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Dell is introducing a fresh design language to its premium Latitude series with the Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1, drawing inspiration from the Dell XPS 13 Plus. This Dell business laptop computer showcases a borderless keyboard and a haptic trackpad, while also prioritizing the use of recycled materials.
Business laptops are typically known for their conservative and unexciting designs, a deliberate choice to project a serious image for corporate clients. Moreover, any alterations made to productivity-oriented PCs must be carefully considered.
A notable example is the comparison between Dell’s XPS series, targeting prosumers, and the Latitude series, tailored for business customers. While the Dell XPS 13 Plus 9320 underwent a radical redesign with a frameless keyboard and a haptic trackpad seamlessly integrated into the glass palm rest, the flagship of the Latitude series, the Dell Latitude 9430, retained the traditional chiclet keyboard and mechanical trackpad.
Taking a cue from the positively received XPS 13 Plus, the new Dell business laptop computer 9440 incorporates some design elements from its prosumer counterpart. The input devices have undergone a complete transformation compared to its predecessor. Similar to the Dell XPS 13 Plus, the laptop now features a borderless keyboard with reduced key travel of just 1 mm, an energy-efficient backlight, and a haptic trackpad. However, Dell hasn’t gone as far with the Latitude as it did with the XPS 13 Plus, as the business laptop retains physical function keys and keeps the trackpad separated from the palm rest.
Nevertheless, Dell has included a soft button gimmick on the Latitude, albeit in a different form. Unlike the XPS 13 Plus, there are no touch keys above the keyboard, but Dell has integrated several soft buttons into the trackpad, calling it the “Collaboration Trackpad.” Located at the upper portion of the touchpad, these buttons control the camera, microphone, screen sharing, and chat settings, accompanied by LEDs.
In terms of ports, Dell has significantly reduced the number compared to the previous model, the Dell Latitude 9430. USB-A, microSD, and HDMI are no longer present, with the removal of HDMI being particularly noteworthy and potentially missed by corporate users. However, an additional Thunderbolt 4 port has been added, and the 3.5mm audio port has been retained, unlike the Dell Latitude business class laptop XPS 13.
Dell continues to rely on Intel chips, specifically the Raptor Lake-U, for the Latitude 9000 series. These processors can be paired with up to 64 GB of LPDDR5X-6400 memory, while the maximum capacity of the removable SSD is 2 TB, utilizing M.2 2230 SSDs. The battery maintains a capacity of 60 watt-hours, and in terms of display options, customers no longer have a choice with the 14-inch screen, as the WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) option has been discontinued. Instead, the sole offering is the WQXGA (2560×1600) display, which is touted as an energy-efficient panel supporting touch and pen input.
As a Dell business laptop computer, the Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 comes equipped with vPro, optional 5G connectivity, and an electric privacy shutter for the FHD webcam. An overarching theme this year has been the incorporation of recycled materials. In the case of the Dell Latitude 9440, the aluminum chassis is made up of 75% recycled aluminum, resulting in reduced CO2 emissions during production.
Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 Price and Availability
The new Dell Latitude 9440 2-in-1 business laptop is available for purchase on Newegg.com, with pricing starting at $2,411 for the base configuration, featuring an Intel Core 13th Gen i5-1335U (10 Core) 1.30 GHz processor, 16 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, and a 14-inch QHD+ display.
