 x 2.6 - 3.4 GHz (Intel Core i7)
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 520, Core: 1000 MHz, Memory: 1067 MHz
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4 SDRAM Single Channel
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 2560 x 1440 pixel, 10 fingers, AUO B140QAN Dell PN F0WXVV, IPS, Corning Gorilla Glass NBT, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Skylake-Y Premium PCH
Storage
Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB, 256 GB 
, 6GB/s SATA III
Soundcard
Intel Skylake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
3 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: Combo Mic Headphone, Card Reader: SD 4.0, 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, SIM-Port, Ethernet RJ45
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-LM (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8260 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 19.4 x 334.9 x 232 ( = 0.76 x 13.19 x 9.13 in)
Battery
55 Wh Lithium-Ion, 4 cells
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: FHD 1920x1080
Primary Camera: 2 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: Chiclet, Recovery, Power Manager, Dell Command, Digital Delivery, Services, Protected Workspace, Update, System detect, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.737 kg ( = 61.27 oz / 3.83 pounds), Power Supply: 296 g ( = 10.44 oz / 0.65 pounds)
Price
2300 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Clever: You can just install new clips on the bottom cover if they break.
Clever: You can just install new clips on the bottom cover if they break.

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.

331 mm / 13 inch 226 mm / 8.9 inch 34 mm / 1.339 inch 1.8 kg3.92 lbs337 mm / 13.3 inch 232 mm / 9.13 inch 20.4 mm / 0.803 inch 1.6 kg3.62 lbs338 mm / 13.3 inch 237 mm / 9.33 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 1.6 kg3.48 lbs334.9 mm / 13.2 inch 232 mm / 9.13 inch 19.4 mm / 0.764 inch 1.7 kg3.83 lbs338 mm / 13.3 inch 234 mm / 9.21 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.5 kg3.33 lbs329 mm / 13 inch 235 mm / 9.25 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

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).

Left: lock slot, SmartCard reader
Left: lock slot, SmartCard reader
Rear: RJ45 Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, 2x USB 3.0, power
Rear: RJ45 Ethernet, HDMI, DisplayPort, 2x USB 3.0, power
Right: audio combo, SD-card reader, USB 3.0, SIM-slot
Right: audio combo, SD-card reader, USB 3.0, SIM-slot
Wi-Fi signal: stable at 45 meters
Wi-Fi signal: stable at 45 meters
...and even further away.
...and even further away.
Compact power adapter (296 grams)
Compact power adapter (296 grams)
Fingerprint scanner
Fingerprint scanner

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

Access to all components
Access to all components
CMOS battery, fingerprint scanner
CMOS battery, fingerprint scanner
55-WH Li-ion battery
55-WH Li-ion battery
Samsung PM871 M.2 2280
Samsung PM871 M.2 2280
LTE modem (free slot) & Wi-Fi chip
LTE modem (free slot) & Wi-Fi chip
It is no problem to remove the bottom cover.
It is no problem to remove the bottom cover.

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.

1920x1080 pixels
1920x1080 pixels
Vivid but unnatural colors
Vivid but unnatural colors
Reference EOS 1100D
Reference EOS 1100D
Reference EOS 1100D
Reference EOS 1100D

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.

Good feedback, firm stroke
Good feedback, firm stroke
With additional pointer, 4 buttons
With additional pointer, 4 buttons
Two-stage illumination
Two-stage illumination

Display

Subpixel arrangement 2560x1440 pixels (WQHD)
Subpixel arrangement 2560x1440 pixels (WQHD)

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.

 

 

334
cd/m²
390
cd/m²
361
cd/m²
340
cd/m²
380
cd/m²
365
cd/m²
314
cd/m²
355
cd/m²
347
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO B140QAN Dell PN F0WXVV tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 390 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 354 cd/m² Minimum: 44 cd/m²
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 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.35 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
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 ?(15, 33)
43 ?(20, 23)
10%
35.6 ?(17.2, 18.4)
26%
42 ?(19.6, 22.4)
12%
Response Time Black / White *
27 ?(7, 20)
25 ?(9, 16)
7%
29.2 ?(14.4, 14.8)
-8%
29.2 ?(16, 13.2)
-8%
PWM Frequency
204 ?(90)
220 ?(90)
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

AdobeRGB 62%
AdobeRGB 62%
sRGB 96%
sRGB 96%

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.

