Notebookcheck Logo

Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged (i7-8650U, AMD RX 540) Laptop Review

Tough but thin. Rugged Notebooks aren't known for their svelte profiles, but the Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged tries to trim things down while maintaining the durability of the Latitude Rugged line. While there are some sacrifices compared to other rugged laptops, the Latitude 5420 Rugged is an overall convincing machine.

Rugged laptops are designed to survive and work in the most extreme conditions. To that end, most ruggedized notebooks are thick beasts covered in metal, rubber, and plastic. But what would happen if a company were to trim down a rugged laptop without sacrificing much in the way of durability?

The Latitude 5420 Rugged is Dell's answer to this question. The device is thinner than most rugged laptops but still sturdier than most consumer laptops. The 5420 Rugged doesn't skimp on performance, either. Sporting an 8th Gen Intel Core i7-8650U, 16 GB of RAM, and a 512 GB NVMe SSD, the 5420 Rugged keeps up with most modern premium business-class laptops. The 5420 Rugged also sports an AMD Radeon RX 540 GPU with 4 GB of GDDR5 VRAM, giving it a bit more graphical power than a standard office machine.

We'll see how well the Latitude 5420 Rugged stands up against other ruggedized laptops like the Panasonic Toughbook CF-54 and Getac S410. We'll also compare the Latitude 5420 Rugged to more common office laptops like the Lenovo ThinkPad T480, Dell Latitude 5490, and HP Elitebook 840 G4 to see if the rugged machine keeps up with its more fragile contemporaries.

Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G (Latitude 14 Rugged Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8650U 4 x 1.9 - 4.2 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
AMD Radeon RX 540 - 4 GB VRAM, Core: 1176 MHz, Memory: 1500 MHz, GDDR5, AMD Radeon Driver Packaging Version 18.10.22-180612a-332314C-Dell, Yes
Memory
16 GB 
, 1200.5 MHz, DDR4-2400 / PC4-19200
Display
14.00 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 157 PPI, 10-point Multitouch, AU Optronics AUO523D, IPS, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel Kaby Lake-U iHDCP 2.2 Premium PCH
Storage
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB, 512 GB, NVMe, M.2 form factor, 475 GB free
Soundcard
Intel Kaby Lake-U/Y PCH - High Definition Audio
Connections
4 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 HDMI, 2 DisplayPort, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 Serial Port, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: Headset (Combo Audio in/out), Card Reader: Full-sized SD/SDHC/SDXC Card Reader, 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader, NFC, Brightness Sensor, 2x RJ-45 (Ethernet)
Networking
Intel Ethernet Connection I219-LM (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.2
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 32.9 x 347 x 244.5 ( = 1.3 x 13.66 x 9.63 in)
Battery
102 Wh, removeable, 2x 51 Wh (2nd optional)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p HD
Additional features
Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, Dell Command | Update, Dell Free Fall Data Protection, 36 Months Warranty, ruggedized
Weight
2.83 kg ( = 99.83 oz / 6.24 pounds), Power Supply: 264 g ( = 9.31 oz / 0.58 pounds)
Price
3200 USD
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

As with most rugged laptops, the case is extremely well-made but is not aesthetically pleasing. Metal, plastic, and rubber are the dominant materials used and make the Latitude 5420 Rugged feel like a tank. The laptop is MIL-STD-810G certified, meaning it has undergone extensive durability testing. Notably, the Latitude 5420 Rugged is rated to survive drops from 1.22 meters (4 feet) in height and continue to operate in temperatures between -29° and 63° C (-20° and 145° F). The case also bears an IP-52 ingress protection rating, meaning it is dust-resistant and protected against drips/splashes of water. 

Because of its materials and construction, there is no flex anywhere along the chassis. Gaps are tight and even in order to keep dust out. The lid experiences minimal flexing and twisting only under pronounced directed pressure. The 180-degree hinges are firm and hold the screen in place while typing but are too stiff for one-handed opening. Even when touching the screen, the hinges minimize wobble to an imperceptible motion. The primary issue with the case is the matte finish across the metal and plastic elements; fingerprints and smudges readily show along these surfaces, but these can be wiped away easily.

The Latitude 5420 Rugged is large and chunky. It's over twice as thick as other 14-inch laptops (e.g., ThinkPad T480, Latitude 5490) but is comparable to other ruggedized laptops. Weight is the key differentiator; at 2.8 kg, the 5420 Rugged is significantly heavier than even its rugged rivals. However, the firm front handle makes hauling the device much easier. This handle adds quite a bit to the length, but it can be removed via two screws if desired. The Panasonic Toughbook CF-54's retractable handle blends into that machine's case easier, but it doesn't feel as sturdy as the 5420 Rugged's handle.

350 mm / 13.8 inch 293 mm / 11.5 inch 34.9 mm / 1.374 inch 3.2 kg7.05 lbs347 mm / 13.7 inch 244.5 mm / 9.63 inch 32.9 mm / 1.295 inch 2.8 kg6.24 lbs345.5 mm / 13.6 inch 271.8 mm / 10.7 inch 30.5 mm / 1.201 inch 1.9 kg4.2 lbs337 mm / 13.3 inch 233 mm / 9.17 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.6 kg3.59 lbs338 mm / 13.3 inch 237 mm / 9.33 inch 18.9 mm / 0.744 inch 1.5 kg3.26 lbs333 mm / 13.1 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 21 mm / 0.827 inch 1.7 kg3.73 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

All ports are hidden behind latched doors.
All ports are hidden behind latched doors.

