Notebookcheck Logo

Review Dell Latitude E6530 Notebook

Business premium. The Dell Latitude belongs to the high-end business class and must meet the especially high standards of quality, functionality and expandability. Most professional users expect a good display, an adequate performance and solid mobility. Our detailed review will show whether the current Dell Latitude E6530 is up to the task at hand.

For the original German review, see here.

Dell's Latitude E6xxx series stands for high standards and has a similar target group as Lenovo's ThinkPad T-series and HP's EliteBooks. The professional notebooks, strictly designed for business users, also find fans in the demanding home users. Quality, warranty period and upgrade options are just some of the key points that sometimes greatly distinguish these notebooks from the comparable products of the mass market.

The price for this "luxury" is viewed by some as high as well. The lowest starting price that we found on Dell's online shop is 800 Euros (~$1085). That is excluding VAT of course. At first glance, the equipment you get for this price is rather poor: Intel Core i3-3110M, WXGA display, 4 GB RAM and a 320 GB hard drive. Windows 8 is available as an operating system, but Windows 7 dominates the options list and is also the usual choice of many companies. Thus the Latitude E6530 is not a bargain compared to other entry-level notebooks that you can find. Our test model has a Full HD display, an Intel Core i5-3360M CPU, 4 GB of RAM, a WWAN module and a 500 GB hard drive. Currently Dell sells this configuration for 1120 Euros (~$1514) excluding VAT, which means about 1340 Euros (~$1812) after tax.

Case

Nonslip edge for opening the display and the brushed metal surface.
Nonslip edge for opening the display and the brushed metal surface.

The casing of the Dell Latitude E6530 has changed little from the predecessor Latitude E6520. The Dell Tri-metal chassis impresses with high stability and lack of weaknesses. The model easily copes with the usual weak spots above the optical drive, the battery slot and the palm rest. There is a reason the notebook has passed the MIL-STD-810G U.S. military standard. But the durability of the case comes at the expense of its relatively high weight. At 2.86 kg (6.3 pounds) the Latitude E6530 is on par with other notebooks of the same class, but add some accessories and it comes close to the limit of what one would be willing to lug around all day.

The workmanship is impeccable - even gaps, precisely fitting components and flawless surfaces. A small drawback is the slight teetering of the display, which the hinges cannot fully prevent. The lid is locked in the closed position with the classic double hooks. The surfaces are durable and give a high-quality impression. The silver-gray casing is conservative and ensures an appropriate appearance in the business environment. Perhaps this is the reason the orange keyboard frame was omitted in the current model.

Connectivity

There have been some significant changes in the interface options. The 4-pin FireWire port has been completely removed. Instead, we have two modern USB 3.0 ports, conveniently divided on both sides of the notebook. Dell still equips their premium business Latitudes with an HDMI port. We were expecting a DisplayPort instead, because it supports significantly higher resolutions for external displays. Apart from that, most of the interfaces are located as far back as possible. Thus there are no limitations caused by the cables of the connected peripherals. The card reader is located at the front and is easily accessible. Additional ports and other expansions are possible via the ExpressCard/34/54 slot.

Front: display lock, card reader
Front: display lock, card reader
Left side: VGA, USB 3.0, audio, Smart Card reader
Left side: VGA, USB 3.0, audio, Smart Card reader
Rear: LAN, Kensington Lock, AC jack, USB 2.0
Rear: LAN, Kensington Lock, AC jack, USB 2.0
Right side: ExpressCard, WLAN switch, optical drive, USB 3.0, eSATA/USB 2.0, HDMI
Right side: ExpressCard, WLAN switch, optical drive, USB 3.0, eSATA/USB 2.0, HDMI

Communication

Our Dell Latitude E6530 is well equipped and has all that you can think of. Even the entry-level model comes with Intel's Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 WLAN module. It has three antennas and  can use both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz wireless bandwidths. Our test showed above average signal strength. In all models of the Latitudes E6530 series you will also find a Gigabit Ethernet port. While our test unit has an HD webcam, Bluetooth 4.0 and a WWAN module, all three of these features come at a surcharge and are not available with certain models.

