performance is even worse. The Core i7-10610U has Intel’s ancient UHD graphics solution. It’s entirely inadequate for modern games or 3D applications. You shouldn’t expect to play any 3D game sold in the last five years, and even big budget titles from a decade ago can struggle at higher detail settings. That beats other long-lasting Windows laptops we’ve recently tested, such as Lenovo’s Yoga 9i and the Razer Book 13. Most owners can expect the Latitude 5420 to endure a full workday of constant use on the go. These results come with an important caveat. Dell has updated the Latitude 5420 with models that offer new Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Xe graphics. We haven’t tested the Latitude 5420 in this configuration, but we have tested laptops with similar hardware. We expect the new models to provide a small boost in processor performance and a significant boost in graphics performance.

Audio quality is not where we’d expect the Latitude 5420 to excel. Work laptops often don’t prioritize audio, and this laptop makes no claims about enhanced sound. Apple Silicon still has it beat, though. The MacBook Pro we recently tested handled 14 hours of our battery life, a full four and a half hours more than the Latitude 5420. The speakers sound powerful It’s honestly the worst touchpad we’ve used in years. We became so frustrated that, at one point during testing, our reviewer rage-quit the laptop entirely and walked off to finish the day’s work on a desktop. Modern connectivity is provided by twin Thunderbolt 4 ports with Power Delivery and DisplayPort mode. These versatile ports can connect to a variety of USB-C or Thunderbolt devices, can charge the laptop, and can power an external monitor. Its 1920 x 1080 resolution, matte display coat, and good contrast ratio make a decent first impression. To its credit, the display works well for its narrow intended purpose. It’s readable, resists glare, and is bright enough to use in any office.The Latitude 5420 we tested had Intel’s Core i7-10610U quad-core processor. It’s an upgrade from the Core i3 processor found in the base configuration, but it certainly didn’t feel like it. The Dell Latitude 5420 is not entirely hopeless. It has a great keyboard, excellent connectivity, and good battery life. In brief, stay away from the Dell Latitude 5420. This is not the work-from-home laptop you’re looking for. Nothing about the Latitude 5420 suggests it might be a good laptop for anything unrelated to work, so perhaps it’s no surprise the display fails to hold up.

The recent surge in remote work has forced millions of people across the globe to redesign their home office with better, more powerful, more professional PC hardware. Dell’s Latitude 5420 A 63 watt-hour battery powers the Dell Latitude 5420. That’s not massive, but it feels above average in 2021. Most premium and luxury laptops have cut battery size in an effort to reduce weight. Nothing seems wrong with the Latitude 5420’s touchpad at a glance. It looks spacious and its plastic feel, although not enjoyable, is hardly unusual for a Windows business laptop.