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Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 (i7-8650U, FHD) Convertible Review

Professional convertible… There’s a lot to like about the Latitude 7390 2-in-1, such as its Core i7-8650U quad-core CPU, NVMe SSD, sturdy case with a compact footprint, and dual-storage capability. But it also carries its share of drawbacks—and it’s quite expensive.

As the trend toward more stylish and luxurious business-grade laptops continues to gain momentum, we’ve witnessed even more mainstream traits finding integration in the business segment. In keeping with this tangible shift, the 2018 follow-up to Dell’s well-received Latitude 7380 (or, more accurately, the Latitude 7389) comes in two different flavors: a conventional laptop (the Latitude 7390) and a Yoga-esque convertible in the vein of the XPS 13 2-in-1, appropriately renamed the Latitude 7390 2-in-1. Today, we’ve got the latter in our labs for testing. How does it stand up to the rigors of everyday business life?

One thing is for certain: this $2,109 device is not for the financially faint of heart. This is, as are its other 7000-series counterparts, a top-quality business-grade workhorse built to handle the usual tasks with ease and offer all the maintainability and connectivity expected of laptops in its class. Inside our review unit, we find an Intel Core i7-8650U CPU, 16 GB of LPDDR3 RAM, a 500 GB NVMe SSD, and an FHD (1920x1080) IPS touchscreen display.

A few top competitors include the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018, Toshiba Portege A30-D-139, and Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN. The Latitude 7390 2-in-1 is the smallest of the bunch—but can it match the performance of its peers?

Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 (Latitude 13 7300 Series)
Processor
Intel Core i7-8650U 4 x 1.9 - 4.2 GHz, Kaby Lake Refresh
Graphics adapter
Intel UHD Graphics 620, Core: 1150 MHz, Memory: 1067 MHz, 22.20.16.4799
Memory
16 GB 
, LPDDR3
Display
13.30 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel 166 PPI, yes, AUO462D, IPS, glossy: yes
Mainboard
Intel Sunrise Point-LP
Storage
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Soundcard
Realtek ALC295 @ Intel Sunrise Point-LP PCH - High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 2 USB 3.1 Gen2, 2 Thunderbolt, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 3.5 combo, Card Reader: SD, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Sensors: gyrometer
Networking
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): 20 x 306 x 211 ( = 0.79 x 12.05 x 8.31 in)
Battery
60 Wh, 7500 mAh Lithium-Ion
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: 720p
Primary Camera: 1 MPix
Additional features
Speakers: 2.0, bottom-mounted, Keyboard: Chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 12 Months Warranty, on-site after remote diagnosis
Weight
1.442 kg ( = 50.87 oz / 3.18 pounds), Power Supply: 290 g ( = 10.23 oz / 0.64 pounds)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.

 

Case

Built from sturdy magnesium and coated with Dell’s familiar soft-touch matte black paint, the 7390 2-in-1 certainly fits in with its brethren right from the first glance. As previously mentioned, it’s more of an update of the Latitude 7389 2-in-1 than it is a direct successor to the 7380 (the vanilla Latitude 7390 assumes that lofty responsibility instead). Like the XPS 13 laptops, although newer Latitude machines have adopted the central hinge design, the 2-in-1 flavors necessarily maintain more conventional split hinges. A few other telltale artifacts of the design also separate the 2-in-1 from its traditional siblings—most notably, rubber pads on the top of the base unit to help protect the unit when positioned in Stand Mode, a couple of minor modifications to the underside, and a much thicker display lid that comprises nearly half the total height of the laptop.

At just 306 x 211 mm, its footprint is officially the smallest of all the devices in our comparison field; it effectively crams a 13.3-inch display into the chassis of a typical 12.5-inch machine. While the result carries obvious aesthetic benefits, the weight really hasn’t seen much improvement: at 1.442 kg, the Latitude 7390 2-in-1 is some 300 grams heavier than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (1.126 kg). Fortunately, as a corollary, the durability doesn’t seem to have been materially affected by the shrunken footprint: there is little to no flex across the breadth of the base unit, and the thicker-than-average display lid resists pressure from behind and twisting with ease. It’s also impossible to open without two hands, however, thanks both to its weight and the extremely tight hinges.

There is one other negative we should mention here: thanks to the uncommonly high relative weight of the display lid, the machine feels less stable on the lap than its traditional non-convertible 7390 laptop counterpart. It’s unlikely that the machine would fall over, but it’s certain to be less comfortable in mobile circumstances, such as while traveling. Fortunately, even if it did fall, it’s likely to survive—as usual, the design has undergone around 17 different MIL STD 810G durability tests, ranging from environmental temperature, dust, and wind conditions to short drop tests from a number of different angles.

328.9 mm / 12.9 inch 232.8 mm / 9.17 inch 15.9 mm / 0.626 inch 1.5 kg3.35 lbs323.5 mm / 12.7 inch 217.1 mm / 8.55 inch 15.95 mm / 0.628 inch 1.1 kg2.48 lbs316 mm / 12.4 inch 229 mm / 9.02 inch 18 mm / 0.709 inch 1.5 kg3.31 lbs306 mm / 12 inch 211 mm / 8.31 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.4 kg3.18 lbs306 mm / 12 inch 209 mm / 8.23 inch 20 mm / 0.787 inch 1.3 kg2.8 lbs310 mm / 12.2 inch 216 mm / 8.5 inch 13.9 mm / 0.547 inch 1.1 kg2.43 lbs297 mm / 11.7 inch 210 mm / 8.27 inch 1 mm / 0.03937 inch 5.7 g0.01257 lbs

Connectivity

The 7390 2-in-1 features a fairly robust selection of ports for a laptop in its class—and far more than the average consumer-grade convertible. Apart from two conventional USB 3.0 Type-A ports (one powered), there are also two Thunderbolt/USB Type-C 3.1 Gen 2 ports (one of which doubles as the charging port), an HDMI port, 3.5 mm audio jack, smart card reader, Kensington Lock port, a SIM card port, and even a microSD port. That’s a lot of options for a machine of this size, and apart from the conspicuous lack of Ethernet, the bevy of choices position it squarely alongside other, larger business models.

