If you're looking for better value and don't mind a smaller screen, the Dell Latitude 14 7490 could be a good choice as it typically costs less than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17". The Dell also offers robust build quality and enterprise-level features, which can be ideal for business use and frequent travelers due to its durability and portability. On the other hand, the Lenovo offers a larger screen, which is better for multimedia consumption and can improve productivity by providing more screen real estate, but it's generally more expensive and a bit less portable due to its size. If you regularly work with complex applications or enjoy gaming, make sure to consider the internal specs like processor, memory, and graphics, as these will significantly affect performance in intensive tasks. 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
Good overall build quality
Very good portability
Very good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has no clear advantages over the Dell Latitude 14 7490.
Key differences
Screen Quality
6.7/10
6.7/10
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
305.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
307.0 nits
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for general use.
For general use, the Dell Latitude offers a balance of resolution and brightness, providing clarity for everyday tasks, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad's larger screen size is beneficial for multitasking and viewing documents side by side. In the realm of engineering and design, both laptops have good color representation, ensuring that the visuals are precise and vibrant, which is crucial for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, both laptops fall short as they lack the higher refresh rates demanded by these tasks, leading to less fluid visuals and potentially diminishing the gaming or 3D experience.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.0in
SIZE
17.3in
3.1 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
6.5/10
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has good build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$300
$784
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has a price of $300 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" costs $784.
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 provides a balance between portability and performance with a high-resolution screen, backlit keyboard, and a variety of ports including Thunderbolt, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" offers a larger screen and a number pad, driven by a AMD Ryzen 5 CPU but at a cost to portability with its larger size and slightly heavier build.
Gaming and AI
5.9/10
6.1/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" are both considered fair for gaming and 3D because they have integrated graphics, with the Latitude 7490 using Intel UHD Graphics 620 and the IdeaPad 3 using AMD Vega 7 graphics, which are sufficient for light gaming but may struggle with more intensive tasks. Additionally, both have a maximum screen refresh rate of 60Hz, which is standard for non-gaming laptops but less than the higher refresh rates preferred for gaming and fast-paced 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
6.5/10
6.6/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both only fair for engineering and design.
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 offers a more powerful CPU and more RAM than the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17", making it better suited for intensive engineering tasks, though both have similar onboard graphics limiting high-end design work. While the Dell's smaller screen and lighter weight enhance portability, the Lenovo's larger display might be preferable for detailed work, despite it being heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
7.3/10
7.4/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for content creation.
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
7.2/10
3.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for software development.
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.
Battery
9.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" has 9 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.
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How the Dell Latitude 14 7490 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" 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 Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17" defies expectations. Indeed, it is just a minor upgrade over last year. However, this doesn’t make the laptop any less terrific. It’s got a great performance, courtesy of the Ryzen 5x25U processors. In addition, you get a pretty good battery life. Perhaps, the 2-hour decrease in video playback, compared to last year is not great, but still, 10 hours of Web browsing and 7 hours of video playback is okay for 17-inch notebooks."
Get a great deal on the Dell Latitude 14 7490 or the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 17"
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.
About Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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 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
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