First look at the Dell Latitude 5420

Our first test and review of the compact business laptop Dell Latitude 5420

It has been couple of weeks since we got our hands on the beautiful small laptop Dell Latitude 5420 which promises to be the perfect business companion for many consumers. 

From the very first touch of this computer it felt like holding and working with something very familiar. We have tested and used so many different laptops, including small ones like the Dell Latitude 5411 which proved to be a very capable small machine. Therefore we found a lot of similarities from our previous experience with Dell laptops.

Most of the key similarities would be: 

• Solid build quality
• Familiar small form factor and color (ultrabook territory)
• Easy to set up and get it going
• Comfortable keyboard with good key travel
• Functional and comfortable touchpad

All of these would help Dell fans get used to the Latitude 5420 quickly. It is almost like nothing surprised us from the first impressions with the laptop but that is not necessarily a bad thing.

Dell Latitude 5420 - key specifications

Just like with most Dell business laptops, the Latitude 5420 is highly customizable (processor, RAM, storage space, video chip). We tested average spec configurations with the following key features and specifications:

Processor

11 Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1145G7, vPro® (8 MB cache, 4 cores, 8 threads, up to 4.40 GHz Turbo)

Operating System

Windows 10 Pro (Windows 11 Pro license included), English, French, Spanish

Graphics Card

Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics Capable with Thunderbolt for I5-1145G7 vPro® processor

Display

14" FHD (1920x1080) Touch, Anti-Glare, 300nits, WLAN, FHD+IR Camera, Express-Sign In

Hard Drive

256 GB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD, Class 35

Microsoft Office

No Microsoft Office License included

Security Software

No anti-virus software

Keyboard

Single Point Keyboard, Backlit, US English

Ports

1 RJ-45 Ethernet port

1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port

1 USB 3.2 Gen 1 port with PowerShare

2 Thunderbolt 4 ports with DisplayPort Alt Mode/USB4/Power Delivery

1 HDMI 2.0 port

1 Universal audio port

Slots

1 microSD-card slot

1 wedge-shaped lock slot

1 micro-SIM card tray (optional)

1 smart card reader slot (optional)

Dimensions & Weight

Height: 0.76 in. (19.3 mm)

Width: 12.65 in. (321.35 mm)

Depth: 8.35 in. (212.1 mm)

Starting Weight: 3.03 lbs. (1.37 kg)

Camera

720p at 30 fps, widescreen HD RGB camera, Dual-array microphones

720p at 30 fps, widescreen HD RGBIr camera, Dual-array microphones

1080p at 30 fps, widescreen FHD RGBIr camera, Dual-array microphones

Audio and Speakers

Stereo speakers with Realtek Waves MaxxAudio® Pro, 2 W x 2 W = 4 W total

Dual-array microphones

Primary Battery

4 Cell, 63 Wh, ExpressCharge™ Capable

Power

65W Type-C EPEAT Adapter

Currently this configuration is sold on the US market for something like $1000. We believe that is a pretty good price for a business-class laptop, equipped with good processor, fast SSD and RAM. 

The small 14-inch display is not perfect for a full working day but coupled with a decent monitor like the Dell P2421D it becomes manageable for longer periods of work.

Other impressions - summary

Tested with the latest Business edition Windows 11 the Latitude 5420 behaved quite well during our initial activities - mostly browsing, conference calls, some software installation. 

It is mostly good impressions that we have right now. We will give it some more time and report with additional feedback for the Latitude 5420.

Meanwhile you can check our current workhorse, the mighty Dell Precision 3520 workstation which we still use for lots of tasks.

The Latitude 5420 also reminded us of the HP EliteBook G5 (the same silver color but not only that) which is another pretty good business laptop.