Security

The Dell Latitude E6530 has a wide array of security features. Trusted Platform module, Intel Anti Theft/Computrace service, Smart Card reader, fingerprint scanner, BIOS password option and the usual Windows password protection should be enough to cover most security requirements adequately. You can read more on notebook security in our FAQ article on security solutions.

Accessories

Dell's Latitude E6530 comes without any extra accessories. Various MultiBay expansions for the optical drive slot, docking stations and additional batteries are available as options.

Maintenance

The bottom cover can be detached by removing a few screws and thus allows access to the main components. But things are not as easy and quick as with many other rival models. Even for the replacement of the RAM modules one must remove the whole cover. There are no individual panels. After detaching the maintenance cover, the fan can be reached and cleaned if necessary. One RAM slot is free and makes an upgrade possible. The hard drive is in a separate module that is held by two screws. Here, the removal of the bottom plate is not necessary. The optical drive is a modular one and can be interchanged with other drives or a MultiBay battery.

Warranty

The Dell Latitude E6530 comes as standard with a 3-year Next Business Day warranty. Except for the Pro Support option, there are currently no other warranty extensions available.

Input Devices

Keyboard

The keyboard of the Dell Latitude E6530 takes up almost the entire length of the notebook and has 19 mm (0.74 inches) keys. The separate number pad, extended arrow keys and large Enter and Space keys allow a quick familiarization. The medium key travel, good tactile feedback and quiet key stroke will please ambitious writers. The keyboard base is solid throughout and shows slight wobbling only in the area of the arrow keys.

Our test model came with an English QWERTY layout. The key caption is very contrasting and is further enhanced by the built-in backlighting. Its brightness can be increased in four steps. Further options are available in Dell's Keyboard Backlight settings. The keyboard backlighting is not a standard feature in the Latitude E6530. It comes at a surcharge of 33 Euros excl. VAT (~$45). The special symbols, such as display brightness increase/decrease, are painted orange and therefore are easily distinguishable from the standard captions.

Touchpad/Point stick

The Alps touchpad has a usable area of 80 x 45 mm (3.15 x 1.77 inches) and thus is sufficiently sized for all its functions. Still, some multi-touch gestures could do with a bit more space. The gliding properties and the responsiveness of the touchpad are very good and are no cause for criticism. The usual multi-touch functions are supported and can be activated and deactivated separately as well. The mouse keys are slightly rubberized and have a very quiet stroke. Dell offers a variety of options in the Control Panel.

As is expected from a business class notebook, the Point stick is available as an alternative to the touchpad. For newcomers this input method may take some getting used to, but otherwise it allows for a very quick and precise cursor movement. The three corresponding buttons also work very quietly and register clicks well. Alternatively, these can be given special functions or switched off completely when using the touchpad.

Keyboard
Keyboard
Touchpad
Touchpad
Point stick
Point stick
Arrow keys
Arrow keys

Display

Dell offers the Latitude E6530 with three different displays. The entry-level model comes with an HD screen with a resolution of 1366x768 pixels. The middle version has 1600x900 pixels and Dell's Premium Panel Service (dead pixel warranty). The Full HD display, which we have in our test model, has a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels. It has the same Premium Panel Service and should also have particularly wide viewing angles. All displays are matte and have white LEDs for backlighting.

In addition to the native resolution, our Full HD display has only a limited range of alternative resolutions. The first step down is 1280x1024 pixels. 1600x900 and 1366x768 are not supported.

267
cd/m²
300
cd/m²
262
cd/m²
270
cd/m²
295
cd/m²
271
cd/m²
269
cd/m²
300
cd/m²
270
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
LP156WFC, LGD032C tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 300 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 278.2 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 87 %
Center on Battery: 295 cd/m²
Contrast: 564:1 (Black: 0.523 cd/m²)56.7% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
81.5% sRGB (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)
55.2% Display P3 (Argyll 2.2.0 3D)

Our Dell Latitude E6530 comes with a panel made by LG-Philips and has a maximum average brightness of 278 cd/m². That is a bit lower than the predecessor Latitude E6520. Although the brightness distribution of 87% is also a bit lower than the previous model, a naked eye can vaguely recognize this on a monochrome image. The brightness can be adjusted through 15 levels. Level 7 corresponds to about 158 cd/m², which is sufficient for most indoor conditions and is regarded as ergonomic.