CalMAN Grayscale: no blue cast
CalMAN Grayscale: no blue cast
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps: balanced
CalMAN Saturation Sweeps: balanced
CalMAN ColorChecker: good DeltaE 3.1
CalMAN ColorChecker: good DeltaE 3.1

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.

E7470 in the shade
E7470 in the shade
E7470 behind Toshiba Tecra Z30-C (FHD)
E7470 behind Toshiba Tecra Z30-C (FHD)
Matte non-touch vs. touch
Matte non-touch vs. touch
E7470 in front of HP Elitebook 840 G3 FHD non-touch
E7470 in front of HP Elitebook 840 G3 FHD non-touch
The reflections are very annoying outdoors.
The reflections are very annoying outdoors.
It is even worse under sunlight.
It is even worse under sunlight.

Display Response Times

Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast 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. » 63 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (21.6 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 0.2 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 80 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is worse than the average of all tested devices (33.9 ms).

Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)

To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession - a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
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 18110 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 3846000) 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.

Viewing angles of the WQHD touch panel
Viewing angles of the WQHD touch panel

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.

System info: CPU-Z CPU
System info: CPU-Z Cache
System info: CPU-Z Mainboard
System info: CPU-Z Memory
System info: CPU-Z SPD
System info: GPU-Z
System info: HWinfo summary
Latency Monitor

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).

Cinebench R15 – 2.9 up to 3.1 GHz fluctuating (mains)
Cinebench R15 – 2.9 up to 3.1 GHz fluctuating (mains)
HD 520 battery 1,000 MHz
HD 520 battery 1,000 MHz
HD 520 mains 1,000 MHz
HD 520 mains 1,000 MHz
CB R15 battery start 3.2 GHz
CB R15 battery start 3.2 GHz
CB R15 battery 2.5-3.0 GHz
CB R15 battery 2.5-3.0 GHz
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
142 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
119 Points -16%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
117 Points -18%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
141 Points -1%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
121 Points -15%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
111 Points -22%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
91 Points -36%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
334 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
322 Points -4%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
280 Points -16%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
347 Points +4%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
277 Points -17%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
255 Points -24%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
250 Points -25%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
1.61 Points
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
1.35 Points -16%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
1.57 Points -2%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1.46 Points -9%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
1.28 Points -20%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
1.04 Points -35%
CPU Multi 64Bit (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
3.58 Points
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
3.07 Points -14%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
3.83 Points +7%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3.14 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
2.77 Points -23%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
2.5 Points -30%
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
3260
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.61 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.58 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
35.98 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
142 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
334 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
37.26 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help

System Performance

PCMark 7 Windows 7
PCMark 7 Windows 7
PCMark 7 Windows 10
PCMark 7 Windows 10

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 (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
5194 Points
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
4650 Points -10%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
5190 Points 0%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
5295 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
4995 Points -4%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
4046 Points -22%
PCMark 8
Work Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
4543 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
4275 Points -6%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
4002 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
4442 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
4097 Points -10%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
3698 Points -19%
Home Score Accelerated v2 (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
3344 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3231 Points -3%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
2932 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
3542 Points +6%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
3100 Points -7%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
3128 Points -6%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
2919 Points -13%
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%
Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
Sequential Read: 518 MB/s
Sequential Write: 300.7 MB/s
512K Read: 470.8 MB/s
512K Write: 214 MB/s
4K Read: 36.32 MB/s
4K Write: 110.9 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 400.9 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 191.7 MB/s

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 - 1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Score (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
5173 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 P20W-C-106
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN256HCHP
5589 Points +8%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
5346 Points +3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
6097 Points +18%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
6134 Points +19%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
4655 Points -10%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
5322 Points +3%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
5000 Points -3%
3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
1418 Points
Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 P20W-C-106
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN256HCHP
1573 Points +11%
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1468 Points +4%
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
1600 Points +13%
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
2380 Points +68%
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
1023 Points -28%
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
1133 Points -20%
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
1183 Points -17%
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
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
42 fps
Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 260 20FD001XGE
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN256HCHP
36.2 fps -14%
Toshiba Satellite Radius 12 P20W-C-106
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZNLN256HCHP
50.1 fps +19%
FIFA 16 - 1366x768 High Preset AA:2x MS (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
31.4 fps
Star Wars Battlefront - 1024x768 Low Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
26 fps
Acer Aspire R14 R5-471T-79GQ
HD Graphics 520, 6500U
34.3 fps +32%
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.