Front: No connections
Front: No connections
Rear: No connections
Rear: No connections
Right: Power button, volume rocker, 3.5 mm combo audio, microSD, SIM card, USB 3.0 powered, Kensington Lock
Right: Power button, volume rocker, 3.5 mm combo audio, microSD, SIM card, USB 3.0 powered, Kensington Lock
Left: Thunderbolt 3/Charging Port, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, USB 3.0
Left: Thunderbolt 3/Charging Port, Thunderbolt 3, HDMI, USB 3.0

SD Card Reader

Speaking of the SD card reader, the Latitude 7390’s performance is excellent on this front. We measured scores well above the class average and comparable to the top-end performance of the X1 Carbon 2018.  See our graphs below for full details.

SD Card Reader
average JPG Copy Test (av. of 3 runs)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
191.2 MB/s +15%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
166.2 MB/s
Dell Latitude 13 7380
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
76.6 MB/s -54%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
73 MB/s -56%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
69.7 MB/s -58%
Average of class Office
  (8 - 196.8, n=50, last 2 years)
55.6 MB/s -67%
maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test (1GB)
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 UHS-II)
229.6 MB/s
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501)
223.9 MB/s -2%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
87.8 MB/s -62%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro SDXC 64 GB UHS-II)
86.8 MB/s -62%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
  (Toshiba Exceria Pro M501 microSDXC 64GB)
84.9 MB/s -63%
Average of class Office
  (26.4 - 173.2, n=44, last 2 years)
65.2 MB/s -72%

Communication

The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 WiFi adapter included in our test unit is also what powers every single other device in our comparison field today. Leveraging this popular card, the Latitude 7390 posts respectable numbers (639 MBit/s receive and 495 MBit/s transfer) when communicating with our Linksys EA8500.

The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 Wi-Fi Adapter
The Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265 Wi-Fi Adapter
Networking
iperf3 transmit AX12
Average of class Office
  (280 - 1332, n=6, last 2 years)
810 MBit/s +64%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
665 MBit/s +34%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
655 MBit/s +32%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
534 MBit/s +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
511 MBit/s +3%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
495 MBit/s
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
412 MBit/s -17%
iperf3 receive AX12
Average of class Office
  (348 - 1690, n=6, last 2 years)
852 MBit/s +33%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
639 MBit/s
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
633 MBit/s -1%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
630 MBit/s -1%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
600 MBit/s -6%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
574 MBit/s -10%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 8265
522 MBit/s -18%

Security (business devices)

Various options for enterprise-grade security exist for Latitude 7390 configurations, some of which include a touch fingerprint reader, FIPS 201 contacted smart card reader, contactless smart card/NFC5 capability, and Windows Hello compatible Face IR camera. Our review unit includes all these options. During our testing period, Windows Hello worked well and the fingerprint reader was quick. We didn't test the smart card reader or NFC.

Accessories

The Latitude 7390 2-in-1 includes a 65 W USB Type-C power adapter. Our review unit also shipped with a Dell Active Pen ($35 MSRP), which is a WACOM-powered accessory. We’ve covered this product in the past, and nothing has changed since; for much more detail about it, please see our review of the Latitude 5285 here.

One other accessory we received is the Dell Notebook Power Bank Plus ($150 MSRP). This is (more than) a portable charger which provides up to 65 W of power to any connected accessory (including Dell's Latitude 5000 and 7000 lineup of machines—any which accept power over USB-C technically)—with a capacity of 65 Wh. That translates to 6200 mAh at 10.5 V, which is enough to charge the typical mobile roughly four times (or Dell's Latitude 7390 2-in-1 fully once). The exterior of the adapter is aluminum and more closely matches the styling of, say, the XPS line of laptops—but it still looks appropriately-matched to the high-end business models as well (silver aluminum never goes out of style). It’s possible to charge both a laptop and a phone simultaneously, and the devices can even be charged while the Power Bank itself is being charged.

Perhaps even cooler, though, is that the (traditional) USB Type-B port on the adapter serves a dual purpose: it also functions as a hub. Not only does it charge any connected device, but it facilitates communication with the connected laptop as well. Thanks to its versatile and intelligent design, despite the Notebook Power Bank’s steep price, we think it’s a very useful gadget that many business travelers would likely find convenient on a trip.

Maintenance

As it ought to be with any business machine, maintenance is a breeze. Eight captive screws securing the bottom cover to the underside of base unit are the only thing that stand between the user and all of the internal components—and, barring the RAM (which is soldered to the board), nearly everything else is easily replaceable. This includes the battery, M.2/NVMe SSD, WLAN card, CMOS battery, cooling fan, and speaker assembly. The only serious negative—and it’s not new to this model—is the fact that the keyboard and touchpad are extremely difficult to replace should either meet an unfortunate fate.

Warranty

Our Latitude 7390 2-in-1 review unit came with an affiliated 1-year depot warranty. Many Latitude 7000 series machines include a standard 3-year on-site warranty, however, and warranty upgrades are always available if the user chooses to pay a premium for better or longer service.