Port selection is excellent. Three USB 3.0 Type-A ports and a single USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C port are available for peripherals. Video output is handled by the DisplayPort-compatible USB Type-C port, an HDMI port on the rear, and an optional DisplayPort. Dell also offers different options for rear connections, including either the aforementioned DisplayPort, a second Serial port, a VGA port, or a USB Ficher connector. Other niceties include an NFC pad with Smart Card compatibility, a SIM card slot, and a full-sized SD Card slot. There are also Pogo pins along the bottom panel for docking.

The ports are well-spaced and are contained behind latched doors to keep dust out. It should be noted that these latches are not waterproof like those on some other ruggedized laptops, so water should be avoided even when the latches are closed.

Left: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, 2x USB 3.0 Type A, headset (combo audio in/out)
Left: USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C, 2x USB 3.0 Type A, headset (combo audio in/out)
Right: Removable M.2 drive bay, SD Card, SIM card, USB 3.0 Type-A
Right: Removable M.2 drive bay, SD Card, SIM card, USB 3.0 Type-A
Rear: RJ-45 LAN, DisplayPort, Serial, RJ-45 LAN, HDMI, Noble lock slot, DC in
Rear: RJ-45 LAN, DisplayPort, Serial, RJ-45 LAN, HDMI, Noble lock slot, DC in

SD Card Reader

The SD card reader is lightning fast. Using our Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II reference card, we measure transfer rates between 180-220 MB/s, which should be more than fast enough for even the most demanding professionals.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
182.9 MB/s
Dell Latitude 5490
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
154.9 MB/s -15%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
149.7 MB/s -18%
Average of class Workstation
  (54.8 - 200, n=17, last 2 years)
95.8 MB/s -48%
Getac S410
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
81.1 MB/s -56%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
76.1 MB/s -58%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
74.9 MB/s -59%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
228.8 MB/s
Dell Latitude 5490
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
206.8 MB/s -10%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
179.6 MB/s -22%
Average of class Workstation
  (78.6 - 262, n=17, last 2 years)
133.6 MB/s -42%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.2 MB/s -62%
Getac S410
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
85.5 MB/s -63%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
83.7 MB/s -63%

Communication

Similarly, WiFi connections are extremely quick thanks to the Intel 8265 wireless card. Connections remained perfectly stable up to 40 meters through two interior walls and one exterior brick wall.

Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Workstation
  (last 2 years)
1421 MBit/s +163%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
540 MBit/s
Getac S410
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
538 MBit/s 0%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
524 MBit/s -3%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (jseb)
509 MBit/s -6%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
506 MBit/s -6%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
502 MBit/s -7%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Workstation
  (last 2 years)
1385 MBit/s +112%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
653 MBit/s 0%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
652 MBit/s
Getac S410
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
650 MBit/s 0%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
630 MBit/s -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
624 MBit/s -4%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 (jseb)
579 MBit/s -11%

Security

The Latitude 5420 Rugged packs a bevy of security features into its durable shell. Users can log in via the optional contact fingerprint reader, a Smart Card-compatible NFC pad, or an optional RGB or IR camera. Our model has the IR camera option, and logins are near-immediate via Windows Hello. The camera isn't fooled by glasses (unlike with some other devices) and works in dark environments. The fingerprint reader is fairly accurate (~90%) but may not work with dirty or sweaty fingers. Dell also offers options for Intel's vPro system management engine and TPM.

The IR camera is reliable and fast.
The IR camera is reliable and fast.
The fingerprint reader works most of the time but struggles in some conditions.
The fingerprint reader works most of the time but struggles in some conditions.

Maintenance

Maintenance and upgrades are a bit of a chore. The keyboard can be replaced by removing six screws and prying up some plastic clips, although it takes quite a bit of force. We did not attempt to remove the keyboard for fear of damaging the plastic. Upgrades can be made by unscrewing 20 Phillips Head screws. Thankfully, the screws are all uniform and the panel has no clips holding it in place. The only components that can be readily accessed are the dual RAM slots, the wireless and LTE cards, and the M.2 drive, although the drive is accessible via the side bay. The machine earns points for easy drive removal and installation.

Warranty

The Latitude 5420 Rugged comes with a standard 3-year warranty with options to extend the warranty up to 5 years and add Dell's ProSupport or ProSupport Plus services. ProSupport subscribers have access to onsite service by certified technicians as well as points-of-contact for specific hardware and software problems. ProSupport even provides support for third-party applications like internet browsers, financial software (e.g., Quicken), video/photo editing programs, and more.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard is essentially the same as that found on the Latitude 5490 with a more durable backplate behind it. It carries the same soft pressure and quick response. Similarly, typing is very quiet, save for the space bar's occasional clatter. Our primary complaint is the small arrow keys, which take an adjustment to use efficiently. There is an optional 4-stage backlight. We also notice flickering at the highest brightness level, which may be indicative of a low PWM rate and may be distracting to some users.

Touchpad & Touchscreen

The touchpad is excellent. Unlike other Dell Rugged laptops that opt for resistive touchpads, the 5420 Rugged's touchpad uses the more common capacitive design. Again, the touchpad is extremely similar to that of the Latitude 5490, which is good. Tracking is smooth, gestures fire off accurately, and the textured surface feels good underhand. The pad itself is immovable, and the dedicated buttons feel well-built and offer a quiet, responsive click. There is sadly no option for a pointing stick, which prohibits cursor input for gloved users.