For outdoor use, the maximum brightness is available on battery power as well. The matte surface and good contrast provide good usability out in the open.

The measured contrast ratio of 564:1 is significantly better than most entry-level notebooks. The colors are rich and provide a more realistic reproduction of photos, movies and games. Displays with an IPS panel, like the Fujitsu Lifebook T902, still perform better in this regard.

Outdoors
Outdoors
Good horizontal viewing angles
Good horizontal viewing angles
Restricted vertical viewing angles
Restricted vertical viewing angles
Maximum brightness even on battery power
Maximum brightness even on battery power

The color reproduction is above average, although the display only covers about 85% of the sRGB color space. The color accuracy in uncalibrated state shows relatively high deviations. This applies to the gray scale and the color saturation. The real potential of the display is realized only after calibration. Except for red, all colors are on the spot. The red is a bit faint, which is a frequent observation on many displays with white LEDs, and gives the screen a slight blue tint. Compared to previously test displays, this is a very balanced panel that has a relatively accurate color reproduction for a notebook.

Colors
Colors
Gray scale
Gray scale
Saturation
Saturation
Calibrated colors
Calibrated colors
Calibrated gray scale
Calibrated gray scale
Calibrated saturation
Calibrated saturation

The viewing angle stability of the TN panel is visibly better than that of most cheaper displays, but is still not up to the wide angles of an IPS panel. Although horizontally there are hardly any color or brightness changes, when the display is tilted far backwards one can easily recognize color inversions. Tilting the display forward leads to colors fading. Both effects are in the acceptable range and do not lead to severe image alterations.

Overall Dell has equipped the Latitude E6530 with a good Full HD display. It impresses us with a matte surface, high brightness and contrast, and an above average viewing angle stability. The color reproduction after calibration is on the expected level for a screen with white LEDs. Image processing is rather limited, because color accuracy and viewing angles do not meet all of the professional requirements.

Viewing angles Dell Latitude E6530
Viewing angles Dell Latitude E6530

Performance

The hardware equipment provides a good standard, which should have enough performance reserves for most applications. Intel's Core i5-3360M processor is used for both the computations and graphics. The integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 is not accompanied by a dedicated graphics card in our test model. Alternatively, the Dell Latitude E6530 can be equipped with the Nvidia Quadro NVS 5200 graphics card that features Nvidia Optimus. The other key components are Intel's QM77 chipset, 4 GB of RAM and a conventional 500 GB hard drive. As is usual for Dell, the configuration options are extensive. In addition to the Nvidia Quadro NVS, the customer has a choice of different CPUs up to the Intel Core i7-3720QM quad-core processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB Solid State Drive. With all these options ticked, the price of the Latitude E6530 can reach 2400 Euros (~$3246) excl. VAT.

Systeminfo CPUZ CPU
Systeminfo CPUZ Cache
Systeminfo CPUZ Mainboard
Systeminfo CPUZ RAM
Systeminfo CPUZ RAM SPD
Systeminfo GPUZ
Systeminfo HDTune
DPC Latenzen
System information Dell Latitude E6530

Processor

The dual-core Intel Core i5-3360M has a base clock frequency of 2800 MHz, which can be increased up to 3600 MHz in single-thread operations thanks to Turbo Boost. Intel's Hyperthreading technology provides optimized performance for software that is capable of using multiple cores. In addition to the two physical cores, the CPU is able to address two virtual ones making a total of four threads available. In our extensive CPU Benchmark list the Intel Core i5-3360M is at number 31 in the ranking of all notebook processors.

The results of the Cinebench R10 64-bit are 6027 points (single-core) and 12,217 points (multi-core). The SuperPi 32m benchmark (single-thread) was completed in 599 seconds and the wPrime 1024m (multi-core) - in 467 seconds. A realistic single-thread computation is the audio conversion via iTunes. Here, the measured speed of conversion from MP3 into AAC was 50.4x. A practical multi-core benchmark is video conversion via Cyberlink's MediaEspresso. Utilizing only the CPU, the transformation of our test films took 176 seconds (Big Bug Bunny) and 232 seconds (Elephants Dream).