Please see our Guarantees, Return Policies and Warranties FAQ for country-specific information.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard is excellent overall, featuring very good key travel and feedback along with well-tuned actuation force. The layout and spacing are both immediately familiar, and the white key labels are easy to read against the black surroundings (not to mention the backlighting, which can be adjusted to two different brightness levels as well as switched off). The keys are tightly-affixed and feature no conspicuous rattle or clatter; their operation is relatively quiet in spite of the stronger feedback.

Touchpad

The Alps touchpad is above average overall. It’s not our favorite (given the choice, we prefer the feel of some other Precision touchpads with smooth glass surfaces, such as that of the XPS 13), but the separate physical buttons are always appreciated, and the gestures and pointer motion gave us little to criticize throughout our time with it.

Touchscreen

Of course, every Latitude 7390 2-in-1 features a touchscreen. We experienced no problems with it during our review period.

Display

A single display option exists for the Latitude 7390 2-in-1: a 13.3-inch FHD (1920x1080) IPS touchscreen display covered with Corning Gorilla Glass 4. Although Dell refers to the display finish as “anti-reflective” and “anti-smudge”, in our experience it was actually highly reflective. As we mentioned above, the Dell Active Pen is also compatible with the screen. Subjectively, the panel seems fairly bright with good contrast. The PPI of 166 is hardly remarkable, but it’s practical for general use.

Subpixel array
Subpixel array
Backlight bleed/clouding
Backlight bleed/clouding
325.7
cd/m²
341.2
cd/m²
337.4
cd/m²
304.3
cd/m²
318.2
cd/m²
302.9
cd/m²
282.4
cd/m²
299
cd/m²
296
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
AUO462D tested with X-Rite i1Pro Basic 2
Maximum: 341.2 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 311.9 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 83 %
Center on Battery: 318.2 cd/m²
Contrast: 1061:1 (Black: 0.3 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.25 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5, calibrated: 4.38
ΔE Greyscale 2.1 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
85% sRGB (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
56% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 1.6.3 3D)
62.9% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
86.1% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
62.5% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
Gamma: 2.311
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
AUO462D, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
Dell Latitude 13 7380
LGD0589, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
B140QAN02.0, IPS, 14.00, 2560x1440
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Chi Mei CMN14D7, IPS, 14.00, 1920x1080
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
AU Optronics B133HAN04.9, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Toshiba TOS508F, IPS, 13.30, 1920x1080
Display
6%
38%
10%
1%
11%
Display P3 Coverage
62.5
65.5
5%
87.7
40%
66.8
7%
63.3
1%
68
9%
sRGB Coverage
86.1
91.8
7%
100
16%
97.1
13%
86.7
1%
98.1
14%
AdobeRGB 1998 Coverage
62.9
65.8
5%
99.9
59%
69
10%
63.4
1%
70
11%
Response Times
17%
-17%
16%
16%
10%
Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
48.8 ?(23.6, 25.2)
34 ?(17.2, 16.8)
30%
59.2 ?(28.4, 30.8)
-21%
34.4 ?(16.4, 18)
30%
44 ?(22, 22)
10%
40 ?(20, 20)
18%
Response Time Black / White *
30.4 ?(16.4, 14)
29.6 ?(17.2, 12.4)
3%
34.4 ?(16.4, 18)
-13%
30 ?(11.2, 18.8)
1%
24 ?(13, 11)
21%
30 ?(16, 14)
1%
PWM Frequency
26040 ?(59)
208 ?(10)
Screen
-31%
36%
-3%
1%
-10%
Brightness middle
318.2
317
0%
578
82%
295.9
-7%
329
3%
319
0%
Brightness
312
295
-5%
533
71%
287
-8%
306
-2%
296
-5%
Brightness Distribution
83
87
5%
84
1%
87
5%
86
4%
88
6%
Black Level *
0.3
0.3
-0%
0.38
-27%
0.23
23%
0.3
-0%
0.28
7%
Contrast
1061
1057
0%
1521
43%
1287
21%
1097
3%
1139
7%
Colorchecker dE 2000 *
4.25
6.3
-48%
1.9
55%
2.83
33%
4.07
4%
4.04
5%
Colorchecker dE 2000 max. *
9.49
10.4
-10%
3.8
60%
7.34
23%
7.05
26%
8.09
15%
Colorchecker dE 2000 calibrated *
4.38
0.8
82%
Greyscale dE 2000 *
2.1
7.8
-271%
3
-43%
5.2
-148%
2.76
-31%
5.5
-162%
Gamma
2.311 95%
1.81 122%
2.14 103%
2.28 96%
2.56 86%
2.4 92%
CCT
6588 99%
7120 91%
6377 102%
7056 92%
6915 94%
7198 90%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
56
61
9%
88.8
59%
63
13%
56
0%
64
14%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
85
92
8%
100
18%
97
14%
86
1%
98
15%
Total Average (Program / Settings)
-3% / -17%
19% / 30%
8% / 2%
6% / 3%
4% / -3%

* ... smaller is better

We measured an average brightness of 312 cd/m², which is decent. A low black value of 0.3 cd/m², meanwhile, leads to a strong contrast ratio of 1061:1. Illumination across the panel is relatively even; we calculated a brightness distribution of 83%, with the top center quadrant nearly 60 cd/m² brighter than the dimmest (lower left) quadrant. As usual, in reality, even such seemingly pronounced differences in luminosity are very difficult to notice.

