Dell Latitude 9440 review: One of the best laptops in 2023

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The Dell Latitude 9440 is a convertible laptop that combines the design elements of the Latitude series with some influences from the XPS line. It features a sleek and premium look with a body made of machined aluminium. With a weight of slightly over three pounds, it offers portability without compromising on durability. One notable feature of the Latitude 9440 is its 16:10 display aspect ratio, which provides more vertical screen space compared to traditional 16:9 displays. This aspect ratio is often favoured by professionals who require an additional workspace for productivity tasks. Additionally, Dell claims that the laptop boasts a 91.5 per cent screen-to-body ratio, which is considered the best in its class for a 14-inch commercial ultra-premium PC.

In terms of dimensions, the Latitude 9440 measures approximately 12.2 x 8.46 x 0.59 inches (length x width x thickness), making it compact and easy to carry around. Overall, the Dell Latitude 9440 aims to offer a premium computing experience with its design, lightweight construction, high screen-to-body ratio, and convertible functionality.

The Dell Latitude 9440 is a high-end 2-in-1 device aimed at C-suite professionals. It features a backlit keyboard with Mini LED technology, reducing power usage by up to 75% and potentially increasing battery life by three hours. The keyboard design resembles that of the Dell XPS 13 Plus, known as “zero-lattice.” This premium laptop combines business functionality with stylish features.

The Dell Latitude 9440 features a keyboard with larger keys and minimal spacing between them, aiming to improve typing ease. Although they may require some adjustment, they do not dramatically transform the typing experience. The laptop ditches the non-physical haptic function keys found in the XPS 13 Plus in favour of a traditional function row.

The device also includes a haptic “collaboration touchpad” with shortcut buttons for the microphone, camera, screen sharing, and chat controls. In terms of ports, it offers three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an audio jack, a lock slot, and an optional Nano SIM card tray. Powering the laptop is Intel’s 13th Gen processor. Overall, the Dell Latitude 9440 combines an ergonomic keyboard design with a functional touchpad and a selection of modern ports, enhancing user collaboration and productivity.

Price and Availability

The Dell Latitude 9440 is a business laptop specifically designed for C-Suite executives and business users. As a result, it is priced higher than consumer laptops. Your specific unit is configured with the 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1365U vPro CPU, dual-channel 32GB DDR5 6000 MHz RAM, and a 1TB SSD. According to Dell, the approximate price for your configuration is around $3,000. While your specific configuration may not currently be listed on Dell’s website, it is common for additional configurations to become available over time. Business customers often purchase these laptops in bulk, which may lead to discounted pricing that is not reflected on Dell’s website. Only a small percentage of Latitude laptops are sold directly through Dell.com, as most sales occur through other channels. It is unlikely to find the Latitude 9440 at third-party retailers like Amazon, as business laptops are typically not widely available through consumer-focused platforms. However, it is possible that different configurations of the Latitude 9440 may become available in the future.

Display

The Dell Latitude 9440 features an impressive display that enhances productivity. Similar to the XPS 13 Plus, it utilizes an edge-to-edge display with slim bezels, referred to as “InfinityEdge” by Dell. The laptop boasts a 14-inch QHD+ IPS panel with a resolution of 1560×1600 pixels, perfectly tuned to the 16:10 aspect ratio. This resolution is not commonly found in 14-inch business convertibles, as most offer FHD+ 1920×1200 as the default with the option to upgrade to QHD+. With the Latitude 9440, you get a 7% larger viewing area across all models without any additional cost. Being a 2-in-1 device, the Latitude 9440 supports the Dell Active Pen for convenient touch and stylus input. Although there is no designated spot to attach the pen on the display, the laptop’s magnetic aluminium build allows you to safely snap an older Dell Active Pen to the side for storage. This proves to be useful when transitioning the screen into tent mode for video watching, as the pen remains securely in place. The laptop’s hinge also offers smooth movement between different configurations without being overly tight or loose. Overall, the Dell Latitude 9440’s display provides an immersive viewing experience, enhanced productivity, and seamless usage in various orientations, making it a versatile option for business professionals.

