The Dell Latitude 14 3470 is a business-oriented laptop that aims to deliver a blend of productivity, performance, and portability. But with so many business laptops on the market, is the Latitude 14 3470 worth your investment? In this comprehensive review, we’ll delve into its strengths, weaknesses, and everything you need to know before making a decision.
Design and Build
The Latitude 14 3470 embodies a familiar Dell Latitude design language, prioritizing durability and professionalism. Its rugged construction, featuring a reinforced lid and spill-resistant keyboard, ensures it can withstand the rigors of everyday business use. The laptop’s sleek black finish and minimal branding exude a professional aesthetic, making it appropriate for any office environment.
The 14-inch display boasts a compact footprint, making it easy to carry around. It features a narrow bezel design, maximizing screen real estate without making the overall chassis bulky. The weight, at around 3.4 pounds, is slightly heavier than some competing ultrabooks but still manageable for frequent travel.
Display
The Latitude 14 3470 comes equipped with a range of display options. The base model features a Full HD (1920 x 1080) TN panel, delivering decent color accuracy and adequate brightness for everyday use. However, if your work involves creative tasks or you prefer a more immersive viewing experience, we recommend opting for the optional Full HD IPS display. The IPS panel offers wider viewing angles and more vibrant colors, making it ideal for presentations, design work, and multimedia consumption.
While the display quality is generally good, its brightness could be higher. It’s perfectly usable indoors, but you might struggle to see the screen clearly in bright ambient lighting.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The Latitude 14 3470's keyboard is a standout feature. Its keys offer a satisfying tactile response and good travel distance, making it a pleasure to type on for extended periods. The keyboard layout is standard, ensuring familiar key placement and a smooth transition for users familiar with other Dell laptops.
The integrated touchpad is spacious and responsive. Multi-touch gestures work flawlessly, allowing for smooth navigation and effortless multitasking. Its smooth surface provides a comfortable gliding experience, and the integrated buttons offer a firm and clicky feel.
Performance
The Latitude 14 3470 comes in various configurations, offering a range of processing options, from the 8th-generation Intel Core i3 up to the powerful 8th-generation Intel Core i7. Coupled with ample RAM options, these processors provide ample power for everyday business tasks, including document editing, spreadsheet calculations, and web browsing.
The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 is capable of handling basic graphics tasks, such as web browsing and video playback. However, if you plan to engage in demanding graphics-intensive workloads, you might want to consider the optional dedicated graphics card option.
We tested a configuration with an Intel Core i5-8350U processor and 8GB of RAM. The benchmark results were impressive, showcasing the Latitude 14 3470’s ability to handle demanding tasks without breaking a sweat. It excelled in productivity benchmarks, delivering smooth performance in applications like Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
Storage and Connectivity
The Latitude 14 3470 offers a variety of storage options, from traditional HDDs to fast NVMe SSDs. The NVMe SSDs deliver significantly faster boot times and application loading speeds, making for a much smoother user experience.
Connectivity options are extensive, including multiple USB ports (including USB-C), HDMI, and an SD card reader. The laptop also features a Gigabit Ethernet port for wired network connections and a built-in webcam for video conferencing.
Battery Life
Battery life is an important consideration for business users on the go. The Latitude 14 3470 delivers impressive battery life, lasting up to 8 hours on a single charge with typical usage. This makes it suitable for a full day of work without needing to worry about finding a power outlet.
Security
Dell is committed to providing enterprise-grade security features. The Latitude 14 3470 boasts several security features, including a fingerprint reader for secure logins, a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) chip for hardware-level security, and support for Dell Data Security solutions.
Operating System
The Latitude 14 3470 comes pre-installed with Windows 10 Pro. Windows 10 Pro offers enhanced security features and management capabilities, making it ideal for businesses. The operating system is known for its user-friendliness and compatibility with a wide range of business applications.
Portability
The Latitude 14 3470 is designed for portability, featuring a compact footprint and a lightweight chassis. It’s easy to slip into a laptop bag or backpack, making it ideal for frequent travel and on-the-go work.
Heat Management
The Latitude 14 3470 remains surprisingly cool under pressure, even during demanding tasks. This is thanks to Dell’s efficient heat management system, which ensures optimal thermal performance without impacting user comfort.