Cinebench R10 Rendering Single 32Bit
4765
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 32Bit
10129
Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit
5357
Cinebench R10 Rendering Single CPUs 64Bit
6027 Points
Cinebench R10 Rendering Multiple CPUs 64Bit
12217 Points
Cinebench R10 Shading 64Bit
5454 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Single 64Bit
1.43 Points
Cinebench R11.5 CPU Multi 64Bit
3.26 Points
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit
13.72 fps
Help

System Performance

Our test model scored 2951 points in PC Mark 7 and 8320 points in PC Mark Vantage. The system performance is enough for many tasks, but could be considerably increased by removing two bottlenecks. One weak point is the system memory. In our test model only one 4 GB module was installed and dual-channel was not active. Because of this, the memory works at a lower speed and the graphics chip is also impaired. The latter uses the RAM as a shared memory and is thus dependant on its performance. The second weak point is the hard drive. A Solid State Drive has significantly better access times, read and write speeds and will have a positive effect on the daily tasks.

5.1
Windows 7 Experience Index
Processor
Calculations per second
7
Memory (RAM)
Memory operations per second
5.9
Graphics
Desktop performance for Windows Aero
5.1
Gaming graphics
3D business and gaming graphics
6.4
Primary hard disk
Disk data transfer rate
5.9
PCMark Vantage Result
8320 points
PCMark 7 Score
2951 points
Help

Storage Devices

The conventional Seagate hard drive has a capacity of 500 GB and works at 7200 RPM. The maximum transfer rate is 112 MB/s and the average remains at 90 MB/s. These are rather good results for a conventional hard drive, but cannot really keep up with Solid State Drives. Further benchmark results can be found in our extensive comparison list of laptop hard drives.

Alternatively, the Dell Latitude can be configured with higher capacity hard drives or fast Solid State Drives. The optical drive can also be replaced with another storage device. The UMTS slot (full size miniPCIe) does not seem to support the mSATA standard. The Crucial M4 mSATA SSD could not be recognized and therefore cannot be used.

Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500423AS
Transfer Rate Minimum: 57.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Maximum: 112.7 MB/s
Transfer Rate Average: 89.2 MB/s
Access Time: 15.4 ms
Burst Rate: 89.2 MB/s
CPU Usage: 1 %

Graphics Card

The Intel HD Graphics 4000 has sufficient power to quickly handle a wide range of tasks. Unfortunately, the graphics chip is less suitable for demanding 3D programs and can only meet the most basic of requirements. As we already mentioned, the graphics card is impaired by the slow system memory. The result of 3D Mark 11 was 619 points, 3D Mark Vantage - 3010 points and the Cinebench R10 OpenGL Shading score was 5454 points. Replacing the 4 GB module with two 2 GB ones increases the score to 701 points in 3D Mark 11, 3728 points in 3D Mark Vantage and 5863 points in Cinebench R10 OpenGL Shading. This is an increase of 8 to 20%.

3DMark 06 Standard Score
4392 points
3DMark Vantage P Result
3010 points
3DMark 11 Performance
619 points
Help
3DMark Vantage
1280x1024 P CPU no PhysX (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E6530
10404 Points
Dell Latitude E5530
10401 Points 0%
Nexoc B510
11230 Points +8%
1280x1024 P GPU no PhysX (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E6530
2433 Points
Dell Latitude E5530
3012 Points +24%
Nexoc B510
3237 Points +33%
1280x1024 P Result (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E6530
3010 Points
Dell Latitude E5530
3662 Points +22%
Nexoc B510
3938 Points +31%
3DMark 11
1280x720 Performance Combined (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E6530
590 Points
Dell Latitude E5530
716 Points +21%
Nexoc B510
731 Points +24%
1280x720 Performance Physics (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E6530
3532 Points
Dell Latitude E5530
4018 Points +14%
Nexoc B510
4292 Points +22%
1280x720 Performance GPU (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E6530
535 Points
Dell Latitude E5530
592 Points +11%
Nexoc B510
593 Points +11%
1280x720 Performance (sort by value)
Dell Latitude E6530
619 Points
Dell Latitude E5530
692 Points +12%
Nexoc B510
696 Points +12%

Legend

 
Dell Latitude E6530 Intel Core i5-3360M, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500423AS
 
Dell Latitude E5530 Intel Core i5-3360M, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Hitachi Travelstar Z7K320 HTS723232A7A364
 