Design

Image Source – The Verge

The Dell Latitude 9440 has significantly transformed from a traditional clamshell design to a striking 2-in-1 convertible. Taking inspiration from the popular XPS lineup, the laptop now features a CNC-machined aluminium build in an attractive graphite colour, exuding a premium feel that justifies its $3,000 price tag. Even the tactile experience of running your hands along its sides is enjoyable.

Setting itself apart from typical business laptops like the ThinkPad X1 Carbon or EliteBook x360, the Dell Latitude boasts slightly polished diamond-cut edges, reminiscent of consumer-oriented laptops such as the HP Spectre x360. This design choice enhances its aesthetic appeal and makes it more inviting to hold. (redzer.tv) The laptop’s overall design is sleek and clean, with the fans strategically placed at the back for an efficient and visually pleasing look while ensuring effective cooling.

What sets the Dell Latitude 9440 apart in terms of sustainability is its use of recycled materials. Dell proudly claims that this is the world’s first PC to be made with low-carbon 75% recycled aluminium for its chassis. Additionally, the laptop undergoes MIL-STD 810H tests, similar to ThinkPads, ensuring durability and reliability in challenging environments. While it may not be as serviceable as some other laptops, with soldered RAM and wireless card, the battery can still be replaced if needed.

One of Dell’s marketing highlights for the Latitude 9440 is its claim to be the world’s smallest 14-inch commercial PC. This claim holds true when compared to the 14-inch HP EliteBook 840 G10, as Dell’s laptop measures only 12.20 inches in length and approximately 0.56 inches in thickness, weighing a mere 3.38 pounds. Its compact size ensures easy portability and convenient storage in any bag or backpack.

The Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 convertible offers a compelling package with its premium design, sustainability focus, and compact form factor. It combines the best of consumer and business-oriented laptops, making it an attractive option for professionals seeking a versatile and aesthetically pleasing device.

Performance

The Dell Latitude 9440 delivers the performance you would expect from a high-end business productivity laptop. In my configuration, it came equipped with a 13th-generation Intel Core i7-1365U 15W CPU, which consists of two performance cores and eight efficient cores. Coupled with dual-channel 32GB DDR5 6000MHz RAM, this combination and its 5.2GHz turbo boost speeds offer excellent battery life and smooth everyday computing. For my day-to-day tasks, such as web browsing in Microsoft Edge and using messaging apps, this CPU and RAM configuration performed admirably. I experienced no slowdowns even when connected to a 4K monitor with multiple tabs open in the browser. Running a Windows Insider virtual machine on the system also didn’t impact its performance. For a more detailed analysis of the laptop’s performance, you can refer to the CPU comparison below. It’s important to note that this laptop features Intel’s lower-wattage U-series chips, so it’s not specifically designed for demanding tasks like video editing or photo editing. For those purposes, laptops with 28W P-series chips, 45W H-series chips, or AMD Ryzen 7000 series CPUs would be more suitable. The focus here is on basic productivity tasks. However, these new chips offer significant multicore performance improvements compared to the previous generation, with higher scores across the board, while also providing better battery life.

One notable feature of this laptop is its vPro CPU, which brings additional benefits for IT administrators. Intel’s website provides more detailed information, but the laptop offers enhanced security features, manageability, and stability. It includes features like Intel Hardware Shield, PC fleet stability, and even Intel Active Management for remote management and activation. Although I didn’t personally test these features, the platform is specifically designed with businesses in mind. Dell has collaborated with Intel on many of these features, and you can find more information on their website.

In terms of battery life, I was able to achieve approximately 8.5 hours on a single charge with the screen set to a comfortable 35% brightness and Windows configured for the best power efficiency. This provides ample usage time for a typical workday. The Dell Latitude 9440 offers a strong performance package for business productivity tasks, with efficient CPU and RAM configurations, good battery life, and additional benefits for IT administrators through its vPro CPU capabilities.

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