The optional capacitive touchscreen is likewise responsive and accurate. Touch input is precise and scrolling is smooth. Unfortunately, the touchscreen is also unusable with gloves.

Touchpad
Touchpad

Display

Subpixel array.
Subpixel array.

The display is an outdoorsman's dream. At over 1000 nits, the Latitude 5420 Rugged boasts one of the brightest displays we have seen. The Full HD IPS panel is easily readable in any lighting condition, including under direct sunlight. The matte finish across the display also kills reflections, although it does cause whites and bright colors to look grainy from a standard viewing distance. Brightness distribution is a bit uneven, but this is not noticeable, especially at the highest setting. Contrast levels are good (1372:1), and blacks look fairly deep on the bright screen. The screen is a bit cool at 7676 K (ideal is 6500K), and whites have a very slight blue hue.

We do notice some odd behavior. Primarily, there appears to be PWM (735.5 Hz), but only at the highest brightness setting. This is strange, as PWM is typically a trick used to dim a display. All other brightness levels (99% and below) do not exhibit any measurable PWM. Secondly, the lowest brightness setting turns the display off briefly before engaging. Considering the screen drops to about 2 cd/m² at this level, it's likely the backlight is briefly powered off and restarted to get that dim. The display will sometimes cut off for a half second when brightening the backlight, but this does not occur every time.

999.5
cd/m²
1137.9
cd/m²
987.3
cd/m²
1002.2
cd/m²
1111.7
cd/m²
1054.1
cd/m²
907
cd/m²
1012.9
cd/m²
1022.6
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AU Optronics AUO523D tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 1137.9 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 1026.1 cd/m² Minimum: 2.19 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 80 %
Center on Battery: 1111.7 cd/m²
Contrast: 1372:1 (Black: 0.81 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 3.83 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 2.98
ΔE Greyscale 5.6 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
93% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
59% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
64.2% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
92.4% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
62.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.306
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
AU Optronics AUO523D, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
B140XTN, AUO2E3C, TN LED, 14.00, 1366x768
Getac S410
CMN N140BGE-E33, TN PED, 14.00, 1366x768
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
B140HAK01.0, TFT-LCD, 14.00, 1920x1080
Dell Latitude 5490
AUO133D, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
AUO123D, TN, 14.00, 1920x1080
Display
-40%
-35%
-42%
-41%
-11%
Display P3 Coverage
62.5
37.36
-40%
40.46
-35%
36.31
-42%
36.42
-42%
55.8
-11%
sRGB Coverage
92.4
56.1
-39%
60.9
-34%
54.5
-41%
54.6
-41%
80.7
-13%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
64.2
38.62
-40%
41.8
-35%
37.51
-42%
37.62
-41%
57.7
-10%
Response Times
43%
39%
25%
37%
38%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
68 ?(34, 34)
43.2 ?(16.8, 26.4)
36%
41.2 ?(21.6, 19.6)
39%
39.2 ?(22, 17.2)
42%
30.4 ?(16.8, 13.6)
55%
39 ?(20, 19, Plateau)
43%
Response Time Black / White *
33.6 ?(18.8, 14.8)
17.2 ?(11.2, 6)
49%
14 ?(9.6, 4.4)
58%
30.8 ?(18, 12.8)
8%
27.2 ?(16.4, 10.8)
19%
23 ?(6, 17, Plateau)
32%
PWM Frequency
735 ?(100)
877 ?(99)
19%
Screen
-90%
-87%
-51%
-55%
-53%
Brightness middle
1111.7
174.5
-84%
265.1
-76%
276.7
-75%
200.6
-82%
346
-69%
Brightness
1026
164
-84%
246
-76%
272
-73%
204
-80%
317
-69%
Brightness Distribution
80
71
-11%
81
1%
90
13%
87
9%
86
8%
Black Level *
0.81
0.6
26%
0.58
28%
0.21
74%
0.16
80%
0.86
-6%
Contrast
1372
291
-79%
457
-67%
1318
-4%
1254
-9%
402
-71%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
3.83
12.05
-215%
14.24
-272%
7.22
-89%
8.36
-118%
8.64
-126%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
7.85
27.5
-250%
26.66
-240%
25.87
-230%
25.63
-226%
13.58
-73%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
2.98
4.34
-46%
3.94
-32%
5.01
-68%
4.6
-54%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
5.6
14.8
-164%
14.2
-154%
6.7
-20%
7.7
-38%
11.24
-101%
Gamma
2.306 95%
1.4 157%
2.03 108%
2.321 95%
2.773 79%
2.62 84%
CCT
7676 85%
14529 45%
17152 38%
6656 98%
6397 102%
12530 52%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
59
35.7
-39%
38.7
-34%
34
-42%
34.5
-42%
52
-12%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
93
56.2
-40%
61
-34%
54
-42%
54.2
-42%
80
-14%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-29% / -64%
-28% / -56%
-23% / -39%
-20% / -41%
-9% / -33%

* ... smaller is better

Colors are fairly good out of the box. The DeltaE2000 score for colors and grays sit about 3.83 and 5.6, respectively. These can be improved to 2.98 and 4.5, respectively. (Generally, a DeltaE2000 of 3 or lower is considered acceptable for professional work.) There is a wide range of colors available as well; the display covers 93% of the sRGB gamut and 59% of the AdobeRGB color space. Professional photographers and videographers may want a broader color space to work in, but the Latitude 5420 Rugged should offer enough colors for field work or nature photography.

vs sRGB: 93%
vs sRGB: 93%
vs AdobeRGB: 59%
vs AdobeRGB: 59%
ColorChecker
ColorChecker
Grayscale
Grayscale
Saturation Sweeps
Saturation Sweeps
ColorChecker (calibrated)
ColorChecker (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Grayscale (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)
Saturation Sweeps (calibrated)

Thanks to its bright screen, the Latitude 5420 is usable in any lighting condition. Even in direct sunlight, images remain colorful and clear, and text is easy to read. As mentioned, the matte finish completely eliminates any and all reflections, although it does leave grain on lighter backgrounds. Anyone who spends time outdoors, whether doing field work, construction, nature photography, or anything else under the sun, will appreciate the blindingly bright screen.

