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Dell Latitude 3490 (Core i5, FHD) Laptop Review

Affordable office worker. Expensive laptops are in vogue but spending a lot of money on a notebook is not suitable for everyone. Hence, manufacturers bring budget workhorse devices to the market, like the Dell Latitude 3490. Find out in this review whether Dell has succeeded with their new budget Latitude.

The Dell Latitude name is synonymous with high-quality business notebooks. Spending over 1,000 Euros (~$1166) is not appropriate for everyone though, and so Dell also produces cheaper notebooks under the Latitude brand to counteract this. Specifically, this is the Latitude 3000 series, the entry-level of Latitude notebooks.

Today’s review device is the 14-inch Latitude 3490, with a display size that is currently the most popular in the enterprise market. Our test device is equipped with an Intel Core i5-8250U processor, a 256 GB SSD, 8 GB RAM and a Full HD display. This configuration has an 830-Euro RRP (~$967).

The main competitors against which we will be comparing the Latitude 3490 are the Lenovo ThinkPad E480 and the HP ProBook 440 G5. Both these devices are the cheaper office offerings by both manufacturers. We will also be comparing the Latitude 3490 against the Latitude 14 3470. We did not test the Latitude 3480.

Dell Latitude 3490 (Latitude 14 3400 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i5-8250U 4 x 1.6 - 3.4 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Memory
8 GB 
, DDR4-2400, 1 of 2 slots occupied, maximum of 32 GB RAM
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, LP140WF6 / LGD059D, IPS LED, glossy: no
Storage
SK hynix SC311 M.2, 256 GB 
, M.2 SATA III, 209 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
1 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: Headphone and Microphone combined 3.5 mm jack, Card Reader: SD card reader
Networking
Realtek RTL8168/8111 Gigabit-LAN (10/100/1000MBit/s), Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.1
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 21 x 339 x 242 ( = 0.83 x 13.35 x 9.53 in)
Battery
56 Wh Lithium-Polymer
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 0.9 Megapixel
Additional features
Speakers: Stereo, Keyboard: 6-row chiclet keyboard, Keyboard Light: yes, Dell Command Power Manager, Dell Command Update, Dell Support Assist, Microsoft Office Trial, 12 Months Warranty
Weight
1.824 kg ( = 64.34 oz / 4.02 pounds), Power Supply: 335 g ( = 11.82 oz / 0.74 pounds)
Price
830 Euro
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case & Connectivity

The Latitude 3490 is made from plastic, a far cry from the metal and carbon-fibrer cases that we have come to expect with more expensive business devices. Our test device has an unpainted black finish, which gives the device a rustic look and feel. By contrast, the ThinkPad E480 has a coated palm rest and the ProBook 440 G5 has an aluminum palm rest, both of which we prefer to the Latitude 3490. The case is thicker than the more expensive Latitude 7000 series to maintain structural integrity while using cheaper materials. The Latitude 3490 is still an Ultrabook at 21 mm thick, but this is about as thick as an Ultrabook can get. Dell has done a good job with case stability on a cheaper office notebook though. We could not depress the palm rest nor did the display immediately distort when we applied pressure to the back of the display lid. The display can be opened to 180 °, but you cannot open the device one-handed.

The internal components can be accessed by removing the bottom case, which is secured with several screws and plastic hooks. The Latitude 3490 has good upgradability with two SO-DIMM slots and an unoccupied 2.5-inch drive bay, for which Dell includes the necessary parts to install an additional drive.

The Latitude 3490 has a wealth of ports including VGA, HDMI and USB Type-C with DisplayPort. Unlike the ThinkPad E480, the Latitude 3490 has a full-sized SD card reader. Unfortunately, the reader has slow transfer speeds and leaves a piece of the SD card protruding from the side of the device. Dell could have done better in terms of USB ports though. The USB port on the right-hand side is too close to the palm rest for our liking. Worse still, it only supports USB 2.0, which is restrictive given that there is only one other USB Type-A port.