The panel manages 85% coverage of the sRGB spectrum, which is acceptable, but hardly impressive and below that of all of the competitors in our field. By far the best for color coverage is the ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018, which not only completely covers the sRGB spectrum, but also posts 89% AdobeRGB coverage.

vs. sRGB
vs. sRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. AdobeRGB
vs. HP EliteBook 1040 G4
vs. HP EliteBook 1040 G4
vs. ThinkPad X1 Carbon
vs. ThinkPad X1 Carbon

Color accuracy out of the box isn’t offensive, but it’s not great, either. Using CalMAN, we measured Colorchecker and Greyscale DeltaE averages of 4.25 and 2.1 respectively, with a Colorchecker DeltaE max of 9.49 (blue). At least the Total Gamma of 2.311 and CCT Average of 6588 are very close to ideal.

Color analysis (pre-calibration)
Color analysis (pre-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (pre-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (pre-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (pre-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (pre-calibration)
Color analysis (post-calibration)
Color analysis (post-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (post-calibration)
Saturation sweeps (post-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (post-calibration)
Grayscale analysis (post-calibration)

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
30.4 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 16.4 ms rise
↘ 14 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. » 80 % 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
48.8 ms ... rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 23.6 ms rise
↘ 25.2 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. » 82 % 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.

Response times are relatively slow, but our tests did not detect any PWM at any brightness level.

Outdoors, the screen is difficult to see in any brighter environment (in spite of the brightness and contrast) thanks to the glossy finish. Viewing angles from the IPS panel are excellent, but reflections make it difficult to enjoy them in many circumstances.

In the sun
In the sun
In the shade
In the shade
Viewing angles, Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Viewing angles, Latitude 7390 2-in-1

Performance

The Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 can be outfitted with a range of Intel processors spanning all the way from 7th-generation Core i3 to 8th-generation Core i7 models; RAM configurations range between 4 and 16 GB (all LPDDR3, soldered). Our particular review unit came configured with the top-end Intel Core i7-8650U, 16 GB RAM, and a 500 GB NVMe SSD. With specs like those, we ought to expect very good performance.

Performance is not reduced when running unplugged; a secondary run of 3DMark 11 actually produced a score slightly higher than that of our original run (1649). LatencyMon detected only occasional jumps in latency, and although it isn’t ideal, it’s not likely to affect much in actual use.

CPU-Z CPU
CPU-Z CPU
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Caches
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Mainboard
CPU-Z Memory
CPU-Z Memory
GPU-Z
GPU-Z
Octane v2
Octane v2
ComputeMark
ComputeMark
LatencyMon
LatencyMon

Processor

The Intel Core i7-8650U is a quad-core CPU with a base frequency of 1.9 GHz and a Turbo Clock rate of up to 4.2 GHz. Throughout our early testing of this chip, we’ve seen a lot of situations where it can’t maintain high performance over a relatively short sustained period of time, however, which has long brought into question its value versus the less expensive, yet often equally (or better!) performing Core i5 models. Various options are available for configuration in the Latitude 7390 2-in-1, so it’ll be interesting to see how our test results pan out here.

Our tests show that this is indeed a very fast CPU; scores are miles ahead of the Latitude 13 7380 and Portege A30, which are equipped (respectively) with 7th-gen Core i7 and i3 CPUs. But sure enough, performance of the i7-8650U is only marginally ahead of the 8th-gen Core i5 models in today’s tests, with an initial result in Cinebench R15 multi-CPU of 560 (later, we managed 584 in a second cold run), and a drop thereafter into the 540-550 range, which is below the median score we’ve recorded for the i5-8250U. The advantages become more prevalent in single-core performance, where the 7390 2-in-1 posts a Cinenbench R15 score of 169 (the median for the Core i5-8250U is 144). The same trend holds true across the rest of our processor benchmarks as well (for instance, the wPrime score of 302.8 seconds is actually slower than the median score of the Core i5-8250U, 299.1 seconds—but the 7390 2-in-1 beats out every other machine in the superPi single-threaded tests).

What does this mean? Quite simply, it yet again suggests that the 8th-generation Core i7 is not a good investment to power this machine—unless the user only deals in single-threaded applications. Instead, users should opt for a lower-powered Core i5, where they’ll not only find better multi-core performance, but a lower price, to boot.

Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R11.5
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (82.6 - 284, n=118, last 2 years)
215 Points +27%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-8650U
169 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel Core i7-8550U
168 Points -1%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
166 Points -2%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (128 - 178, n=17)
165 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
161 Points -5%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
Intel Core i7-8550U
150 Points -11%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Core i3-7100U
100 Points -41%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (160.8 - 2642, n=120, last 2 years)
1380 Points +146%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel Core i7-8550U
708 Points +26%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel Core i7-8550U
648 Points +16%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
663 Points +18%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
Intel Core i7-8550U
630 Points +13%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (451 - 675, n=19)
589 Points +5%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-8650U
560 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
359 Points -36%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel Core i3-7100U
256 Points -54%
Cinebench R11.5
CPU Single 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (0.99 - 2.97, n=12, last 2 years)
2.31 Points +23%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (1.67 - 2.04, n=9)
1.899 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-8650U
1.88 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
1.86 Points -1%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
1.83 Points -3%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
Intel Core i7-8550U
1.72 Points -9%
CPU Multi 64Bit
Average of class Office
  (1.93 - 20.3, n=12, last 2 years)
12.5 Points +99%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
7.36 Points +17%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (5.04 - 7.24, n=9)
6.35 Points +1%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
Intel Core i7-8550U
6.29 Points 0%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-8650U
6.28 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
3.92 Points -38%
wPrime 2.10 - 1024m
Average of class Office
  (147.4 - 2103, n=11, last 2 years)
542 s * -79%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel Core i7-7600U
445.8 s * -47%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel Core i7-7820HQ
317 s * -5%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel Core i7-8650U
302.8 s *
Average Intel Core i7-8650U
  (268 - 335, n=3)
302 s * -0%

* ... smaller is better

Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.88 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
6.28 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
38.03 fps
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
169 Points
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
560 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
46.62 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
97.8 %
Help
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Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64 Bit

System Performance

Regardless of processor choice, however, general system performance isn’t likely to disappoint anyone. Scores of 3760 points and 4978 points in PCMark 8 Home and Work Score Accelerated are within a few percentage points of similarly-equipped machines (with the HP Elitebook only winning by a wider margin in Home Accelerated thanks to its higher-powered 35 W TDP Core i7-7820HQ CPU).