Screen under shade
Screen under shade
Screen in direct sunlight
Screen in direct 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
33.6 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 18.8 ms rise
↘ 14.8 ms fall
The screen shows slow response rates in our tests and will be unsatisfactory for gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.1 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 89 % 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
68 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 34 ms rise
↘ 34 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. » 98 % 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 detected 735 Hz ≤ 100 % brightness setting

The display backlight flickers at 735 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) Flickering detected at a brightness setting of 100 % and below. There should be no flickering or PWM above this brightness setting.

The frequency of 735 Hz is quite high, so most users sensitive to PWM should not notice any flickering.

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.

Owing to its IPS panel, the Latitude 5420 Rugged has good viewing angles. The screen noticeably dims on the vertical axis, particularly when viewed from above, but colors stay accurate and the screen is still usable. Backlight bleed is present but minimal, mainly in the corners of the screen.

Backlight bleed in upper corners
Backlight bleed in upper corners
Exposure increased to highlight bleed.
Exposure increased to highlight bleed.

Performance

Rugged laptops of the past have often been relegated to dual-core CPUs in order to control thermals. The Latitude 5420 Rugged brings a quad-core update to rugged devices with Intel's Core i7-8650U. Coupled with a dedicated AMD GPU, the Latitude 5420 Rugged stands heads and shoulders above other durable laptops.

CPU-Z: CPU
CPU-Z: CPU
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
HWiNFO64
HWiNFO64
 

Processor

Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15

Intel's ULV chips are often the only sensible choice for a ruggedized laptop; anything else would get far too hot in the tightly packed case. The quad-core structure of Intel's Core i7-8650U is thus a welcome upgrade to the Latitude Rugged lineup, cramming twice as many cores into the same thermal package of previous rugged laptops.

There is still room for improvement. The Latitude 5420 Rugged falls 31% behind the similarly-specced Latitude 5490 in Cinebench's multi-threaded benchmark. Interestingly, the Getac S410 edges out the Latitude 5420 Rugged despite its lower-clocked Core i7-8550U. Long-term performance is stable after a small initial drop.

03570105140175210245280315350385420455490525560595Tooltip
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø466 (461.37-494.52)
Getac S410 UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø497 (492.45-538.66)
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø344 (340.23-352.17)
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø564 (558.47-604.06)
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE UHD Graphics 620, i5-8250U; CPU Multi 64Bit: Ø461 (452.07-488.22)
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Workstation
  (166.2 - 301, n=27, last 2 years)
254 Points +78%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
178 Points +24%
Fujitsu Celsius H980
Intel Core i7-8750H
175 Points +22%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (128 - 178, n=17)
165 Points +15%
Getac S410
Intel Core i7-8550U
163 Points +14%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
161 Points +13%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Intel Core i7-8650U
143 Points
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel Core i5-8250U
140 Points -2%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
Intel Core i5-7300U
125 Points -13%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Core i5-7200U
119 Points -17%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Workstation
  (706 - 3625, n=27, last 2 years)
2343 Points +420%
Fujitsu Celsius H980
Intel Core i7-8750H
1090 Points +142%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
661 Points +47%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (451 - 675, n=19)
589 Points +31%
Getac S410
Intel Core i7-8550U
539 Points +20%
Lenovo IdeaPad 330S-15IKB-81F500N5GE
Intel Core i5-8250U
488 Points +8%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Intel Core i7-8650U
451 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
359 Points -20%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
Intel Core i5-7300U
352 Points -22%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
Intel Core i5-7200U
329 Points -27%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Workstation
  (last 2 years)
2.97 Points +61%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
2.04 Points +11%
Fujitsu Celsius H980
Intel Core i7-8750H
1.99 Points +8%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (1.67 - 2.04, n=9)
1.899 Points +3%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
1.86 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Intel Core i7-8650U
1.84 Points
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Workstation
  (last 2 years)
21.6 Points +329%
Fujitsu Celsius H980
Intel Core i7-8750H
12.62 Points +150%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
6.97 Points +38%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (5.04 - 7.24, n=9)
6.35 Points +26%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Intel Core i7-8650U
5.04 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
3.92 Points -22%
Cinebench R10
Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
Average of class Workstation
  (last 2 years)
39399 Points
Fujitsu Celsius H980
Intel Core i7-8750H
35116 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (16227 - 21455, n=4)
18738 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
12482 Points
Rendering Single 32Bit
Average of class Workstation
  (last 2 years)
6888 Points
Fujitsu Celsius H980
Intel Core i7-8750H
6561 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (5307 - 6782, n=4)
6337 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
6283 Points
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
445.8 s *
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U
334.6 s *
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (268 - 335, n=3)
302 s *

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
10568
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.84 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
5.04 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
95 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
143 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
451 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
81.1 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
98 %
Help

System Performance

Overall system performance is excellent. The combination of a quad-core multi-threaded CPU, 16 GB of RAM, and a speedy NVMe SSD make for a responsive and quick machine. Apps open immediately and there are no unexpected hiccups.

PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Home
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 8 Work
PCMark 10
Score
Average of class Workstation
  (5488 - 8587, n=27, last 2 years)
6843 Points +54%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540
  (4451 - 4497, n=2)
4474 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4451 Points
Dell Latitude 5490
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4066 Points -9%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4027 Points -10%
Getac S410
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A
3958 Points -11%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048
2972 Points -33%
Essentials
Average of class Workstation
  (9151 - 12197, n=27, last 2 years)
10513 Points +24%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540
  (8503 - 8580, n=2)
8542 Points 0%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
8503 Points
Getac S410
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A
8274 Points -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
8243 Points -3%
Dell Latitude 5490
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
8209 Points -3%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048
5706 Points -33%
Productivity
Average of class Workstation
  (7846 - 10820, n=27, last 2 years)
9113 Points +24%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540
  (7328 - 7531, n=2)
7430 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
7328 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
7094 Points -3%
Dell Latitude 5490
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7005 Points -4%
Getac S410
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A
6958 Points -5%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048
5177 Points -29%
Digital Content Creation
Average of class Workstation
  (5399 - 13947, n=27, last 2 years)
9196 Points +139%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
3843 Points
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540
  (3821 - 3843, n=2)
3832 Points 0%
Dell Latitude 5490
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3174 Points -17%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3032 Points -21%
Getac S410
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A
2924 Points -24%
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048
2414 Points -37%
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Getac S410
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A
4197 Points +4%
Dell Latitude 5490
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4065 Points +1%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540
  (4038 - 4052, n=2)
4045 Points 0%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4038 Points
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
HD Graphics 620, i5-7300U, Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048
3906 Points -3%
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3846 Points -5%
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3486 Points -14%
Work Score Accelerated v2
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540
  (5170 - 5231, n=2)
5201 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 5490
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5200 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
5170 Points
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
HD Graphics 620, i5-7200U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4572 Points -12%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
4038 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
5170 points
PCMark 10 Score
4451 points
Help

Storage Devices

The 512 GB SK Hynix NVMe SSD offers fast read sequential read speeds but mediocre sequential write speeds. In day-to-day tasks, the drive is very quick and shouldn't present any bottlenecks whatever the workflow. If needed, the drive can be easily swapped out by pulling the sled house on the right side of the machine. This could be useful for some professionals (e.g., videographers) that can quickly fill a drive and need fresh storage.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark 5.5
CrystalDiskMark 5.5
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048
Getac S410
CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
Dell Latitude 5490
Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Average SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
 
CrystalDiskMark 5.2 / 6
-96%
-40%
13%
-14%
18%
Write 4K
98.8
1.145
-99%
74
-25%
123.2
25%
98.7
0%
114.3 ?(98.8 - 131.7, n=4)
16%
Read 4K
38.51
0.453
-99%
31.85
-17%
44.43
15%
39.46
2%
37.1 ?(26.1 - 46, n=4)
-4%
Write Seq
843
52.2
-94%
460.6
-45%
845
0%
564
-33%
1119 ?(843 - 1256, n=4)
33%
Read Seq
1282
122.7
-90%
514
-60%
865
-33%
764
-40%
1577 ?(1282 - 1873, n=4)
23%
Write 4K Q32T1
355.5
2.428
-99%
211.4
-41%
287.3
-19%
443.3
25%
367 ?(244 - 600, n=4)
3%
Read 4K Q32T1
241.4
1.063
-100%
203.5
-16%
360.9
50%
268.8
11%
310 ?(241 - 388, n=4)
28%
Write Seq Q32T1
893
73.7
-92%
523
-41%
1718
92%
796
-11%
1263 ?(893 - 1395, n=4)
41%
Read Seq Q32T1
2478
120.4
-95%
554
-78%
1779
-28%
875
-65%
2598 ?(2478 - 2667, n=4)
5%
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 2478 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 893 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 241.4 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 355.5 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1282 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 843 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 38.51 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 98.8 MB/s

GPU Performance

The AMD Radeon RX 540 is a massive upgrade over the integrated graphics usually found in rugged laptops. The Latitude 5420 Rugged scores leagues above its rugged brethren in 3DMark. The RX 540 lands just above the Nvidia GeForce MX150, making it a good option for professionals that need a bit more graphical power. The Latitude 5420 Rugged should handle rudimentary drafting and modeling and should be able to complete simple photo and video editing easily. Those with more demanding workloads should look at laptops with the GeForce GTX 1050, although there aren't currently any ruggedized laptops with this GPU.