Size Comparison

342 mm / 13.5 inch 243 mm / 9.57 inch 23 mm / 0.906 inch 1.8 kg3.99 lbs339 mm / 13.3 inch 242 mm / 9.53 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.8 kg4.02 lbs336 mm / 13.2 inch 238 mm / 9.37 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.6 kg3.42 lbs333 mm / 13.1 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.7 kg3.73 lbs329 mm / 13 inch 242 mm / 9.53 inch 19.9 mm / 0.783 inch 1.8 kg3.94 lbs331 mm / 13 inch 220.9 mm / 8.7 inch 17.9 mm / 0.705 inch 1.6 kg3.44 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

Left-hand side: power connector, USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1, HDMI, RJ45 Ethernet, USB 3.0 Type-A, 3.5 mm jack
Left-hand side: power connector, USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 1, HDMI, RJ45 Ethernet, USB 3.0 Type-A, 3.5 mm jack
Right-hand side: SD card reader, USB 2.0 Type-A, VGA, Noble lock
Right-hand side: SD card reader, USB 2.0 Type-A, VGA, Noble lock
SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
79.5 MB/s +237%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KNCTO1WW
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
76.1 MB/s +222%
Average of class Office
  (8 - 196.8, n=50, last 2 years)
55.6 MB/s +136%
Dell Latitude 3490
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.6 MB/s
Dell Latitude 14 3470
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
23.5 MB/s 0%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.9 (79.5min) MB/s +260%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KNCTO1WW
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
87.3 MB/s +258%
Average of class Office
  (26.4 - 173.2, n=44, last 2 years)
65.2 MB/s +167%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
27.6 MB/s +13%
Dell Latitude 3490
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
24.4 MB/s
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
Realtek 8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
629 MBit/s +17%
Dell Latitude 3490
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
536 (538P1) MBit/s
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KNCTO1WW
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
300 MBit/s -44%
iperf3 receive AX12
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
Realtek 8822BE Wireless LAN 802.11ac PCI-E NIC
649 MBit/s +12%
Dell Latitude 3490
Atheros/Qualcomm QCA6174
580 (584P1) MBit/s
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KNCTO1WW
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3165
306 MBit/s -47%

Input Devices

The keyboard is one of the most important aspects of an office notebook; it is likely to be the most used input device. Fortunately, the Latitude 3490 has an impressive backlit keyboard, the comfortability of which is only beaten by ThinkPad keyboards. The Latitude 3490 keyboard has a decent pressure point and a good stroke depth. One thing that will take some getting used to is the keyboard width, which is smaller than it could be. There is space for a full-width keyboard, but Dell has opted for a narrower layout, one of the compromises being a smaller Enter key among others.

The Latitude 3490 has a Windows Precision Touchpad that integrates mouse buttons. This contrasts with more expensive Latitude models which have dedicated mouse buttons like the Latitude 5490. The Microsoft Precision drivers mean that inputs are reproduced accurately and that the Latitude 3490 supports touchpad gestures. The touchpad has a plastic surface that is slightly angled, neither of which are ideal for smoothly moving your fingers across the surface. We would have preferred a glass surface rather than a plastic one as glass would be smoother. Additionally, the Latitude 3490 has no TrackPoint, which we have seen on the Latitude 5000 series upwards.

Latitude 3490 keyboard
Latitude 3490 keyboard

Display

Sub-pixel array LP140WF6
Sub-pixel array LP140WF6
The Latitude 3490 has hardly any backlight bleed.
The Latitude 3490 has hardly any backlight bleed.

Dell lists three display options for the Latitude 3490. The base model is a 1366x786 TN display. The other two options are Full HD 1920x1080 IPS panels, one of which has a touchscreen. All three displays have matte finishes.

Our test device is equipped with the Full HD non-touch option made by LG, which Dell claims should reach an average brightness of 220 cd/m². Our test device exceeds this claim by achieving an average brightness of 241 cd/m². The display is dark when compared with more expensive devices, but the Latitude 3490 betters its direct competitors. The ThinkPad E480 and the ProBook 440 G5 have 10 cd/m² and 20 cd/m² dimmer screens, respectively.