PCMark 10
PCMark 10
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Home Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Work Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8 Creative Accelerated
PCMark 8
Home Score Accelerated v2
Average of class Office
  (2304 - 4830, n=12, last 2 years)
4261 Points +13%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
4186 Points +11%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
3872 Points +3%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
3780 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
3760 Points
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
3752 Points 0%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3216 - 4103, n=10)
3722 Points -1%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8
3247 Points -14%
Work Score Accelerated v2
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
5161 Points +4%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
5060 Points +2%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4978 Points
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4811 Points -3%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (3926 - 5200, n=8)
4789 Points -4%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
4664 Points -6%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8
4113 Points -17%
Average of class Office
  (1854 - 5610, n=12, last 2 years)
3746 Points -25%
Creative Score Accelerated v2
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
5275 Points +8%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
5027 Points +3%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
4958 Points +2%
Average Intel Core i7-8650U, Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (4454 - 5225, n=6)
4895 Points +1%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
4869 Points
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
4765 Points -2%
Average of class Office
  (2111 - 5088, n=5, last 2 years)
4168 Points -14%
PCMark 8 Home Score Accelerated v2
3760 points
PCMark 8 Creative Score Accelerated v2
4869 points
PCMark 8 Work Score Accelerated v2
4978 points
PCMark 10 Score
3520 points
Help

Storage Devices

The Latitude 7390 2-in-1 can be preconfigured with M.2 solid-state drives ranging between 128 GB and 1 TB in capacity (both SATA and NVMe/PCIe drives are available). But the truly interesting part is that a secondary M.2 2230 slot is also available, which can accommodate smaller models ranging up to 256 GB in capacity. This effectively renders dual-storage configurations possible on a machine that’s far smaller than most others with that capability.

Our unit included an SK hynix PC401 512 GB NVMe SSD, a drive whose performance can’t compete with the top models from Samsung, but which still is better than any available SATA option. Read/write scores of 877 / 781 in AS SSD are decent, though definitely on the low end for an NVMe model. With the ease of upgrading, aftermarket solutions should be a simple and immediate consideration for 7390 2-in-1 owners.

AS SSD
AS SSD
CrystalDiskMark
CrystalDiskMark
PCMark 8 Storage
PCMark 8 Storage
The M.2 NVMe SSD
The M.2 NVMe SSD
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8
AS SSD
65%
-12%
-80%
-91%
Copy Game MB/s
473.6
1107
134%
394.2
-17%
154.1
-67%
Copy Program MB/s
223.5
460.2
106%
133.7
-40%
129.7
-42%
Copy ISO MB/s
1377
1247
-9%
534
-61%
192.4
-86%
Score Total
2057
3529
72%
2299
12%
991
-52%
650
-68%
Score Write
781
1801
131%
848
9%
323
-59%
163
-79%
Score Read
877
1168
33%
979
12%
445
-49%
330
-62%
Access Time Write *
0.052
0.027
48%
0.038
27%
0.23
-342%
0.085
-63%
Access Time Read *
0.045
0.029
36%
0.105
-133%
0.09
-100%
0.2
-344%
4K-64 Write
606
1529
152%
662
9%
233.1
-62%
83.7
-86%
4K-64 Read
643
876
36%
782
22%
368.4
-43%
257.8
-60%
4K Write
103.4
134.3
30%
100.1
-3%
68.9
-33%
66.8
-35%
4K Read
42.12
52.4
24%
38.49
-9%
27.98
-34%
21.64
-49%
Seq Write
711
1376
94%
863
21%
213.7
-70%
128.6
-82%
Seq Read
1911
2396
25%
1585
-17%
483.7
-75%
502
-74%

* ... smaller is better

SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1: 2585 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1: 1374 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1: 387.7 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1: 600 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq: 1852 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq: 1256 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K: 46.01 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K: 131.7 MB/s

GPU Performance

Of course, the Latitude 7390 2-in-1 isn’t designed to be a GPU powerhouse—and given the constraints we’ve witnessed previously with regard to CPU performance, we shouldn’t expect much better out of the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 GPU. Still, results were within a few percentage points of the average for the adapter, which is acceptable even if not particularly exciting. The Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN has an enormous advantage in these tests thanks to its incorporation of dedicated NVIDIA GeForce MX150 graphics alongside the CPU.

