The Dell Latitude 7440, an ultralight laptop featuring a remarkable QHD+ display with a resolution of 2560 by 1600 pixels. Its standout feature is the touch display with a matte finish, eliminating bothersome glare and distracting reflections. Additionally, it boasts exciting features such as an optional 5G modem, a powerful 13th Gen processor, and a comfortable and responsive keyboard. With its sleek and professional design, the Latitude 7440 is an excellent choice for business professionals prioritizing portability.
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Table of Contents
Specifications
| Display | 14″ QHD+ (2560 x 1600) AG Touch, ComfView+, IPS 400 nit. |
| CPU | UP to 13th Gen Intel Core i7-1365U, vPro (12 MB Cache, 10 core, 12 threads, up to 5.20 GHz turbo) |
| Graphics | Intel Iris Xe Graphics |
| Memory | Up too 32 GB LPDDR5, 4800 MT/s, Integrated |
| Storage | 512 GB, M.2, PCIe NVME, SSD, Class 35 |
| Battery | 3-Cell, 57 Wh, Express Charge Capable |
| Connectivity | Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, 2×2 802.11ax Bluetooth wireless card optional WWAN |
| Camera | 5MP IR MIPI Camera with built-in Camera Shutter |
| Audio | Stereo Speakers and Waves MaxxAudio Pro (Four top and Bottom firing speakers) |
| Ports | 1 External uSim card tray (WWAN Only) 1 Universal Audio Jack, 2 USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A Port, USB 3.2 GEN Type-A port with PowerShare, 1 Wedge-Shaped lock slot, 1 HDMI 2.0, 2 USB Type-C thunderbolt 4.0 1 Smart card reader (optional) |
| Price | $1,950 |
Design and Build
In the package, you’ll find a 60-watt power adapter, the Dell Latitude 7440, and a USB-C cable, alongside the essential power cord and documentation. The laptop’s river color is striking, blending grayish-blue hues for an elegant look. Crafted from lightweight magnesium alloy, it feels remarkably light, weighing 1.226 kilograms. Including the power charger, USB-C cable, and power cord, the total travel weight is 1.47 kilograms (3 pounds and 3.8 ounces), making it ideal for individuals on the move.
The Latitude 7440’s port selection is extensive. On the left side, you’ll find an HDMI 2.0 port and two USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports, offering full functionality for data transfer, charging, and display output. On the right side, there’s a SIM tray for optional 5G connectivity, a 3.5-millimeter microphone headphone combo jack, and two USB Type-A ports (3.2 Gen 1). Additionally, a Kensington lock slot enhances device security. However, the absence of a micro SD card reader, available in previous models, is noticeable. Nonetheless, the overall port selection remains robust for an ultraportable laptop.
Related: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga Gen 7 Convertible 2-in-1 Notebook
User Upgradeability on the Dell Latitude 7440
Accessing the laptop’s interior is straightforward. Loosen the eight captive screws, and the bottom plate easily comes off, revealing a single cooling fan and a 57-watt hour battery inside.
| All | Read (MB/s) | Write (MB/s |
|---|---|---|
| SEQ1M Q8T1 | 3631.32 | 2530.55 |
| SEQ1M Q1T1 | 2643.06 | 1590.74 |
| RND4K Q32T1 | 435.06 | 366.24 |
| RND4K Q8T1 | 76.06 | 139.64 |
The Dell Latitude 7440 is equipped with a 2242 SSD, occupying the sole SSD slot. It’s an m.2 SSD, offering user-upgradeability for additional storage, although it may not match the speed of larger 2280 SSDs. The RAM, however, is soldered onto the motherboard, limiting user-upgradeability. This unit boasts 16 gigabytes of LPDDR5 RAM running at 4,800 megahertz in dual-channel mode. Additionally, a Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 combo card is soldered in, providing seamless wireless connectivity. The optional mobile broadband 5G is available, with pre-configured antenna leads included, catering to business users needing a reliable, always-on secure connection while on the go.