We measure brightness uniformity at 81%, which is still in our green range. The Latitude 3490 does not use pulse width modulation (PWM) to regulate display brightness. Subjectively, there is no visible shadowing and hardly any backlight bleed.

248
cd/m²
251
cd/m²
219
cd/m²
250
cd/m²
250
cd/m²
216
cd/m²
266
cd/m²
244
cd/m²
226
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LP140WF6 / LGD059D tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 266 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 241.1 cd/m² Minimum: 10.4 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 81 %
Center on Battery: 248 cd/m²
Contrast: 1000:1 (Black: 0.25 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.5 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 4.8
ΔE Greyscale 3.5 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
59.4% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
37.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
41.16% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
59.6% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
39.81% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.27
Dell Latitude 3490
LP140WF6 / LGD059D, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
Innolux N140HCA-EAC, , 1920x1080, 14.00
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
LGD04B2, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Innolux N140BGE, , 1366x768, 14.00
Dell Latitude 5490-TD70X
AU Optronics AUO263D, , 1920x1080, 14.00
Display
5%
-1%
1%
-9%
Display P3 Coverage
39.81
41.88
5%
39.56
-1%
40.21
1%
36.28
-9%
sRGB Coverage
59.6
62.8
5%
59.3
-1%
60.5
2%
54.6
-8%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
41.16
43.29
5%
40.88
-1%
41.55
1%
37.48
-9%
Response Times
-26%
-15%
-19%
-30%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
36.4 ?(18.8, 17.6)
44 ?(22.8, 21.2)
-21%
40 ?(21.2, 18.8)
-10%
47 ?(25, 22)
-29%
46.9 ?(23.6, 23.3)
-29%
Response Time Black / White *
24 ?(13.2, 10.8)
31.2 ?(17.2, 14)
-30%
28.8 ?(17.2, 11.6)
-20%
26 ?(18, 8)
-8%
31.2 ?(18, 13.2)
-30%
PWM Frequency
24880 ?(40)
Screen
9%
-3%
-49%
5%
Brightness middle
250
251
0%
236
-6%
206
-18%
227
-9%
Brightness
241
231
-4%
221
-8%
193
-20%
211
-12%
Brightness Distribution
81
80
-1%
88
9%
87
7%
88
9%
Black Level *
0.25
0.19
24%
0.26
-4%
0.48
-92%
0.19
24%
Contrast
1000
1321
32%
908
-9%
429
-57%
1195
20%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
5.5
5.1
7%
5.7
-4%
11
-100%
5.6
-2%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
23.5
10.6
55%
22
6%
19.57
17%
22.4
5%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
4.8
Greyscale dE 2000 *
3.5
4.5
-29%
3.8
-9%
11.51
-229%
2.4
31%
Gamma
2.27 97%
2.18 101%
2.1 105%
2.23 99%
2.44 90%
CCT
7049 92%
6146 106%
7318 89%
13671 48%
6506 100%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
37.9
39.8
5%
37.7
-1%
38.46
1%
34.5
-9%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
59.4
62.5
5%
59.2
0%
60.61
2%
54.4
-8%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-4% / 4%
-6% / -4%
-22% / -35%
-11% / -2%

* ... smaller is better

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
24 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 13.2 ms rise
↘ 10.8 ms fall
The screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 48 % 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
36.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18.8 ms rise
↘ 17.6 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. » 46 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is similar to 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.

CalMAN: ColorChecker (uncalibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (uncalibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (uncalibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (uncalibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (uncalibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (uncalibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: ColorChecker (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Saturation (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)
CalMAN: Grayscale (calibrated)

The display has poor color-space coverage, which is typical for budget IPS panels. Our test device is accurate to 59.4% sRGB and 37.9% AdobeRGB, so using the Latitude 3490 for image-editing is a no-go. Our test device is usable outdoors despite these shortcomings though. The matte display reduces reflections, but the low maximum brightness means that it would be best to use the device in the shade on sunny days.