3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark Fire Strike Ultra
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Cloud Gate
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Sky Diver
3DMark Time Spy
3DMark Time Spy
3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Ice Storm Extreme
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark Ice Storm Unlimited
3DMark 06
3DMark 06
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance GPU
Average of class Office
  (1474 - 12230, n=115, last 2 years)
5878 Points +267%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3461 Points +116%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1901 Points +19%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (1144 - 3432, n=244)
1749 Points +9%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1732 Points +8%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
1633 Points +2%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U
1600 Points
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
1369 Points -14%
1280x720 Performance Combined
Average of class Office
  (1184 - 9527, n=115, last 2 years)
4484 Points +180%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
3553 Points +122%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1880 Points +17%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1829 Points +14%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U
1604 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (927 - 2505, n=244)
1578 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
1322 Points -18%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
1178 Points -27%
3DMark
1280x720 Cloud Gate Standard Graphics
Average of class Office
  (5681 - 58068, n=98, last 2 years)
23871 Points +165%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
18346 Points +104%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
10123 Points +13%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
9921 Points +10%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (6205 - 16400, n=225)
9262 Points +3%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U
8995 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
7794 Points -13%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
6989 Points -22%
1920x1080 Fire Strike Graphics
Average of class Office
  (712 - 8815, n=117, last 2 years)
4072 Points +300%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
NVIDIA GeForce MX150, i5-8550U
2826 Points +178%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U
1283 Points +26%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
Intel HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ
1198 Points +18%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (557 - 2608, n=213)
1161 Points +14%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U
1018 Points
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
926 Points -9%
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
Intel HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U
807 Points -21%
1920x1080 Ice Storm Extreme Graphics
Average of class Office
  (24762 - 137729, n=5, last 2 years)
73278 Points +67%
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
Intel UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U
43838 Points
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (26409 - 59483, n=71)
42924 Points -2%
Dell Latitude 13 7380
Intel HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U
40760 Points -7%
3DMark 06 Standard Score
9648 points
3DMark 11 Performance
1808 points
3DMark Ice Storm Standard Score
64396 points
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
8115 points
3DMark Fire Strike Score
950 points
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme Score
395 points
Help
BioShock Infinite
1280x720 Very Low Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
56 fps
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
44 fps -21%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
56.9 fps +2%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
79 fps +41%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
98.1 fps +75%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (18.3 - 90.2, n=187)
60.7 fps +8%
1366x768 Medium Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
33 fps
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
27 fps -18%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
36.2 fps +10%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
35 fps +6%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
78.9 fps +139%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (11.5 - 45.5, n=187)
32.8 fps -1%
1366x768 High Preset (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
27 fps
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
22 fps -19%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
30.4 fps +13%
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
30 fps +11%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
71.7 fps +166%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (8.1 - 35.9, n=187)
27.5 fps +2%
1920x1080 Ultra Preset, DX11 (DDOF) (sort by value)
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
10 fps
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
7 fps -30%
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
10.4 fps +4%
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
27.8 fps +178%
Average Intel UHD Graphics 620
  (4.5 - 17, n=176)
9.2 fps -8%
low med. high ultra
BioShock Infinite (2013) 56 33 27 10

Stress Test

It’s become a bit of a trend in our reviews of 8th-generation Core i7 laptops that the Stress Test section holds some sort of priceless explanatory capability—since so many of the machines we’ve reviewed with these chips seem to suffer the same fate of near-immediate drops in multi-core performance. And the common variable among them all, as you might expect, is temperature.

Here today, we (unsurprisingly) witness similar behavior from the Latitude 7390 2-in-1. Within seconds the CPU core temperatures have risen into the 80s C before eventually peaking at 88 degrees. At this point, the CPU has already sacrificed its base frequency down to the 2.6 GHz mark to try and support sustainable temperatures going forward. This explains the sudden drop in performance (and the failure to recover to levels exceeding that of a Core i5-8250U).

GPU stress isn’t quite as troublesome, though clock rates can’t maintain the Boost Frequency of 1150 MHz. Instead, we see them stable at 1000 MHz, with temperatures sticking at the 83 °C mark.

Combined system stress produces unmanageable power conditions for the laptop; CPU frequency drops all the way to 1.4 GHz and the GPU clock rate slips to 850 MHz.

Full CPU stress
Full CPU stress
Full GPU stress
Full GPU stress
Combined CPU + GPU stress
Combined CPU + GPU stress
CPU Clock (GHz) GPU Clock (MHz) Average CPU Temperature (°C) Average GPU Temperature (°C)
Prime95 Stress 2.6 - 84 -
FurMark Stress - 1000 - 83
Prime95 + FurMark Stress 1.4 850 78 80

Emissions

System Noise

Under typical conditions, the Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 is either silent or very close to it. During our testing, the fan didn’t even kick on under most moderate loads unless they lasted for an extended period of time. We actually initially recorded a load average value of effectively zero (adjusted for 28.2 dB(A) environmental noise), but after a while we eventually heard the fan power up and generate some 32 dB(A) of relatively unobtrusive noise.

Load maximum is definitely noticeable if and when that level is ever reached, however: the fan can get fairly noisy at 41.6 dB(A), and its higher pitch makes it relatively annoying to endure under these conditions. However, we should stress that it’s very unlikely that this scenario (which is synthetically provoked in our labs during measurements) would be encountered during normal use by most office and home users. Only extremely slight electrical noise was detectable from our review unit; at a distance of greater than 12 inches, it was almost imperceptible.

Noise Level

Idle
28.2 / 28.2 / 28.2 dB(A)
Load
32 / 41.6 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: 28.2 dB(A)
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
UHD Graphics 620, i7-8650U, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB
Dell Latitude 13 7380
HD Graphics 620, i7-7600U, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
UHD Graphics 620, i5-8550U, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
HD Graphics 630, i7-7820HQ, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK)
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
GeForce MX150, i5-8550U, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
HD Graphics 620, i3-7100U, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8
Noise
3%
-3%
2%
-8%
-7%
off / environment *
28.2
28
1%
28.9
-2%
28.2
-0%
30.13
-7%
30
-6%
Idle Minimum *
28.2
28
1%
28.9
-2%
28.2
-0%
30.13
-7%
30
-6%
Idle Average *
28.2
28
1%
28.9
-2%
28.2
-0%
30.3
-7%
30
-6%
Idle Maximum *
28.2
29.6
-5%
32.5
-15%
28.2
-0%
30.3
-7%
30
-6%
Load Average *
32
30.6
4%
35.1
-10%
33.3
-4%
39.2
-23%
39.3
-23%
Load Maximum *
41.6
35.4
15%
35.1
16%
35.3
15%
41
1%
38.3
8%

* ... smaller is better

Temperature

Barring a couple of hot spots (50.6 °C) in the rear-center and rear-right of the device, the Latitude does a fairly good job of managing its heat. The keyboard remains mostly cool in nearly all normal conditions, and under load, it still doesn’t rise to uncomfortable levels (just a bit warm). Average load temperatures of 33 °C / 35.8 °C on top/bottom under load can’t compete with the likes of the Toshiba or Asus ZenBook, but they’re not terribly bothersome either.