Fire Strike
Fire Strike
Fire Strike on battery
Fire Strike on battery
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Workstation
  (7432 - 54334, n=27, last 2 years)
23544 Points +372%
Fujitsu Celsius H780
NVIDIA Quadro P2000, i7-8850H
8573 Points +72%
Asus TUF FX505DY
AMD Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R5 3550H
8181 Points +64%
Asus ZenBook 15 UX533FD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q, i7-8565U
7016 Points +41%
Lenovo ThinkPad E490-20N90004GE
AMD Radeon RX 550X (Laptop), i7-8565U
5357 Points +8%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
AMD Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U
4983 Points
Average AMD Radeon RX 540
  (4443 - 4983, n=5)
4699 Points -6%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4514 Points -9%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i7-8565U
2908 Points -42%
Lenovo Ideapad 330-15IKB-81DC00SWGE
AMD Radeon 530, i5-7200U
2113 Points -58%
Getac S410
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1766 Points -65%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Average of class Workstation
  (6413 - 22153, n=27, last 2 years)
15709 Points +168%
Fujitsu Celsius H780
NVIDIA Quadro P2000, i7-8850H
7968 Points +36%
Asus ZenBook 15 UX533FD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q, i7-8565U
6774 Points +16%
Asus TUF FX505DY
AMD Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R5 3550H
6447 Points +10%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
AMD Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U
5853 Points
Average AMD Radeon RX 540
  (4334 - 6040, n=4)
5199 Points -11%
Lenovo ThinkPad E490-20N90004GE
AMD Radeon RX 550X (Laptop), i7-8565U
4951 Points -15%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
4163 Points -29%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i7-8565U
2827 Points -52%
Lenovo Ideapad 330-15IKB-81DC00SWGE
AMD Radeon 530, i5-7200U
2456 Points -58%
Getac S410
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1758 Points -70%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Workstation
  (32743 - 133204, n=15, last 2 years)
62922 Points +151%
Fujitsu Celsius H780
NVIDIA Quadro P2000, i7-8850H
44533 Points +78%
Asus ZenBook 15 UX533FD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q, i7-8565U
35858 Points +43%
Asus TUF FX505DY
AMD Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R5 3550H
35511 Points +42%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
AMD Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U
25077 Points
Average AMD Radeon RX 540
  (18704 - 25616, n=4)
23165 Points -8%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
21260 Points -15%
Lenovo ThinkPad E490-20N90004GE
AMD Radeon RX 550X (Laptop), i7-8565U
20147 Points -20%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i7-8565U
13776 Points -45%
Lenovo Ideapad 330-15IKB-81DC00SWGE
AMD Radeon 530, i5-7200U
9210 Points -63%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Workstation
  (4816 - 35868, n=28, last 2 years)
16313 Points +323%
Fujitsu Celsius H780
NVIDIA Quadro P2000, i7-8850H
6953 Points +80%
Asus TUF FX505DY
AMD Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R5 3550H
6327 Points +64%
Asus ZenBook 15 UX533FD
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q, i7-8565U
5622 Points +46%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
AMD Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U
3853 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad E490-20N90004GE
AMD Radeon RX 550X (Laptop), i7-8565U
3698 Points -4%
Average AMD Radeon RX 540
  (3242 - 3876, n=4)
3623 Points -6%
Huawei MateBook 13 i7
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i7-8565U
3586 Points -7%
HP ProBook 450 G6-5TJ93EA
NVIDIA GeForce MX130, i7-8565U
2383 Points -38%
Lenovo Ideapad 330-15IKB-81DC00SWGE
AMD Radeon 530, i5-7200U
1542 Points -60%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Average AMD Radeon RX 540
 
67875 Points
Asus TUF FX505DY
AMD Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R5 3550H
54961 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 330-15IKB-81DC00SWGE
AMD Radeon 530, i5-7200U
43413 Points
2560x1440 Time Spy Graphics
Average of class Workstation
  (1882 - 16218, n=28, last 2 years)
6389 Points +1029%
Asus TUF FX505DY
AMD Radeon RX 560X (Laptop), R5 3550H
1790 Points +216%
Lenovo ThinkPad E490-20N90004GE
AMD Radeon RX 550X (Laptop), i7-8565U
1049 Points +85%
Average AMD Radeon RX 540
  (566 - 1008, n=2)
787 Points +39%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
AMD Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U
566 Points
Lenovo Ideapad 330-15IKB-81DC00SWGE
AMD Radeon 530, i5-7200U
443 Points -22%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
14964 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
15191 points
3DMark 11 Performance
5179 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
72353 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
13718 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
3469 points
3DMark Time Spy Score
643 points
Help

Gaming Performance

Thanks to the dedicated GPU, gaming is possible. The AMD Radeon RX 540 can handle gameplay at Medium/High settings at a resolution of 1366x768. Some older titles (like Bioshock Infinite) can be pushed to Full HD, although settings will need to be reduced. Demanding modern titles are still out of reach.

Long-term gameplay is stable. Over an hour-long play session of The Witcher 3, we notice no unexpected frame drops or other inconsistent behavior.

BioShock Infinite - 1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF)
Average of class Workstation
  (last 2 years)
88.1 fps +145%
Asus ZenBook 15 UX533FD
Intel Core i7-8565U, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Max-Q
59 fps +64%
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
Intel Core i7-8650U, AMD Radeon RX 540
36 fps
Average AMD Radeon RX 540
  (18.2 - 36, n=2)
27.1 fps -25%
Dell Latitude 5490
Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
10 fps -72%
0510152025303540Tooltip
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G Radeon RX 540, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB: Ø39.4 (35-42)
low med. high ultra
Tomb Raider (2013) 139 62 61 34
BioShock Infinite (2013) 147 78 61 36
Thief (2014) 63 50.3 44.4 38
The Witcher 3 (2015) 48 39 8 6
Rise of the Tomb Raider (2016) 59 38 20 16
Hitman 2016 (2016) 53 47 20 19
Ashes of the Singularity (2016) 36 20 18
Doom (2016) 70 54 28 25
Overwatch (2016) 95 78 52 36
Deus Ex Mankind Divided (2016) 48 35 19 9
Mafia 3 (2016) 42 32 22
Civilization VI (2016) 74 52 32 23
Farming Simulator 17 (2016) 174 137 70 59
Dishonored 2 (2016) 45 29 31 18
Resident Evil 7 (2017) 135 61 36 15
Mass Effect Andromeda (2017) 70 34 20 15
Prey (2017) 108 71 58 40
Rocket League (2017) 182 86 58
Dirt 4 (2017) 150 63 42 27
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) (2017) 75 31 26 19
F1 2017 (2017) 92 40 28 21
Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) 98 39 27 20
Assassin´s Creed Origins (2017) 55 29 22 15
Fortnite (2018) 180 70 55 35
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark (2018) 11 3 2
Kingdom Come: Deliverance (2018) 41 15 12 7
Far Cry 5 (2018) 42 25 21 17
Monster Hunter World (2018) 60 25 21 17
F1 2018 (2018) 62 40 28 21
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018) 55 26 21 16
Hitman 2 (2018) 29 18 12 8
Battlefield V (2018) 63 31 29 21

