Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 Review: A Premium Business Laptop for 2024

When it comes to business laptops, Dell has consistently set a high standard with its Latitude series. The Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 for 2024 continues this tradition, offering a combination of sleek design, robust performance, and business-oriented features. In this detailed review, we’ll delve into everything that makes the Latitude 9450 a standout choice for professionals. Whether you’re looking for a reliable workhorse for daily tasks or a versatile device for on-the-go productivity, this review will cover all the bases to help you make an informed decision.

Overview of the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1

The Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 is designed for business professionals who demand a high level of performance, security, and portability. With its premium build quality, advanced features, and impressive battery life, this laptop is poised to meet the needs of today’s dynamic work environments.

Key Specifications

• Display: 14-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) IPS, touchscreen, 500 nits brightness
• Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 165U (Meteor Lake)
• Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics
• RAM: 32GB LPDDR5x, 7467 MT/s
• Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD (upgradable)
• Ports: 3 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4, 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack, 1 x Kensington lock slot
• Battery: 60Whr, up to 15 hours on PCMark 10 Modern Office
• Weight: 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs)
• Operating System: Windows 11 Pro

Unboxing and First Impressions

Upon unboxing the Dell Latitude 9450, you’re greeted with a premium experience. The packaging is sleek and minimal, reflecting the laptop’s high-end positioning. Inside the box, you’ll find:

• The Dell Latitude 9450 laptop
• 65W USB Type-C power adapter
• USB-A to USB-C adapter
• Warranty documentation and setup guide

The laptop itself features a striking graphite color, adding to its sophisticated appearance. The build quality is excellent, with a robust all-metal chassis that exudes durability and elegance.

Design and Build Quality

The Dell Latitude 9450 boasts a premium design that’s both functional and stylish. Its all-metal construction not only provides a sleek look but also ensures durability. The graphite color adds a touch of elegance, making it suitable for professional settings.

Portability

Weighing in at 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs), the Latitude 9450 is relatively lightweight for a 14-inch laptop. This makes it easy to carry around, whether you’re moving between meetings or traveling for business. The total travel weight, including the power adapter, is 1.86 kg (4.1 lbs), which is still manageable for frequent travelers.

Keyboard and Touchpad

One of the standout features of the Latitude 9450 is its Zero-Lattice keyboard. Despite its slim profile, the keyboard offers a surprisingly comfortable typing experience. The key travel is sufficient, and the tactile feedback is satisfying, making it ideal for long typing sessions.

The haptic touchpad is another highlight. It’s responsive and supports various gestures, enhancing productivity. Additionally, the touchpad includes collaboration features such as quick access to mute, screen sharing, and other video conferencing controls.

Display Quality

The 14-inch QHD+ IPS display on the Dell Latitude 9450 is impressive. With a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, the screen delivers sharp and vibrant visuals. The display also supports touch input and pen input, making it versatile for various tasks.

Brightness and Color Accuracy

Dell claims a brightness level of 500 nits, but our measurements showed an actual brightness of 523 nits, which is excellent. This makes the display usable in both indoor and outdoor environments. The color accuracy is also commendable, with good coverage of the color gamut and accurate color reproduction.

Display Features

• Touch Support: Yes
• Pen Support: Yes
• Anti-Reflective Coating: Yes
• Anti-Smudge Coating: Yes
• Refresh Rate: 60Hz

While the display lacks a higher refresh rate option, the 60Hz panel is sufficient for productivity tasks and media consumption. The touch layer is responsive, and the pen support is a valuable addition for note-taking and drawing.

Performance

Under the hood, the Dell Latitude 9450 is powered by the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U processor, part of the Meteor Lake family. This chip is designed for efficient performance, balancing power consumption with processing capabilities.

Benchmark Performance

Here’s a look at how the Latitude 9450 performs in various benchmarks compared to other business laptops:

Real-World Performance

In real-world usage, the Latitude 9450 handles productivity tasks with ease. Whether you’re working with Microsoft Office, browsing the web, or managing emails, the laptop performs smoothly without any noticeable lag. The Intel Integrated Graphics are sufficient for light graphical tasks but don’t expect to run demanding games or heavy graphical applications.

