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Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1) Review
Specifications –
- Processor: Intel core i5-8350U (1.6 GHz base up to 3.4 GHz)
- Graphics: Integrated Intel UHD Graphics 620
- Memory: 8GB DDR4 (Soldered)
- Storage: 256GB SSD (Expandable up to 1TB)
- Display: 12.3″ WUXGA (1920 x 1280) Anti-Glare LED-backlit
- Wireless: Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.1 and Mobile Broadband (4G/LTE)
- Weight: 1.25 kg
If you’ve been a tech enthusiast like myself then, you’re probably familiar with the Dell latitude series. For years, they have been the most selling laptop out of the popular ones in the business category because of their reliability, security and built to get the job done.
But if your last experience with a latitude as a slightly older model, you might be surprised by how drastically the lineup has transformed. Today we are looking at the Dell latitude 5290 (2-in- 1) .To really understand the leap Dell has made 5290, it helps back at where the latitude series was just a few years prior.
Design And Build Quality
While The Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1) does come in the traditional laptops category, still it proves to be a quintessential corporate Machine. It features a magnesium alloy chassis, which is actually quite robust and feels incredibly sturdy in the hand. It’s designed to survive the daily commute to the office. This 2-in-1 model is Dell’s direct answer to the Microsoft Surface Pro. It’s a sleek, premium tablet that attaches to a magnetic folio keyboard. It’s a brilliant, highly satisfying piece of engineering.
Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1) Review : Display
If you opt for the (2-in-1), your eyes will thank you. It rocks a gorgeous 12.3-inch touchscreen with a 1920 x 1280 resolution. It uses a 3:2 aspect ratio, which gives you more vertical space for reading web pages and spreadsheets with its bright 542 nits display, as per dell, will completely overpower most of its premium competitors out of the race.
Keyboard & Touchpad
The Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1)’s detachable keyboard cover is surprisingly excellent for a folio. While it has slightly shallow key travel than the full laptop, that’s understandable. The keys are clicky and responsive. The leather palm rest is comfortable, and the glass touchpad is smooth and reliable.
Performance & Benchmarks
To give you a clear picture of how the Dell Latitude 5290 performs in the real world, we ran it through a few popular benchmark tests:
CrystalDiskMark (Storage Speed)
- The scores are as follows:
- Sequential Read: 552.91 MB/s
- Sequential Write: 326.59 MB/s
This test measures the speed of the internal solid-state drive (SSD). The Sequential Read speed of over 552.91MB/s confirms that the system is integrated with an SSD that, while providing lower speeds compared to some modern-age laptops, but it offers optimal performance relative to its price point.This translates directly to a computer that boots up within seconds, moves massive gigabyte-sized files almost instantly, and keeps application load times virtually non-existent. The write speeds over 300 MB/s ensure smooth installation of software and swift saving of large datasets.
Geekbench CPU Benchmark (Processor Performance)
- Explanation: Geekbench measures the raw processing power of the CPU.
- Single-Core Score: 1019
- Multi-Core Score: 3376
- The Single-Core score reflects how well the laptop handles every day, single-threaded tasks like web browsing, navigating the operating system, and running basic applications. A score near 1200 shows snappiness in day-to-day use.
- The multi-core score reflects the processor’s ability to handle parallel tasks. Since this machine runs an 8th-generation quad-core processor, a score above 3200 indicates solid multi-tasking capabilities, allowing you to run multiple office applications, background tasks, and browser tabs simultaneously without experiencing system stuttering.
PC Mark 10 (Overall System Productivity)
- The Scores:
- Overall Score: 3299
- Essentials: 6740 (App Start-up, Video Conferencing, Web Browsing)
- Productivity: 5514 (Spreadsheets, Writing/Documents)
- Digital Content Creation: 2,624 (Photo Editing, Video Editing, Rendering)
PC Mark 10 simulates a complete day of real-world office work to evaluate how well the system holds up under mixed workloads. The Essentials score (6740) proves that the laptop is blazing fast at opening applications and handling many browser tabs at once. The strong Productivity score (5514) indicates it handles Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoints with ease. The lower Digital Content Creation score (2624) states that while it can handle light, casual photo cropping and basic video trimming, it is not meant to be a dedicated workstation for professional media editors.
Hardware details
This laptop is equipped with an intel core i5-8350U processor from the “Kaby Lake-R” family, built on a 14 nm manufacturing process. It is a power-efficient mobile chip designed to maximize battery life, operating with a low maximum Thermal Design Power (TDP) of just 15.0 W. Inside, it features 4 cores and 8 threads to handle multitasking, alongside 6 MB of cache. While its base clock speed sits at a modest 1.70 GHz, the core speed actively boosts to roughly 3.58 GHz.
Battery life
A refurbished laptop’s battery health is essentially its current capacity to hold a charge compared to its original factory design. If you purchase a refurbished unit with a low battery health, you should realistically expect anywhere from 2 to 3 hours of real-world use before needing to plug in. A battery naturally degrades based on its history of charge cycles, exposure to heat, and the charging habits of its user. Since, laptop charges via USB-C, it’s incredibly easy to carry a compatible power bank in your bag to charge it during long travel days.
Ports and Connectivity
One of the biggest frustrations with modern thin-and-light tablets is the complete lack of ports. Dell didn’t fall into that trap. Despite being a convertible, the Latitude 5290 2-in-1 packs a quite good selection of ports.
- Left Side: audio jack, Volume rocker, USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-A port, 2 USB Type-C ports ,microphone and a speaker
- Right Side, Kensington slot, Smart card reader, Windows home button, speaker.
Final Verdict
The Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1) has a portable design. It doesn’t scream for attention like a tablet, but it works twice as hard. the incredibly bright 3:2 display, and the inclusion of a USB-A port on a tablet, it is built to get work done. If you want the portability of a Microsoft Surface but demand the rugged reliability, port selection, and keyboard comfort of a true business machine, the Latitude 5290 2-in-1 is a fantastic, most capable hybrid available in the refurbished Markets.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How long does the battery last on a refurbished Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1)?
While brand-new units originally lasted around 6 hours, you should expect about 2 to 3 hours of real-world use on a refurbished model. This is due to the natural degradation of lithium-ion batteries over time.
Q: Does the Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1) have standard USB ports?
Yes, unlike many modern thin-and-light tablets, it features excellent connectivity. It includes two modern USB Type-C ports alongside one legacy standard USB 3.1 Type-A port, meaning you won’t need a dongle.
Q: Can I upgrade the RAM or storage on the Dell Latitude 5290 (2-in-1)?
The RAM (memory) is soldered directly to the motherboard and cannot be upgraded, so be sure to buy a configuration (like 8GB or 16GB) that meets your needs. However, the internal M.2 PCIe NVMe SSD storage can typically be accessed and upgraded if you need more space later.
Q: Is the keyboard included, and is it comfortable?
Yes, it relies on the magnetic Dell Travel Keyboard. It snaps on easily, features a backlight, and offers excellent key travel. For a detachable cover, it provides a surprisingly comfortable and accurate typing experience for long work sessions.