Nexoc B510 Intel Core i5-3360M, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Samsung SSD 830 Series MZ-7PC256D/EU

Gaming Performance

The gaming performance of the Latitude E6530 can be described as low. Smooth frame rate is achieved only at lower resolution and details. The playable resolution of 1366x768 pixels is not supported on either the integrated display or an external one. The same is true for the 1600x900 resolution. The next alternative available is 1280x1024 pixels.

low med. high ultra
World of Warcraft (2005) 81 65 17
Anno 2070 (2011) 27
Diablo III (2012) 36 11

Emissions

Noise Level

The relatively high operating noise of 32.1 dB(A) in idle state is caused by the high-RPM Seagate hard drive. In this case the fan works quietly or not at all. Replacing the hard drive with a quieter one or a Solid State Drive will significantly decrease the noise level in idle state. 33.1 dB(A) is reached when the hard drive is working hard and DVD playback causes an increase to 35.7 dB(A). This can be a bit disturbing during quiet movie scenes. Under medium load (Quick Sync conversion for example) the noise level reaches 40.3 dB(A) and under full load (utilizing the CPU for conversion) we measured 43 dB(A). These are relatively good values, but in view of the noise in idle state, do not showcase the full potential of the notebook.

Noise Level

Idle
32.1 / 32.7 / 37 dB(A)
HDD
33.1 dB(A)
DVD
35.7 / dB(A)
Load
40.3 / 43 dB(A)
  red to green bar
 
 
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
 
min: dark, med: mid, max: light   Voltcraft sl-320 (15 cm distance)

Temperature

Heat emissions are below critical in every load scenario. The absolute maximum of 38.4 °C was measured above the left air vent. This means that use on the lap is possible even during demanding conversion processes. Under medium to low load, the casing temperature drops to about 33 °C on the bottom side. Dell's energy profiles provide a way to control these temperatures by allowing the user to choose between a very low operational noise or particularly cool case surfaces.

Max. Load
 30.6 °C
87 F
33 °C
91 F
27.8 °C
82 F
 
 38.4 °C
101 F
35.1 °C
95 F
28 °C
82 F
 
 29.1 °C
84 F
36.1 °C
97 F
29.2 °C
85 F
 
Maximum: 38.4 °C = 101 F
Average: 31.9 °C = 89 F
29 °C
84 F
30.6 °C
87 F
37.5 °C
100 F
28.3 °C
83 F
29.1 °C
84 F
37.1 °C
99 F
28.4 °C
83 F
34.4 °C
94 F
33.1 °C
92 F
Maximum: 37.5 °C = 100 F
Average: 31.9 °C = 89 F
Power Supply (max.)  62.8 °C = 145 F | Room Temperature 24 °C = 75 F | Voltcraft IR-360
(+) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 31.9 °C / 89 F, compared to the average of 29.5 °C / 85 F for the devices in the class Office.
(+) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 38.4 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 34.2 °C / 94 F, ranging from 21.2 to 62.5 °C for the class Office.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 37.5 °C / 100 F, compared to the average of 36.7 °C / 98 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 30.4 °C / 87 F, compared to the device average of 29.5 °C / 85 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 36.1 °C / 97 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 27.7 °C / 81.9 F (-8.4 °C / -15.1 F).

Speakers

The two speakers are located at the front of the notebook and are angled slightly towards the desk. They provide a rather high-heavy sound. The mids and the bass are very weak. The speakers tend to distort the sound at high volume levels. External speakers can be connected via the USB port or audio jack. The combo audio jack requires an adapter if the headset uses two separate in/out cables.