Display and Speakers
The Latitude 7440 offers two display options: a Full HD display with 1920×1200 resolution and the 14-inch QHD+ touch display with a remarkable 2560×1600 resolution. Equipped with ComfortView Plus IPS technology, the QHD+ display delivers impressive quality, featuring deep blacks, accurate white balance, excellent contrast, and wide color gamut coverage. Its color accuracy makes it suitable for content creation tasks such as photo and video editing.
The touch functionality enhances user experience, allowing easy navigation and intuitive gestures like pinch-to-zoom. Additionally, the matte finish reduces glare and reflections, boosting productivity. For entertainment, the display provides an exceptional viewing experience on platforms like Netflix and YouTube.
However, it’s important to note that the display has a standard 60Hz refresh rate, typical for business-focused ultraportables prioritizing battery life and longevity. The aspect ratio is 16:10, a modern improvement over the previous year’s model, aligning with current standards.
The Dell Latitude 7440 features quad speakers, delivering surprisingly good sound quality with decent volume, balanced mids, and even respectable bass for an ultraportable laptop. This level of audio performance is noteworthy and enhances the overall multimedia experience.
Webcam
Switching gears to the camera, the Dell Latitude 7440 for 2023 comes with a 5-megapixel IR camera. It supports face recognition through Windows Hello for secure and convenient login. The video quality is at 1440p, and the microphone’s audio quality performs admirably, effectively reducing background noise. The inclusion of features like auto framing and background blur, known as Studio Effects, makes it an ideal choice for Zoom calls and video conferencing.
Performance, Benchmarks and Gaming
Dell Latitude 7440 runs on the Core i5-1345U processor, part of Intel’s 13th generation lineup. With a total of 10 cores, including eight efficient and two high-performance cores, this CPU operates at a power consumption of just 15 watts.
| PCMARK 10 | 5,449 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Single-Core) | 2,436 |
| GEEKBENCH 6 (Multi-Core) | 9,038 |
| CINEBENCH R20 | 2,439 |
| CINEBENCH R15 | 1,486 CB | 93.47 FPS |
| CINEBENCH R23 | 1,707 Single-Core, 9,767 Multi-Core |
| 3DMARK Fire Strike | 4,099 |
| 3DMARK Time Spy | 1,487 |
The benchmark results confirm that the laptop excels in everyday tasks, including Microsoft Office, email, and web browsing. It achieves an impressive single-core score, as exemplified by the Cinebench R23 single-core score of 1707, making it well-suited for a wide range of everyday computing tasks.
| Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420VA) Core i7-13700H | 13,446 |
| Lenovo Slim Pro 7 (2023) Ryzen 7 7735HS | 12,552 |
| Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q410VA) Core i5-13500H | 12,299 |
| HP Dragonfly Pro Ryzen 7 7736U | 10,610 |
| Dell Latitude 7440 Ultralight Core i5-1345U | 9,767 |
The multi-core score is equally impressive, hitting a commendable 97.67. This level of performance, especially for a Core i5 processor, guarantees smooth multitasking and capable handling of more demanding applications.
| Titles | Low | Medium | High | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Witcher 3 | 86 FPS | 53 FPS | 29 FPS | 13 FPS |
| GTA V | 101 FPS | 93 FPS | 29 FPS | 9 FPS |
| DOTA 2 REBORN | 108 FPS | 85 FPS | 61 FPS | 56 FPS |
| F1 22 | 40 FPS | 36 FPS | 25 FPS | 19 FPS |
However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Latitude 7440 isn’t primarily designed for gaming. This laptop is tailored for business use, and its gaming performance is limited by the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. While you can play some games on this laptop by reducing graphics settings, it won’t deliver an optimal gaming experience, particularly for graphically demanding titles. The integrated graphics can be a limiting factor for gaming performance.
If you’re looking to enhance your gaming capabilities, you do have the theoretical option of adding an external GPU through one of the two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Surface Temps and Fan Noise
However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the Latitude 7440 isn’t primarily designed for gaming. This laptop is tailored for business use, and its gaming performance is limited by the integrated Intel Iris Xe Graphics. While you can play some games on this laptop by reducing graphics settings, it won’t deliver an optimal gaming experience, particularly for graphically demanding titles. The integrated graphics can be a limiting factor for gaming performance.