IPS displays have several advantages over TN LCDs, one of which is higher contrast. The Dell Latitude 3490 does not disappoint thanks to a 1,000:1 contrast ratio that makes colors look strong despite the low color-space coverage. Likewise, blacks look inky thanks to the 0.25 cd/m² black value. The Latitude 3490 performs well against the competition, with slightly better values compared with the ProBook 440 G5 and considerably better than the Latitude 14 3470. The Latitude 3490 cannot match the ThinkPad E480 in this regard though, the latter of which has a 1,321:1 contrast ratio and a 0.19 cd/m² black value. This represents a 32% better contrast ratio and a 24% lower black value.

Another advantage of IPS displays is their strong viewing angles. Our test device follows suit with excellent viewing angles even at acute angles.

sRGB: 59.4%
sRGB: 59.4%
AdobeRGB: 37.9%
AdobeRGB: 37.9%
Using the Latitude 3490 outside in the shade
Using the Latitude 3490 outside in the shade
Viewing angles
Viewing angles
 
 

Performance

The Latitude 3490 has several configurations for the German market, the main differences being the processors and internal storage with which the configurations are equipped. In terms of CPUs, Dell offers a choice between Kaby Lake dual-core processors like the Intel Core i3-7130U and the Intel Core i5-7200U or Kaby Lake Refresh quad-core CPUs like the Intel Core i5-8250U. Dell offers only two internal storage options, either a 256 GB SSD or a 1 TB 5,400 RPM HDD. 8 GB DDR4 2400 RAM comes with all the German configurations. This occupies one SO-DIMM slot, with 32 GB being the maximum that the Latitude 3490 could handle.

Conversely, Dell USA offers slightly different configurations. This includes a 500 GB 7,200 RPM HDD instead of the 1 TB HDD and a 4GB DDR4 2400 RAM option. Moreover, there is the choice between an Intel Celeron 3865U or an Intel Core i7-8550U in addition to the processors that are offered in the German market.

HWiNFO
HWiNFO
CPU-Z
CPU-Z
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z SPD
CPU-Z SPD
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
LatencyMon
LatencyMon

Processor

Our test device is powered by a Kaby Lake Refresh Intel Core i5-8250U quad-core processor. The 15 W ultra-low voltage (ULV) CPU has a 1.6 GHz base clock speed that can Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz when required.

Please see our CPU benchmark page for a comparison of the Core i5-8250U against other processors.

Dell has raised the Core i5-8250U’s thermal design power (TDP) in our test devices from 15 W to 22 W. The CPU can Turbo Boost up to 44 W for 28 seconds, during which time clock speeds reach 3.4 GHz. This temporarily boosted TDP helps our test device to score 646 points in the first pass of Cinebench R15. Scores drop on subsequent passes as the CPU is unable to harness that extra Turbo Boost power. The CPU stabilizes at around 2.8 GHz after the initial performance drop.

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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

Overall, the Latitude 3490 has good full load and Turbo Boost performance that exceeds those of the ProBook 440 G5 and the ThinkPad E480.

The Latitude 3490 throttles its CPU when on battery by reducing the TDP to 15 W. In Cinebench R15 this results in a drop from 646 to 540 points.

Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (82.6 - 284, n=118, last 2 years)
215 Points +50%
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
Intel Core i5-8250U
146 Points +2%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
Intel Core i5-8250U
145 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 3490
Intel Core i5-8250U
143 Points
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (81 - 147, n=97)
141.1 Points -1%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel Core i3-6100U
97 Points -32%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (160.8 - 2642, n=120, last 2 years)
1380 Points +114%
Dell Latitude 3490
Intel Core i5-8250U
646 Points
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
Intel Core i5-8250U
620 Points -4%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U
  (320 - 730, n=101)
570 Points -12%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
Intel Core i5-8250U
548 Points -15%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel Core i3-6100U
250 Points -61%
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
43.77 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
143 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
646 Points
Help

System Performance

Our test device performed well in the PCMark benchmarks, something which translates into real-world performance too. The system feels fast and smooth in daily use with no issues or hiccups during our testing.