Battery Life

Power Consumption

The energy consumption of the Dell Latitude E6530 that we measured was between a minimum of 8.4 W and a maximum of 56.5 W. The realistic consumption, with activated wireless functionality and display brightness at almost 160 cd/m², was about 13 W. In relation to the hardware components, these values are on the expected level and are not any way unusually high. Crucial to the practical working time without a power supply is the battery capacity. Our test model is equipped with a 60 Wh one. Alternatively, Dell offers 5 different battery options. At the time of this review though, only the 97 Wh and 87 Wh batteries with 3-year warranty were available in Dell's online shop. The small 40 Wh battery, the 30 Wh Modular Bay battery and the 97 Wh extended battery are not configurable in the online shop.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.3 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 8.4 / 13.2 / 16.6 Watt
Load midlight 43.8 / 56.5 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Life

Reader's Test
Reader's Test
Classic Test
Classic Test

The measured battery runtimes allow a network-independent work time of about 4 to 5 hours. With Battery Eater Reader's test (minimum brightness, energy saving profile, wireless modules off) we measured a maximum of 7 hours, but because of the low brightness and deactivated wireless modules this is an impractical test. In the WLAN test (brightness set at 158 cd/m², energy saving profile, activated wireless functionality) we reached a much more realistic run time of almost 5 hours. DVD playback (maximum brightness, energy saving profile, wireless deactivated) is possible for a maximum of 4:28 hours. The Battery Eater Classic Test (maximum brightness, high performance profile, wireless activated) was over after 83 minutes on the Latitude.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
7h 41min
WiFi Surfing
4h 51min
DVD
4h 28min
Load (maximum brightness)
1h 23min

Verdict

Dell Latitude E6530
Dell Latitude E6530

The Dell Latitude E6530 is a typical representative of the business premium class. Parts availability, a long warranty and multiple configuration options are exactly the qualities that business users expect. Of course the quality of the case, the materials used and the application performance are all on the expected level. Dell has implemented all of that very well in the Latitude E6530.

The interface configuration and positioning is almost impeccable. The keyboard is very good and even has a backlighting in our test model. Although the display does not score top points in all areas, it impresses with a high brightness, good contrast ratio and wide viewing angles.

Somewhat cumbersome is the access to some hardware components. In addition, our test configuration remains below its potential in the areas "noise level under low load" and "performance capabilities". The conventional hard drive and slow system memory impair our system. On top of that, said hard drive also causes increased noise level under low load.

In addition to the typical business features, the Dell Latitude E6530 impresses most with its consistent good to very good scores. The minor weaknesses of our test model can easily be circumvented by a change in the configuration. But you cannot get around the very high price that precisely takes into account the value of the specific business features and equipment details.

Read all 11 comments / answer
static version load dynamic
Loading Comments
Comment on this article
Please share our article, every link counts!
In Review: Dell Latitude E6530
In Review: Dell Latitude E6530

Specifications

Dell Latitude E6530
Processor
Intel Core i5-3360M 2 x 2.8 - 3.5 GHz, Ivy Bridge
Graphics adapter
Intel HD Graphics 4000, Core: 650 MHz, shared memory, igdumd64 8.15.10.2712/ Win7 64
Memory
4 GB 
, 1 x 4 GB DDR3-1600, 1 free slot
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 1920 x 1080 pixel, LP156WFC, LGD032C, TN, ~85 % sRGB color reproduction, glossy: no
Mainboard
Intel QM77 (Panther Point)
Storage
Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500423AS, 500 GB 
, 7200 rpm
Soundcard
IDT 92HD93BXX @ Intel Panther Point PCH- High Definition Audio Controller [C-1]
Connections
1 Express Card 54mm, 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0 / 3.1 Gen1, 1 VGA, 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, 1 eSata, 1 Docking Station Port, Audio Connections: Combined audio in/out, Card Reader: SD, 1 SmartCard, 1 Fingerprint Reader, Sensors: GPS
Networking
Intel 82579LM Gigabit Network Connection (10/100/1000MBit/s), Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 AGN (a/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/), Bluetooth 4.0, Dell Wireless 5560 HSPA+
Optical drive
TSSTcorp CDDVDW SN-208BB
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 35 x 384 x 258 ( = 1.38 x 15.12 x 10.16 in)
Battery
60 Wh Lithium-Ion, 5300 mAh, 11.1V
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Professional 64 Bit
Camera
Webcam: HD
Additional features
Speakers: 2 front-facing stereo speakers, Keyboard: Standard + number pad, Keyboard Light: yes, 36 Months Warranty
Weight
2.84 kg ( = 100.18 oz / 6.26 pounds), Power Supply: 360 g ( = 12.7 oz / 0.79 pounds)
Price
1350 Euro

 