Max. Load
 40.2 °C
104 F
44 °C
111 F
32.6 °C
91 F
 
 35.6 °C
96 F
37.8 °C
100 F
26.8 °C
80 F
 
 27.4 °C
81 F
27 °C
81 F
25.2 °C
77 F
 
Maximum: 44 °C = 111 F
Average: 33 °C = 91 F
28.6 °C
83 F
50.6 °C
123 F
45.8 °C
114 F
28.2 °C
83 F
37.6 °C
100 F
39.4 °C
103 F
27.2 °C
81 F
31.4 °C
89 F
33.2 °C
92 F
Maximum: 50.6 °C = 123 F
Average: 35.8 °C = 96 F
Power Supply (max.)  29 °C = 84 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke 62 Mini IR Thermometer
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 33 °C / 91 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 44 °C / 111 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 50.6 °C / 123 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 25.2 °C / 77 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 27.4 °C / 81.3 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 (+0.3 °C / 0.6 F).
Thermal profile, top of base unit (idle)
Thermal profile, top of base unit (idle)
Thermal profile, underside (idle)
Thermal profile, underside (idle)
Thermal profile, top of base unit (max load)
Thermal profile, top of base unit (max load)
Thermal profile, underside (max load)
Thermal profile, underside (max load)
Thermal profile, side (max load)
Thermal profile, side (max load)

Speakers

The Latitude 7390 2-in-1 lacks the more impressive audio capabilities of some of its larger predecessors in the Latitude 7000 series. While the speakers do get rather loud at 84.26 dB, they manage almost no bass and the shape of their output is average at best. At higher volumes, although we didn't notice any rattling or vibration from the casing, the frequency balance does suffer notably and mids are even more accentuated (at the expense of lows). It will suffice for office use, but competitors such as the Lenovo X1 Carbon do an overall better job.

The speakers are located on the bottom.
The speakers are located on the bottom.
An inside view
An inside view
dB(A) 0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2034.538.234.52534.833.834.83134.833.334.8403233.6325033.232.533.26331.832.231.88031.929.131.91003930.2391254229.74216046.427.646.42005027.25025050.625.950.63155426.15440059.125.359.150064.124.664.163065246580077.12477.1100077.623.277.6125074.323.174.3160071.622.871.620006522.765250069.422.569.4315063.922.263.9400060.422.260.4500059.922.159.9630062.622.262.6800077.422.177.41000077.622.277.61250067.522.367.51600070.622.570.6SPL84.335.184.3N55.72.455.7median 64.1median 23.1median 64.1Delta8.61.88.634.83330.328.135.438.130.332.226.631.825.827.624.725.123.926.524.833.424.141.923.94821.85120.155.318.261.117.366.61770.316.578.416.57515.868.915.770.615.467.615.569.21672.916.268.616.7701771.217.272.217.470.917.365.817.256.228.983.61.258.7median 17.2median 68.627.7hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseDell Latitude 7390 2-in-1Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (84.3 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 17.1% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(±) | higher mids - on average 6.4% higher than median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (11.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(±) | higher highs - on average 6% higher than median
(±) | linearity of highs is average (11% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (22.8% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 58% of all tested devices in this class were better, 9% similar, 33% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 62% of all tested devices were better, 6% similar, 31% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900 audio analysis

(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 - 315 Hz
(-) | nearly no bass - on average 25.9% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (9.8% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 - 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids - only 3.8% away from median
(±) | linearity of mids is average (9% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 - 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs - only 2.1% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 - 16.000 Hz
(±) | linearity of overall sound is average (18.7% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 29% of all tested devices in this class were better, 6% similar, 66% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 22%, worst was 53%
Compared to all devices tested
» 37% of all tested devices were better, 8% similar, 55% worse
» The best had a delta of 4%, average was 25%, worst was 134%

Frequency Comparison (Checkbox selectable!)
Graph 1: Pink Noise 100% Vol.; Graph 2: Audio off

Energy Management

Power Consumption

One area in which the Latitude absolutely beats its peers is that of power consumption. Here, we measured just 5.7 W while idling (average), with a load average of still just 29.5 W. This is (unsurprisingly) closely comparable to last year’s Latitude 7380 and quite a bit lower than some competitors, such as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon (idle/load average: 8.9/47.5 W) and EliteBook 1040 G4 (idle/load average: 7/41.2 W). It should hopefully translate to long battery runtimes… let’s see.