Emissions

System Noise

Fan noise is excellent. The single fan only ramps up briefly under extreme load before quickly slowing down to a quiet 30 dB(A). Under light load, the fan remains off. There is no perceptible coil whine.

Noise Level

Idle
28.3 / 28.3 / 28.3 dB(A)
Load
29.9 / 38 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   BK Precision 732A (15 cm distance)   environment noise: 28.3 dB(A)

Temperature

Exhaust stream
Exhaust stream

Despite the conservative fan, exterior temperatures are well-managed. Under full load, temperatures stay below 40° C save for some hot spots near the side-mounted vent. The rest of the chassis remains comfortable. The left side of the keyboard grows mildly warm under extended load. When idle, the machine remains at or below room temperature.

Stress Test

The Latitude 5420 Rugged performs well under extended stress. Using Prime95 to fully load the CPU, the Core i7-8650U maintains a steady 2.0 GHz, just above its base 1.9 GHz clock speed. Temperatures across the CPU die remain below 60° C. Graphical loads are likewise well-handled; the GPU floats around 900 MHz with temperatures around 66° C. Gaming loads present perhaps the most strenuous workloads, but the CPU is able to frequently hit its 4.2 GHz boost clock and the GPU sits comfortably at ~1060 MHz. Temperatures for each sit between 70-75° C.

Prime95
Prime95
FurMark
FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
Prime95 + FurMark
The Witcher 3
The Witcher 3
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.0 - 57 -
FurMark Stress 4.0 900 67 66
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 2.0 785 78 73
Witcher 3 Stress 4.2 1062 74 70
Max. Load
 42.2 °C
108 F
35 °C
95 F
25 °C
77 F
 
 37 °C
99 F
33.4 °C
92 F
24.6 °C
76 F
 
 27.8 °C
82 F
24.2 °C
76 F
22.8 °C
73 F
 
Maximum: 42.2 °C = 108 F
Average: 30.2 °C = 86 F
31.2 °C
88 F
36.2 °C
97 F
42 °C
108 F
32.8 °C
91 F
36.8 °C
98 F
42 °C
108 F
26 °C
79 F
27 °C
81 F
27.6 °C
82 F
Maximum: 42 °C = 108 F
Average: 33.5 °C = 92 F
Power Supply (max.)  43 °C = 109 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 30.2 °C / 86 F, compared to the average of 32 °C / 90 F for the devices in the class Workstation.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 42.2 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 38.1 °C / 101 F, ranging from 22.2 to 69.8 °C for the class Workstation.
(±) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 42 °C / 108 F, compared to the average of 41.3 °C / 106 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 26.5 °C / 80 F, compared to the device average of 32 °C / 90 F.
(+) The palmrests and touchpad are cooler than skin temperature with a maximum of 27.8 °C / 82 F and are therefore cool to the touch.
(±) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.8 °C / 82 F (0 °C / 0 F).
Keyboard, idle
Keyboard, idle
Bottom, idle
Bottom, idle
Keyboard, load
Keyboard, load
Bottom, load
Bottom, load

Speakers

Speaker profile
Speaker profile

The single front-mounted speaker (behind the right side of the handle) is loud and experiences no distortion at any volume level. Mids and highs are crystal clear. Bass is present but weak. The overall sound is somewhat muffled, however, which hurts multimedia playback. The speaker should be fine for voice and standard audio, but music and media will need headphones.

dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2037.7432539.844.93141.145.34039.143.15037.942.96338.444.88037.845.910035.548.212534.250.71603452.620033.554.625033.157.631531.960.940031.76150030.664.263030.570.980029.773.7100029.271.8125029.171.8160028.870.4200028.673.7250028.474.4315028.470400028.170.2500027.974.363002874.6800027.773.31000027.871.51250027.569.91600027.471.4SPL4184.4N4.262.1median 29.1median 70.4Delta1.56.137.536.834.835.23532.334.134.932.533.332.333.73032.129.129.229.329.628.428.327.428.827.928.427.5322638.625.747.524.852.524.860.92565.924.563.924.462.524.257.72454.923.85523.661.923.758.723.860.723.561.223.662.323.557.923.546.836.572.72.728.4median 24.5median 551.411.936.942.536.842.337.542.335.842.534.243.333.941.932.942.431.946.131.746.331.347.630.248.12951.627.956.327.957.426.858.626.262.725.866.125.271.424.676.224.172.823.870.323.769.123.468.123.365.123.367.923.162.923.162.922.866.422.762.622.661.236.681.72.848.5median 24.6median 62.91.96.1hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85GPanasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VMGetac S410
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (74.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 16.3% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.2% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.4% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (15.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 31% of all tested devices in this class were better, 7% similar, 62% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 18%, worst was 35%
Compared to all devices tested
» 20% of all tested devices were better, 5% similar, 76% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM audio analysis