PCMark 8 - Home Score Accelerated v2
Dell Latitude 3490
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, SK hynix SC311 M.2
4458 Points
Average of class Office
  (2304 - 4830, n=12, last 2 years)
4261 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), i5-8250U, Lenovo LENSE20256GMSP34MEAT2TA
4187 Points -6%
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U, Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
3774 Points -15%
Average Intel Core i5-8250U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (2986 - 4458, n=69)
3584 Points -20%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
HD Graphics 520, 6100U, Toshiba MQ01ACF050
3074 Points -31%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4458 points
PCMark 10 Score
3619 points
Help

Storage Devices

Our test device is equipped with a 256 GB SSD, which is the same storage capacity as the ProBook 440 G5 and the ThinkPad E480. The similarities stop there though as the Latitude 3490 uses a SATA III SSD from Hynix whereas the other two devices use much faster PCIe NVMe SSDs. This is not a huge criticism against the Latitude 3490 given its budget business laptop price. While you may not notice the difference in daily use, a PCIe NVMe SSD will be quicker at copying large amounts of data than its SATA III counterpart.

Dell Latitude 3490
SK hynix SC311 M.2
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
Lenovo LENSE20256GMSP34MEAT2TA
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
Intel SSD 600p SSDPEKKW256G7
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Toshiba MQ01ACF050
Average SK hynix SC311 M.2
 
Average of class Office
 
CrystalDiskMark 3.0
23%
76%
-92%
-1%
173%
Read Seq
495.5
1295
161%
1181
138%
108.9
-78%
494 ?(493 - 496, n=2)
0%
1895 ?(508 - 3536, n=3, last 2 years)
282%
Write Seq
389.2
160.6
-59%
602
55%
103.2
-73%
401 ?(389 - 413, n=2)
3%
2113 ?(459 - 3702, n=3, last 2 years)
443%
Read 512
374.4
872
133%
923
147%
365 ?(355 - 374, n=2)
-3%
878 ?(392 - 1221, n=3, last 2 years)
135%
Write 512
323.4
122
-62%
600
86%
323 ?(323 - 323, n=2)
0%
1297 ?(389 - 2096, n=3, last 2 years)
301%
Read 4k
26.69
25.72
-4%
35.48
33%
0.362
-99%
27.2 ?(26.7 - 27.6, n=2)
2%
43.3 ?(19.7 - 68.2, n=3, last 2 years)
62%
Write 4k
71.8
95.2
33%
139.8
95%
0.946
-99%
68.3 ?(64.7 - 71.8, n=2)
-5%
132.5 ?(45.9 - 214, n=3, last 2 years)
85%
Read 4k QD32
283.2
389.9
38%
287.8
2%
0.721
-100%
284 ?(283 - 284, n=2)
0%
433 ?(186.4 - 761, n=3, last 2 years)
53%
Write 4k QD32
280.1
118.3
-58%
417.1
49%
0.901
-100%
267 ?(255 - 280, n=2)
-5%
341 ?(222 - 526, n=3, last 2 years)
22%
SK hynix SC311 M.2
Sequential Read: 495.5 MB/s
Sequential Write: 389.2 MB/s
512K Read: 374.4 MB/s
512K Write: 323.4 MB/s
4K Read: 26.69 MB/s
4K Write: 71.8 MB/s
4K QD32 Read: 283.2 MB/s
4K QD32 Write: 280.1 MB/s

Graphics Card

The Latitude 3490 only comes with Intel UHD Graphics 620, which is integrated with the CPU. Dell offers no dedicated GPU option. The UHD Graphics 620 performance is RAM dependent. The GPU performs best when there are two RAM modules installed; this unlocks dual-channel mode. Dell equips the Latitude 3490 with one 8 GB RAM module, which means that the system runs in single-channel mode. This limits GPU performance. The RAM is SO-DIMM rather than soldered so you could install a second RAM module for better GPU performance, among other practical benefits.

In contrast to the CPU, we noticed no GPU performance throttling on battery.