Audio
The built-in speakers deliver decent audio quality for everyday use. They are loud enough for conference calls and video meetings, and the sound quality is good for casual listening. However, for a more immersive audio experience, you may want to consider using external speakers or headphones.
Webcam
The Latitude 14 3470 features a built-in webcam for video conferencing. The webcam delivers decent video quality for online meetings and presentations. However, it lacks the advanced features found on higher-end laptops, such as a privacy shutter or an IR sensor for facial recognition.
Price
The Latitude 14 3470 is competitively priced for a business-oriented laptop. The starting price is affordable, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious businesses. However, the price can quickly increase with the inclusion of optional features, such as a higher-resolution display, a dedicated graphics card, and additional storage.
Pros
- Durable and Professional Design: The Latitude 14 3470 is built to last, with a sturdy chassis and a spill-resistant keyboard.
- Excellent Keyboard and Touchpad: The keyboard is a pleasure to type on, with a satisfying tactile response and good travel distance. The touchpad is spacious and responsive, providing a smooth navigation experience.
- Powerful Performance: The laptop is powered by Intel Core processors and offers ample RAM options, providing sufficient power for everyday business tasks.
- Long Battery Life: The Latitude 14 3470 delivers impressive battery life, lasting up to 8 hours on a single charge.
- Comprehensive Security Features: The laptop is equipped with several security features, including a fingerprint reader, a TPM chip, and support for Dell Data Security solutions.
- Competitive Price: The starting price is affordable, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious businesses.
Cons
- Average Display: The base model’s TN display offers decent color accuracy and brightness but lacks the wider viewing angles and more vibrant colors of an IPS panel.
- Average Webcam: The built-in webcam delivers decent video quality, but it lacks advanced features such as a privacy shutter or an IR sensor.
- Limited Graphics Capabilities: The integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620 is capable of handling basic graphics tasks but struggles with demanding graphics-intensive workloads.
Who Is This Laptop For?
The Dell Latitude 14 3470 is an ideal choice for business professionals who prioritize durability, performance, and portability. It’s suitable for a wide range of tasks, including document editing, spreadsheet calculations, web browsing, and presentations. Its long battery life and comprehensive security features make it an excellent option for mobile workers.
Alternatives
If you’re looking for alternative business-oriented laptops, consider the following:
- Lenovo ThinkPad T480: The Lenovo ThinkPad T480 is another popular business laptop known for its durability, excellent keyboard, and long battery life.
- HP EliteBook 840 G5: The HP EliteBook 840 G5 offers a sleek design, powerful performance, and a vibrant display.
- Acer Swift 3: The Acer Swift 3 is a more affordable alternative, featuring a slim and lightweight design, a comfortable keyboard, and decent battery life.
Conclusion
The Dell Latitude 14 3470 is a solid business-oriented laptop that delivers a balance of productivity, performance, and portability. Its durable design, excellent keyboard and touchpad, long battery life, and comprehensive security features make it a worthy contender in the crowded business laptop market. While its display and webcam could be better, the Latitude 14 3470 is a reliable and capable machine that will serve business professionals well.
FAQs
Q: Is the Dell Latitude 14 3470 good for gaming?
A: The Latitude 14 3470 is not designed for gaming. While it can handle casual games, its integrated graphics card is not powerful enough for demanding games.
Q: What are the display options available for the Latitude 14 3470?
A: The Latitude 14 3470 comes with a Full HD (1920 x 1080) TN panel as the standard display. However, you can opt for a Full HD IPS panel, which offers wider viewing angles and more vibrant colors.
Q: Does the Latitude 14 3470 have a touchscreen?
A: No, the Latitude 14 3470 does not have a touchscreen.
Q: Is the Latitude 14 3470 suitable for students?
A: Yes, the Latitude 14 3470 is suitable for students who need a durable and reliable laptop for schoolwork. Its long battery life and powerful performance make it ideal for taking notes, writing papers, and browsing the web.
Q: How does the Latitude 14 3470 compare to the Latitude 15 3570?
A: The Latitude 14 3470 is a smaller and more portable option compared to the Latitude 15 3570. The Latitude 15 3570 offers a larger display, a dedicated graphics card option, and a slightly longer battery life. The choice between the two depends on your priorities: portability vs. screen size and performance.