Dell Latitude 5490
Score: 73/100
Apple MacBook Air 2020 13-inch
Score: 80/100Rankings
The 2020 MacBook Air delivers a premium, fanless design with an excellent Retina display and solid battery life, but its entry-level i3 processor and non-upgradable components limit performance for power users.
The Latitude 5490 is a 14-inch business laptop powered by an 8th-gen quad-core i5, offering strong multitasking, extensive ports, and enterprise-grade security in a rugged, serviceable chassis. It provides solid performance but is weighed down by average battery life and a modestly bright display.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
| ↓ lower better | 1.6 kg | 1.27 kgbest |
13 hoursbest | 11 hours | |
14 inchesbest | 13.3 inches | |
16 GBbest | 8 GB | |
512 GBbest | 256 GB | |
| ↓ lower better | 20 mmbest | 231 mm |
220 nits | 400 nitsbest | |
60 Hzbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 13 hours | 11 hours |
Memory & Storage(2) | ||
RAM Capacity (GB) | 16 GB | 8 GB |
SSD Capacity (GB) | 512 GB | 256 GB |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Weight (kg) | 1.6 kg | 1.27 kg |
Thickness (mm) | 20 mm | 231 mm |
Performance(2) | ||
Processor Model | Intel Core i5-8350U | Intel Core i3-1000NG4 |
Graphics Type | Intel UHD Graphics 620 | Intel Iris Plus Graphics |
Display(4) | ||
Screen Size (inches) | 14 inches | 13.3 inches |
Resolution | 1920x1080 | 2560 × 1600 |
Panel Type | WVA | LED-backlit IPS Retina with True Tone |
Brightness (nits) | 220 nits | 400 nits |
Connectivity(2) | ||
Bluetooth Version | 4.2 | 5.0 |
USB‑C Ports | 1 | 2 |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Latitude 5490 for its solid performance thanks to the quad-core i5, its military-grade durability, and its comprehensive security suite, noting it as a reliable workhorse for enterprise environments. The only criticism from experts is occasional fan noise under heavy loads.
Everyday users appreciate the laptop's smooth handling of multiple applications, the ease of upgrading components, its ruggedness that survives field work, and the comfortable keyboard. Common complaints focus on shorter-than-advertised battery life, the relatively heavy chassis, dim screen brightness, and older-generation Wi-Fi/Bluetooth.
“Perfect for school and writing - lightweight and lasts all day.”
“The i3 is too slow when I have more than 10 Chrome tabs open.”
“Webcam is terrible in low light - looks grainy on Zoom.”
Reviewers praised the refined design, Magic Keyboard and display, while cautioning that the i3 CPU makes it a marginal upgrade; they recommend an i5 or M1 model for better value.
Users love the portability, keyboard and display, but frequently mention the sluggish i3 performance and low-resolution webcam.