Fan E7470
Fan E7470
Noise characteristics
Noise characteristics
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)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Audix TM1 Arta (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 31.2 dB(A)

Temperature

Stress test: 2.5-2.6 GHz steady, GPU@1,000 MHz
Stress test: 2.5-2.6 GHz steady, GPU@1,000 MHz

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

 24.6 °C
76 F
24.2 °C
76 F
23.8 °C
75 F
 
 25.1 °C
77 F
24 °C
75 F
23.6 °C
74 F
 
 23.4 °C
74 F
23.6 °C
74 F
23.3 °C
74 F
 
Maximum: 25.1 °C = 77 F
Average: 24 °C = 75 F
23.8 °C
75 F
25.1 °C
77 F
25.2 °C
77 F
23.8 °C
75 F
24.9 °C
77 F
25.8 °C
78 F
23.4 °C
74 F
24.2 °C
76 F
24.8 °C
77 F
Maximum: 25.8 °C = 78 F
Average: 24.6 °C = 76 F
Power Supply (max.)  27 °C = 81 F | Room Temperature 21.4 °C = 71 F | FIRT 550-Pocket
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.2 °C / 86 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.2 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °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 36.7 °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

Pink Noise characteristics
Pink Noise characteristics

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

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.3 / 0.7 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 5.1 / 8.5 / 10.1 Watt
Load midlight 35.2 / 31 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Metrahit Energy
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 Runtime

Discharging under load (Battery Eater Classic)
Discharging under load (Battery Eater Classic)

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.

Battery Runtime
WiFi v1.3 (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
346 min
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
422 min
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
340 min
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
453 min
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
452 min
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
648 min
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
535 min
Load (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series E7470
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD PM851 M.2 2280 256GB
112 min
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
115 min
Lenovo ThinkPad T460s-20FA003GGE
HD Graphics 520, 6600U, Samsung SSD SM951a 512GB M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe (MZVKV512)
62 min
HP EliteBook 840 G3 T9X59ET#ABD
HD Graphics 520, 6500U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
146 min
HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G2
HD Graphics 5500, 5600U, Samsung SSD PM851 256 GB MZNTE256HMHP
112 min
Lenovo ThinkPad T450s-20BWS1UT00
GeForce 940M, 5200U, Samsung SSD PM871 MZ7LN256HCHP
259 min
Acer TravelMate P645-S-58HK
HD Graphics 5500, 5200U, Kingston RBU-SNS8100S3256GD
113 min
WiFi (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E7450
HD Graphics 5500, 5300U, Samsung SSD PM851 mSATA 128 GB
459 min
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
5h 46min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 52min

Pros

+ sophisticated chassis
+ great input devices
+ port variety
+ fast Wi-Fi
+ high-resolution IPS display
+ high application performance
+ low emissions
+ good microphone
+ simple maintenance/upgrades

Cons

- battery runtimes just acceptable
- mediocre webcam
- high price

Verdict

In review: Dell Latitude E7470. Test model courtesy of Dell Germany
In review: Dell Latitude E7470. Test model courtesy of Dell Germany

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

Chassis
92 / 98 → 94%
Keyboard
90%
Pointing Device
90%
Connectivity
71 / 80 → 89%
Weight
66 / 20-67 → 98%
Battery
87%
Display
86%
Games Performance
57 / 68 → 84%
Application Performance
80 / 92 → 87%
Temperature
94%
Noise
93%
Audio
73%
Camera
52 / 85 → 61%
Average
79%
89%
Office - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

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Sebastian Jentsch, 2016-04- 3 (Update: 2018-05-15)