3DMark 11 - 1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Office
  (1474 - 12230, n=115, last 2 years)
5878 Points +260%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i5-8250U
4559 Points +179%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
AMD Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), Intel Core i5-8250U
1619 Points -1%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +7%
Dell Latitude 3490
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1634 Points
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1595 Points -2%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KNCTO1WW
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Intel Core i5-8250U
1518 Points -7%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
Intel HD Graphics 520, Intel Core i3-6100U
1063 Points -35%
3DMark 11 Performance
1790 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
7474 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
895 points
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Gaming Performance

The Latitude 3490 is limited to playing older or less-demanding games because of the limitations associated with Intel UHD Graphics 620. Power-hungry games like Far Cry 5 or The Witcher 3 will not run smoothly, if at all, on the Latitude 3490.

low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 52.9 27.72 22.83 7.66

Emissions & Energy

Fan Noise

The fan is largely off at idle but gets loud under load. We measured our test device reaching up to 44.3 dB(A) when stress tested, which is louder than both the ProBook 440 G5 and the ThinkPad E480. This corresponds to lower overall performance though.

Unfortunately, we detected some coil whine with our test device. While relatively quiet, this could still be bothersome to those who are sensitive to certain frequencies.

Noise Level

Idle
29.8 / 29.8 / 29.8 dB(A)
Load
39.1 / 44.3 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: 29.8 dB(A)
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.731.932.32530.12929.83131.630.631.74027.828.128.85029.328.728.96326.726.328.28029.725.631.91002825.830.112525.22526.616025.423.224.220025.922.225.325030.821.624.831529.920.423.940025.11925.350026.618.528.763025.917.427.880025.217.226.410002617.427.4125028.216.929.8160027.916.831200026.117.430.2250026.617.429.9315025.51728.1400030.517.330.9500028.917.231.8630025.517.529.2800023.517.927.8100002017.923.61250018.318.319.71600018.41818.8SPL39.129.841.3N3.31.33.8median 25.9median 17.9median 27.8Delta1.61.72.839.134.633.835.230.229.32730.634.731.533.529.732.329.629.429.830.326.129.728.428.426.625.726.72524.125.625.324.724.125.825.326.22526.327.123.722.922.924.423.222.622.625.522.121.420.822.323.52120.422.920.418.818.92119.918.818.420.721.918.217.42121.617.41722.922.617.417.124.223.41716.425.324.216.315.925.624.116.515.925.925.41615.727.224.716.51627.218.717.416.319.618.617.516.719.117.918.116.818.318.523.517.217.919.222.917.517.817.919.31717.418.922.816.917.434.530.729.13621.41.22.3median 22.1median 18.8median 17.1median 22.92.72.51.73.53432.635.63732.229.13028.833.228.531.631.732.131.930.931.129.829.429.531.126.725.726.82727.524.625.625.525.824.724.42524.326.323.726.326.824.92527.526.62525.324.62627.925.126.826.728.724.724.423.62427.22422.9222227.321.622.521.222.123.219.522.521.320.421.319.822.320.819.320.718.220.42018.319.718.220.719.918.619.120.522.720.818.82118.321.720.416.419.418.122.419.915.420.117.822.720.415.218.716.920.919.214.918.117.221.719.41518.817.124.220.415.2201722.819.315.419.116.219.417.615.817.116.317.716.91616.516.416.816.81616.316.416.316.81616.316.616.217.315.916.230.333.831.829.131.71.421.71.21.7median 18.2median 22.4median 20.4median 16.4median 19.72.41.81.32.62.9hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseDell Latitude 3490HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ESLenovo ThinkPad E480-20KNCTO1WW

Temperature

Prime95 & FurMark stress test
Prime95 & FurMark stress test

Surface temperatures are cool at idle, measuring an average of 22.3 °C on the top and 21.6 °C on the bottom. Maximum temperatures are only a degree or so higher too at 23.5 °C and 22.9 °C, respectively.