Power consumption over time, Prime95 CPU stress
Power consumption over time, Prime95 CPU stress
Power consumption over time, Max load
Power consumption over time, Max load
Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.25 / 0.57 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 2.6 / 5.7 / 6 Watt
Load midlight 29.2 / 38.8 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 7390 2-in-1
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, SK hynix PC401 NVMe 500 GB, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Dell Latitude 13 7380
i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, Samsung PM961 MZVLW256HEHP, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ, IPS, 2560x1440, 14.00
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
i7-7820HQ, HD Graphics 630, Toshiba XG4 NVMe (THNSN5512GPUK), IPS, 1920x1080, 14.00
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, SK Hynix HFS256G39TND-N210A, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
i3-7100U, HD Graphics 620, Toshiba SG5 THNSNK128GVN8, IPS, 1920x1080, 13.30
Power Consumption
-1%
-60%
-60%
-9%
-10%
Idle Minimum *
2.6
3.2
-23%
3.8
-46%
5.1
-96%
2.2
15%
3.2
-23%
Idle Average *
5.7
5.5
4%
8.9
-56%
7
-23%
5
12%
6.8
-19%
Idle Maximum *
6
6.1
-2%
11.9
-98%
11.7
-95%
8
-33%
8
-33%
Load Average *
29.2
29.5
-1%
47.5
-63%
41.2
-41%
33
-13%
30.4
-4%
Load Maximum *
38.8
32
18%
52.5
-35%
56.9
-47%
49.4
-27%
28
28%

* ... smaller is better

Battery Life

The internal 60 Wh battery
The internal 60 Wh battery

Compared with its predecessor (the Latitude 7380), the 7390 2-in-1’s battery has not grown in size at 60 Wh. Runtimes are a bit less, however; we measured a Wi-Fi surfing battery life of 9 hours and 13 minutes, which is still very good overall (though short of the 7380’s 10 hours and 30 minutes). Under load, the machine expired after 2 hours and 15 minutes, this time within just six minutes of the 7380’s result (2:21). Compared with its other peers, the 7390 2-in-1 is comparable in this category.

Battery Runtime
WiFi Websurfing
9h 13min
Load (maximum brightness)
2h 15min
Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1
i7-8650U, UHD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Dell Latitude 13 7380
i7-7600U, HD Graphics 620, 60 Wh
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018-20KGS03900
i5-8550U, UHD Graphics 620, 57 Wh
HP Elitebook 1040 G4-2XU40UT
i7-7820HQ, HD Graphics 630, 67 Wh
Asus ZenBook 13 UX331UN
i5-8550U, GeForce MX150, 50 Wh
Toshiba Portege A30-D-139
i3-7100U, HD Graphics 620, 45 Wh
Battery Runtime
9%
-14%
-5%
-13%
11%
WiFi v1.3
553
630
14%
519
-6%
665
20%
538
-3%
548
-1%
Load
135
141
4%
106
-21%
96
-29%
105
-22%
165
22%

Pros

+ sturdy, attractive build
+ very good input devices
+ fast general system performance
+ relatively easy maintenance
+ great port selection
+ small footprint
+ capable of dual-storage (2 x M.2 SSD)

Cons

- Core i7 option provides few benefits apart from single-core performance
- machine is rather top-heavy thanks to thicker display lid
- display is highly reflective/glossy
- mediocre screen color coverage and accuracy
- somewhat heavy for its size
- utility of convertible design in the typical business environment remains in question

Verdict

The Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1. Test model provided by Dell US
The Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1. Test model provided by Dell US

The Latitude 7390 2-in-1 is a well-built, sturdy, attractive machine with very good input devices and quick general system performance. It also features great connectivity options, easy maintenance, and a smaller-than-average footprint for its class. Particularly impressive is the option of dual-storage, made possible by the vacant WWAN slot, which can also accommodate an M.2/NVMe 2230 SSD. However, while CPU performance is still quite a bit faster than comparable machines from the previous generation, we see little justification for the Core i7 configuration we received as a review unit. Instead, unless single-threaded applications are the only items on the agenda, we’d recommend springing for a less expensive Core i5 configuration instead.

The Latitude 7390 2-in-1 is a well-built, sturdy, attractive machine with very good input devices and quick general system performance. However, it does have its share of drawbacks, and it certainly isn’t a small investment—so before diving in, we’d highly recommend surveying the landscape.

Elsewhere, the 7390 2-in-1 is also hobbled by a few other question marks. Only glossy touchscreens are available for configuration, and none of them is particularly impressive in the realm of color coverage—at least, not compared to category leaders such as the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. The NVMe SSD we received in our unit could hardly keep up with top-tier drives such as Samsung’s counterparts. The machine is fairly heavy for its size and, thanks to its thicker and comparably heavier display lid, it doesn’t feel quite as stable on the lap as we’d like. And lastly, there’s always the question of whether most people in business truly need the convertible functionality provided by these Yoga-style derivatives. Dell already has a perfectly capable, extremely well-balanced offering in the vanilla Latitude 7380 (and, though we’ve yet to review it, we’d presume also the 7390)—and it can be equipped with an anti-glare display, it’s lighter, and it feels more stable overall on a surface.

Other machines worth considering (apart from the conventional Latitude 7380/7390) are the excellent ThinkPad X1 Carbon 2018 and Asus Zenbook 13 UX331UN. At $2,109 (as configured), the Latitude 7390 2-in-1 certainly isn’t a small investment—so before diving in, we’d highly recommend surveying the landscape.

Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 - 03/20/2018 v6(old)
Steve Schardein

Chassis
85 / 98 → 87%
Keyboard
92%
Pointing Device
80%
Connectivity
61 / 80 → 76%
Weight
70 / 20-67 → 100%
Battery
92%
Display
83%
Games Performance
59 / 68 → 87%
Application Performance
92 / 92 → 100%
Temperature
89%
Noise
91%
Audio
50%
Camera
63 / 85 → 74%
Average
78%
87%
Office - Weighted Average

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Reviews > Dell Latitude 7390 2-in-1 (i7-8650U, FHD) Convertible Review
Steve Schardein, 2018-03-24 (Update: 2019-03-20)