Choose the Dell Latitude 14 7490 if price and portability are your top priorities; it's lighter and much less expensive, with decent performance for everyday tasks. On the other hand, if you require higher performance for tasks like 3D, machine learning, or gaming, the Dell XPS 15, with its better graphics capabilities and newer processor, may be worth the extra investment despite being heavier and pricier. The XPS also offers a larger and higher-resolution screen, which is beneficial for multimedia and detailed work, though it may contribute to shorter battery life compared to the Latitude. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 14 7490
Very good portability
Advantages of the Dell XPS 15
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Excellent keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.2/10
8.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
305.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
9.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.1/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for general use, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good.
The Dell XPS 15 offers superior general use features, including a more powerful CPU, a higher-resolution and brighter screen, and a longer battery life, at the cost of being slightly heavier and potentially less portable than the Dell Latitude 14 7490, which still provides adequate performance and screen quality for everyday tasks with better portability but has a shorter battery life and discontinued model drawbacks. Considering keyboard and speaker quality, the XPS 15 outshines the Latitude 14 7490 with an excellent rating versus a good rating, suggesting an overall better user experience, especially for extended use.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
6.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell XPS 15 is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 is equipped with an Intel UHD Graphics 620, which provides moderate gaming capabilities suitable for less demanding games, while the Dell XPS 15 features a more powerful Intel Arc A370M GPU, offering better performance for gaming and running 3D applications. Both laptops have similar screen refresh rates, but the XPS 15's superior GPU delivers a more fluid and enhanced visual experience in gaming and 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
6.5/10
8.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The Dell XPS 15 offers better performance for engineering and design due to its higher-end CPU, dedicated GPU with ray tracing capabilities, and a screen with superior brightness and color accuracy, which is important for detailed visual work. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 14 7490, while more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, has a less powerful CPU, an integrated GPU, and a lower-quality screen, which makes it fair for engineering tasks but not ideal for intensive design work.
Content Creation
7.3/10
8.3/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for content creation, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.1/10
8.1/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Dell XPS 15 is very good for software development, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
6.7/10
7.4/10
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
305.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
606.0 nits
The Dell XPS 15 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
When choosing between the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the Dell XPS 15, the Latitude's screen quality is satisfactory for daily tasks like browsing and document editing due to its adequate resolution and brightness. For engineering and design professionals who need precise color representation, the XPS 15 is beneficial with its wider color coverage, although both have good displays in this aspect. However, gamers and 3D artists may find both screens lacking because neither is designed with a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth motion rendering in fast-paced games and 3D simulations.
Build Quality
7.4/10
8.5/10
The Dell XPS 15 has very good build quality, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$1,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a price of $300 and the Dell XPS 15 costs $1,000.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 15 has 10 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell Latitude 14 7490 to have very good portability, while the Dell XPS 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the Dell XPS 15 compare to other laptops
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."
"The 2023 Dell XPS 15 is more or less exactly what you'd expect from the company flagship. Its fresh components deliver measurably superior power and longevity, while the machine's premium build and design remain intact. It may not be overly exciting, but XPS loyalists and upgraders should be more than happy."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 14 7490 or the Dell XPS 15
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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