Surface temperatures ramp up under loud though, during which we measured the top reaching an average of 37.3 °C and 35.6 °C on the bottom. The temperature distribution is uneven on both sides of the case as there are hot and cool spots that differ wildly in temperature. While the palm rest and corresponding points on the bottom case stay below 30 °C, much of the case exceeds 40 °C. The hottest area is in the centre of the device next to display, where temperatures reach 46 °C on top and 48.8 °C underneath. 50 °C is the threshold at which we would recommend not using a device under load on your lap, but the Latitude 3490 will still feel hot and potentially uncomfortable.

Our test device performed practically the same in Prime95 and FurMark stress tests as it did during a Cinebench R15 benchmark loop, except that the GPU is subjected to full load too. The CPU clocks lower during stress tests too as it shares its TDP with the integrated GPU. After around 10 minutes the CPU downclocks to 1.7 GHz, which is still above its 1.6 GHz base clock speed.

We ran 3DMark11 after stress testing our test device. There were no issues here and the Latitude 3490 performed as expected.

Max. Load
 43 °C
109 F
46.6 °C
116 F
43.7 °C
111 F
 
 41.9 °C
107 F
44 °C
111 F
37.5 °C
100 F
 
 29.5 °C
85 F
25.3 °C
78 F
24.5 °C
76 F
 
Maximum: 46.6 °C = 116 F
Average: 37.3 °C = 99 F
41.3 °C
106 F
48.8 °C
120 F
43.2 °C
110 F
32.2 °C
90 F
40.3 °C
105 F
41.7 °C
107 F
23 °C
73 F
23.6 °C
74 F
25.9 °C
79 F
Maximum: 48.8 °C = 120 F
Average: 35.6 °C = 96 F
Power Supply (max.)  42.4 °C = 108 F | Room Temperature 20.8 °C = 69 F | Voltcraft IR-900
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 37.3 °C / 99 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 46.6 °C / 116 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 48.8 °C / 120 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 22.3 °C / 72 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 29.5 °C / 85.1 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 (-1.8 °C / -3.2 F).
Top case surface temperatures during a stress test
Top case surface temperatures during a stress test
Bottom surface temperatures during a stress test
Bottom surface temperatures during a stress test

Speakers

The Latitude 3490 has downward-firing stereo speakers. The speakers reach around 83 dB(A), which is loud. While the sound quality is ok for notebook speakers, we still recommend connecting the device to external speakers or using headphones for a better listening experience.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2031.932.9252931.73130.632.34028.129.45028.735.16326.331.78025.628.710025.831.71252531.116023.239.320022.248.925021.652.731520.453.34001954.650018.556.463017.461.380017.267.7100017.471.9125016.966.6160016.866.4200017.470.1250017.469.431501770.9400017.375.9500017.276630017.571.5800017.967.81000017.963.41250018.363.8160001861.5SPL29.883N1.352.3median 17.9median 63.8Delta1.78.433.834.12731.333.533.929.430.529.728.325.72625.624.525.824.826.326.622.925.722.636.120.851.820.459.418.963.318.462.717.460.91760.917.167.216.468.415.971.215.967.415.766.81667.916.368.216.76716.866.817.264.817.559.71754.516.95029.1791.243.9median 17.1median 62.71.7103432.628.931.731.831.429.229.727.64226.235.62630.725.829.524.432.924.144.523.849.521.75320.657.718.658.818.95918.15617.871.217.270.317.46316.761.216.760.416.857.51763.217.268.717.562.517.859.818.257.518.254.718.355.118.350.629.876.61.337.1median 18.2median 57.71.85.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Latitude 3490HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ESLenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Dell Latitude 3490 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 21% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (7.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 7% higher than median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (21.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 50% of all tested devices in this class were better, 10% similar, 40% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 57% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 36% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (79 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (13.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.5% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (3.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (23.1% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 60% of all tested devices in this class were better, 8% similar, 32% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 64% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 30% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.2% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (12.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 5.2% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9.6% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (10.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (19.9% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 36% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 45% of all tested devices were better, 7% similar, 47% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Power Consumption

Power consumption is on par with other laptops powered by the latest Intel quad-core ULV CPUs. By contrast, while the ThinkPad E480 is more energy-efficient, the ProBook 440 G5 consumes marginally more than the Latitude 3490.