If you’re looking to enhance your gaming capabilities, you do have the theoretical option of adding an external GPU through one of the two Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Surface temperatures did increase above the keyboard and below the display during heavy use, reaching around 55 degrees Celsius. The heat seems to dissipate from this area, where there is a vent. The underside of the laptop also experienced some hot spots, but overall, the temperatures were not too extreme. While the laptop can get a little hot under heavy load, it remains within reasonable limits and should not cause any major issues.
Battery Life
| Laptops | PCMARK 10 Modern Office | PCMARK 10 Video Playback |
|---|---|---|
| Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 60Wh | 12 hours 45 minutes | 12 hours 40 minutes |
| Dell Latitude 7440 Ultralight 57Wh | 12 hours 00 minutes | 12 hours 04 minutes |
The Dell Latitude 7440 ultralight truly shines when it comes to battery life, thanks to its 57-watt hour battery. In comparison to its sibling, the 9442-in-one, which boasts a slightly larger 60-watt hour battery, the Latitude 7440 holds its ground admirably. It achieved a remarkable 12 hours on the PC Mark 10 modern office battery test, showcasing its endurance, a vital feature for an ultralight laptop. This laptop lives up to its promise of delivering exceptional battery life.
During the video playback test, the Latitude 7440 continued to amaze, providing an impressive 12 hours and four minutes of playback time. This result reaffirms its suitability for prolonged on-the-go usage.
Keyboard and Touchpad
You can almost open the Dell Latitude 7440 with just one finger, as it is a really light laptop. This is not something you normally encounter, but it is possible with this model. Another great feature is that the screen can be opened back 180 degrees, providing excellent viewing angles. The hinges are well-designed and tight, resulting in minimal, if any, screen wobble when typing, which is a pleasant detail. Screen wobble can be a bit of a pet peeve for some users, but with this laptop, it’s not a concern.
The keyboard on the Latitude 7440 is quite good overall. While it may not be the absolute best keyboard I’ve ever used, it’s still highly comfortable for getting work done. It might not quite match the exceptional ThinkPad keyboards, which are often considered some of the best in the industry, but the Latitude’s keyboard is very functional. I found the keyboard on the 9440 zero lattice model to be particularly enjoyable and a pleasure to use.
The multi-stage backlighting of the keyboard works effectively, making it easy to see the keys and providing good contrast for working in dimly lit or dark environments. This ensures a productive typing experience even in low-light conditions.
As for the touchpad, it’s a Precision touchpad that’s highly responsive and performs well with scrolling and all gestures. Everything works as expected, making it convenient and user-friendly for navigation and various productivity tasks.
Conclusion
The Dell Latitude 7440 ultralight for 2023 presents a compelling offering with several notable features. The transition to a 16:10 aspect ratio is a welcome enhancement, while the availability of a QHD+ display with touch and matte options adds versatility. The keyboard, touchpad, and performance from the Core i5 13th Gen processor are commendable. The optional 5-megapixel webcam with Studio Effects enriches video conferencing, and the laptop maintains quiet fan noise even under heavy loads, a noteworthy feature. Additionally, the quad speakers, positioned both top-firing and bottom-firing, deliver surprisingly good sound quality for an ultraportable laptop.
However, there are a few drawbacks to consider. The absence of an SD card reader may inconvenience some users, and the use of magnesium alloy in the chassis can lead to slight flex, affecting overall build quality. Furthermore, the non-upgradable RAM is a limitation, consistent with the trend observed in 2023 laptops.
Overall, the Latitude 7440 ultralight emerges as an excellent choice for travelers needing a reliable device for business tasks on the go. The optional 5G connectivity ensures a constant and secure connection, while the impressive 5-megapixel IR webcam significantly enhances video conferencing. Moreover, its exceptional battery life adds to its appeal, making it a solid option for users in 2023.
The Dell Latitude 7440 ultralight excels in portability, performance, and connectivity, making it a top choice for business travelers in 2023, with a few minor build quality and upgradability trade-offs to consider.
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Design8
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Hardware10
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Ports9
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Display10
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Performance9
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keyboard8
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ThouchPad9
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Audio9
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Thermals / Fan Noise9
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Webcam10
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Battery10
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Price value7