(-) | not very loud speakers (65.9 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 7.8% higher than median
(-) | mids are not linear (17.3% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 4.3% away from median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (7.9% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(-) | overall sound is not linear (39.6% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 99% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 1% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 94% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 6% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Getac S410 audio analysis

(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (76.2 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass - on average 13.6% lower than median
(+) | bass is linear (6.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.5% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (8.4% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 3.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (6.2% 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%

Energy Management

Power Consumption

Prime95
Prime95

Due to its bright display and dedicated GPU, the Latitude 5420 Rugged draws significantly more power than other ruggedized laptops. Under typical load, the 5420 Rugged pulls about 70 Watts; most competitors draw 35-45 Watts under similar strain. The Latitude 5420 draws a peak of 93.5 Watts, which is higher than the included 90 Watt power supply and may prove problematic under extended workloads.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.39 / 0.75 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 4.8 / 13.6 / 13.8 Watt
Load midlight 67.8 / 93.5 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.
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
i7-8650U, Radeon RX 540, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, Seagate BarraCuda Compute 1TB ST1000LM048, TN LED, 1366x768, 14.00
Getac S410
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, CUKUSA 1 TB SATA SSD Q0526A, TN PED, 1366x768, 14.00
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, TFT-LCD, 1920x1080, 14.00
Dell Latitude 5490
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, TN, 1920x1080, 14.00
Power Consumption
44%
36%
36%
40%
52%
Idle Minimum *
4.8
4.4
8%
5.6
-17%
3.8
21%
3.9
19%
2.9
40%
Idle Average *
13.6
6.3
54%
7.9
42%
7.7
43%
6.2
54%
5.6
59%
Idle Maximum *
13.8
6.5
53%
8.4
39%
9.3
33%
7.7
44%
8.15
41%
Load Average *
67.8
36.3
46%
32.8
52%
45.7
33%
43.9
35%
30.6
55%
Witcher 3 ultra *
69.1
Load Maximum *
93.5
38.3
59%
34.3
63%
46.1
51%
47.7
49%
31
67%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The Latitude 5420 Rugged is a road warrior's dream. The device can be configured with dual 51 Wh hot-swappable batteries. The Latitude 5420 Rugged lasted an astounding 16 hours 12 minutes in our WiFi v1.3 battery test (screen set to 150 nits, opening a new webpage every 30-40 seconds). This blows competitors out of the water. Theoretically, users can extend the Latitude 5420 Rugged's life even longer should they have enough battery cells on hand. The main downside to the machine's excellent battery life is charging; the laptop takes about 3.5-4 hours to fully charge from 5%.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
31h 22min
WiFi Websurfing
16h 12min
Load (maximum brightness)
3h 10min
Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G
i7-8650U, Radeon RX 540, 102 Wh
Panasonic Toughbook CF-54G2999VM
i5-7300U, HD Graphics 620, 33 Wh
Getac S410
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 46.6 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad T480-20L50010US
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, 24 Wh
Dell Latitude 5490
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, 68 Wh
HP EliteBook 840 G4-Z2V49ET ABD
i5-7200U, HD Graphics 620, 51 Wh
Battery Runtime
-64%
-68%
-55%
-28%
-28%
Reader / Idle
1882
1155
-39%
WiFi v1.3
972
352
-64%
312
-68%
437
-55%
695
-28%
571
-41%
Load
190
184
-3%

Pros

+ portable for a rugged laptop
+ excellent keyboard
+ extremely bright display
+ hot-swappable batteries
+ long battery life
+ easy to swap hard drive
+ good repairability/maintenance options
+ Windows Hello w/ face recognition and fingerprint scanner
+ wide selection of ports

Cons

- very expensive
- heavy and thick
- average touchpad
- grainy matte screen
- below-average performance
- aesthetically ugly

Verdict

In review: Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged. Review unit provided by Dell.
In review: Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged. Review unit provided by Dell.

The Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged represents a shift in the design ethos of ruggedized laptops. The device manages to retain many of the features that define rugged laptops while cutting the device's thickness in half. The addition of a quad-core CPU and dedicated GPU sweeten the deal and make the Latitude 5420 Rugged very competitive, especially for photographers and videographers who spend a lot of time outdoors.

There are some drawbacks. The laptop is still very heavy and bulky, even compared to similar rugged laptops. CPU performance is also below average and may disappoint some. Also, the Latitude 5420 Rugged eschews some of the rugged features of thicker machines like water-resistance.

That said, the high-quality bright display, great graphical performance, good heat and fan noise management, and remarkable battery life make the Latitude 5420 Rugged a good fit for outdoor professionals who need a long-lasting and durable machine.

Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged-P85G - 03/18/2019 v6(old)
Sam Medley

Chassis
84 / 98 → 86%
Keyboard
94%
Pointing Device
90%
Connectivity
77 / 81 → 95%
Weight
58 / 10-66 → 85%
Battery
100%
Display
89%
Games Performance
74%
Application Performance
91%
Temperature
91 / 95 → 96%
Noise
97 / 90 → 100%
Audio
50%
Camera
58 / 85 → 68%
Average
81%
89%
Workstation - Weighted Average

Pricecompare

Read all 2 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Latitude 5420 Rugged (i7-8650U, AMD RX 540) Laptop Review
Sam Medley, 2019-03-20 (Update: 2019-03-23)