Our test device exceeds 65 W under maximum load, which is greater than the included 65 W power supply. However, this high consumption is only when the CPU ramps up to 44 W TDP. As a result, average power consumption is lower and below 65 W. The power supply should have no problem charging the device in daily use.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.4 / 0.51 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 3.2 / 5.5 / 8.1 Watt
Load midlight 40.8 / 68.1 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 Life

Charge time: 142 minutes
Charge time: 142 minutes

The Latitude 3490 has a 56 Wh battery that is 8 Wh larger than the batteries of the ThinkPad E480 and the ProBook 440 G5. Likewise, the Latitude 3490 has a 15 Wh larger battery than the Latitude 14 3470. This extra battery capacity helps the Latitude 3490 score 11 h 34 m in our practical Wi-Fi test, during which we run a script that simulates the load required to render websites. The Latitude 3490 performs exceedingly well against our comparison devices, with the ProBook 440 G5 being the best of the bunch with a 40% shorter runtime.

The Latitude 3490 takes 142 minutes to fully recharge with the 65 W power supply.

Battery Runtime - WiFi Websurfing
Dell Latitude 3490
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 56 Wh
694 min
Average of class Office
  (272 - 1137, n=107, last 2 years)
589 min -15%
HP ProBook 440 G5-3KX87ES
i5-8250U, UHD Graphics 620, 48 Wh
416 min -40%
Lenovo ThinkPad E480-20KQS00000
i5-8250U, Radeon RX 550 (Laptop), 48 Wh
341 min -51%
Dell Latitude 14 3470
6100U, HD Graphics 520, 41 Wh
278 min -60%
Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing (Edge)
11h 34min

Pros

+ stable case design
+ comfortable keyboard
+ adequate display
+ good level of connectivity
+ good upgradability
+ above-average CPU performance
+ long battery life

Cons

- cheap feel
- one of two USB Type-A ports are only USB 2.0
- slow SD card reader
- only 12 months warranty
- CPU throttling on battery

Verdict

The Dell Latitude 3490 in review. Test device courtesy of Cyberport.
The Dell Latitude 3490 in review. Test device courtesy of Cyberport.

The Dell Latitude 3490 is a good business notebook that is priced well.

The positive aspects of the device are often held back by drawbacks, but the Latitude 3490 is still a solid office device. For example, while we applaud the chassis stability, the materials look and feel cheap.

Moreover, while the connectivity is solid and includes VGA, HDMI and USB Type-C with DisplayPort, one of the two USB ports is placed too far forwards and only works at USB 2.0 speeds rather than the faster USB 3.1. Additionally, the SD card reader is slow and leaves a piece of the SD card overhanging the case.

Furthermore, the Latitude 3490 is not silent at idle even though the fan is off because it suffers from coil whine. Equally, while CPU performance is above average and superior to the competition, it is significantly throttled on battery power.

The Latitude 3490 does have impressive upgradability though, thanks to its SO-DIMM RAM and empty 2.5-inch drive bay that can be used without the need to buy additional parts. The battery life is impressive too and far exceeds those of the competition.

The Dell Latitude 3490 is a great choice for those with basic needs and is a solid office device despite its drawbacks.

Overall, the Dell Latitude 3490 gets a recommendation from us despite our criticisms; if you are not sensitive to coil whine that is.

Dell Latitude 3490 - 05/16/2018 v6(old)
Benjamin Herzig

Chassis
81 / 98 → 83%
Keyboard
86%
Pointing Device
88%
Connectivity
56 / 80 → 70%
Weight
65 / 20-67 → 96%
Battery
94%
Display
84%
Games Performance
57 / 68 → 84%
Application Performance
85 / 92 → 92%
Temperature
90%
Noise
86%
Audio
36%
Camera
39 / 85 → 46%
Average
73%
84%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Latitude 3490 (Core i5, FHD) Laptop Review
Benjamin Herzig, 2018-05-29 (Update: 2020-05-19)