Connectivity and Ports

The Latitude 9450 offers a good selection of ports, although it does have some limitations. Here’s a quick rundown of the ports available:

• Left Side:
  • 2 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 (data, charge, and display out)
• Right Side:
  • 1 x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 (data, charge, and display out)
  • 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone combo jack
  • 1 x Kensington lock slot

Missing Ports

While the port selection covers the basics, it does lack some commonly used ports such as HDMI and USB-A. However, Dell includes a USB-A to USB-C adapter in the box, which helps mitigate this limitation. Additionally, there’s no SD card reader, which might be a drawback for some users.

Battery Life

Battery life is a critical aspect for business laptops, and the Latitude 9450 doesn’t disappoint. Equipped with a 60Whr battery, it delivers impressive longevity.

Battery Performance

• PCMark 10 Modern Office: Up to 15 hours
• Video Playback: 12 hours and 22 minutes

These results indicate that the Latitude 9450 can easily last through a full workday and beyond, making it a reliable companion for long meetings, flights, and off-site work.

Audio and Webcam

Audio Quality

The Latitude 9450 features a quad-speaker setup with two subwoofers and two tweeters, enhanced by Waves MaxxAudio Pro. The audio quality is excellent for a business laptop, providing clear mids and decent bass. The speakers are loud enough to fill a room, making them suitable for video conferencing and media playback.

Webcam

The laptop is equipped with a 1080p IR camera, which supports Windows Hello for secure facial recognition login. The camera quality is good for video calls, and the integrated microphone performs well in capturing clear audio.

Security Features

Security is a top priority for business laptops, and the Latitude 9450 is well-equipped in this regard. It includes:

• IR Camera: For facial recognition via Windows Hello
• Fingerprint Scanner: Integrated into the power button
• Kensington Lock Slot: For physical security
• Optional Mobile Broadband: For secure, always-on connectivity

These features ensure that the laptop can be securely used in various environments, protecting sensitive business data.

Upgradability and Maintenance

Storage

The Latitude 9450 uses the M.2 2230 form factor for its SSD, which is user-upgradable. This allows for easy storage expansion, although the smaller form factor might limit the availability of compatible drives.

RAM

The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, which means it’s not upgradable. This is a common trend in modern laptops, especially those with a slim design. The 32GB of LPDDR5x RAM should be sufficient for most business applications, but it’s something to keep in mind if you anticipate needing more memory in the future.

Wireless Connectivity

The laptop features Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, which are soldered onto the motherboard and not user-upgradable. Wi-Fi 7 provides faster speeds and improved connectivity, making the laptop more future-proof.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Premium Build Quality: Sleek and durable all-metal design
• Excellent Display: Bright, color-accurate QHD+ IPS touchscreen
• Great Keyboard and Touchpad: Comfortable typing experience with responsive haptic touchpad
• Long Battery Life: Up to 15 hours on a single charge
• Good Audio Quality: Quad speakers with Waves MaxxAudio Pro
• Robust Security Features: IR camera, fingerprint scanner, and optional mobile broadband

Cons

• Limited Ports: No HDMI or USB-A ports, no SD card reader
• Non-Upgradable RAM: Soldered 32GB LPDDR5x RAM
• High Price: Premium features come at a premium cost

Conclusion

The Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 is a top-tier business laptop that excels in almost every area. Its premium build quality, excellent display, and robust performance make it an ideal choice for professionals who need a reliable and versatile device. The long battery life ensures that you can work throughout the day without worrying about recharging, and the security features provide peace of mind for handling sensitive information.

While it does have some limitations, such as the lack of certain ports and non-upgradable RAM, these are minor drawbacks in the grand scheme of things. Overall, the Latitude 9450 is a compelling option for those who value performance, design, and functionality in a business laptop.