The Dell Latitude E6530 is a premium notebook.
The Dell Latitude E6530 is a premium notebook.
The card reader is easily accessible.
The card reader is easily accessible.
The optical drive can be replaced with other modules.
The optical drive can be replaced with other modules.
The mechanism is very user-friendly.
The mechanism is very user-friendly.
Any missing ports can be upgraded via the ExpressCard slot.
Any missing ports can be upgraded via the ExpressCard slot.
ExpressCards/34 and ExpressCards/54 are supported.
ExpressCards/34 and ExpressCards/54 are supported.
An eSATA port is still a rarity.
An eSATA port is still a rarity.
The modem port is optional.
The modem port is optional.
The USB port on the back has a charging function.
The USB port on the back has a charging function.
The hard drive is easy to reach.
The hard drive is easy to reach.
The battery has a capacity of 60 Wh.
The battery has a capacity of 60 Wh.
Only removing the bottom cover...
Only removing the bottom cover...
....allows access to hardware components such as the RAM slots.
....allows access to hardware components such as the RAM slots.
The fan can be cleaned easily.
The fan can be cleaned easily.
The UMTS slot did not recognize our mSATA SSD.
The UMTS slot did not recognize our mSATA SSD.
The power supply is rated at 65 W.
The power supply is rated at 65 W.
The power connector is not angled.
The power connector is not angled.
The display hinge cannot completely prevent teetering.
The display hinge cannot completely prevent teetering.
It is specifically designed for the business sector.
It is specifically designed for the business sector.
Some of the features can be found only in business laptops.
Some of the features can be found only in business laptops.
The casing materials make a good impression.
The casing materials make a good impression.
The hardware components are not advertised on our test model.
The hardware components are not advertised on our test model.
The interface equipment is extensive.
The interface equipment is extensive.
The ports are well positioned.
The ports are well positioned.
A Smart Card reader is also on board.
A Smart Card reader is also on board.
The air vent reached a maximum of 38 °C.
The air vent reached a maximum of 38 °C.
The display can be opened to 180 degrees.
The display can be opened to 180 degrees.
Workmanship is flawless.
Workmanship is flawless.
The LEDs lighting is subtle...
The LEDs lighting is subtle...
...and looks well on the dark gray background.
...and looks well on the dark gray background.
The fingerprint scanner is available only with a surcharge.
The fingerprint scanner is available only with a surcharge.
More status LEDs are located at the back.
More status LEDs are located at the back.
Even the webcam costs extra.
Even the webcam costs extra.

Similar Notebooks

Similar devices from a different Manufacturer

Devices from a different Manufacturer and/or with a different CPU

Review HP ProBook 450-H0V92EA Notebook
HD Graphics 4000, Core i3 3120M
Review Asus Q500A-BHI7T05 Notebook
HD Graphics 4000, Core i5 3230M
Review Lenovo B580-M94A5GE Notebook
HD Graphics 4000, Core i5 3210M
Review Samsung Series 4 400B5C-H02DE Notebook
HD Graphics 4000, Core i5 3210M
Review Asus P55VA Notebook
HD Graphics 4000, Core i5 3210M
Review Lenovo B590 MBX2JGE Notebook
HD Graphics 4000, Core i3 3110M

Links

  • Manufacturer's information

Price Comparison

Pros

+Workmanship
+Case quality
+Display
+Input devices
+Configuration and upgrade options
 

Cons

-Noisy at low load
-Accessibility of the components

Shortcut

What we liked

Configuration options, quality and capabilities are well tuned to the business user.

What we'd like to see

Professional image editors would prefer a display with better viewing angles and color reproduction.

What surprises us

Some components and upgrades are not available in the online shop.

The competition

Dell Latitude E5530, HP EliteBook 8570p, Lenovo ThinkPad T530, Fujitsu LifeBook E752

Rating

Dell Latitude E6530 - 02/04/2013 v3(old)
Tobias Winkler

Chassis
94%
Keyboard
93%
Pointing Device
92%
Connectivity
88%
Weight
76%
Battery
85%
Display
80%
Games Performance
68%
Application Performance
91%
Temperature
89%
Noise
79%
Add Points
92%
Average
86%
88%
Office - Weighted Average
Tobias Winkler, 2013-02-10 (Update: 2013-06- 6)