Dell Latitude 6430u review

Upgrades

The Latitude can be customised with an extensive selection of different components. Trading up to a 2.1GHz Core i7-3687U processor costs an extra 54. An extra 49 doubles the RAM, and paying a whopping 147 sees 16GB of memory crammed into the machine. A 256GB SSD costs a further 125, and fitting a self-encrypting 256GB SSD adds 244 to the price.

A Dell Wireless 5630 card adds 3G, and paying 68 extra sees the chip fitted alongside an O2 SIM card. A fingerprint reader costs a meagre 4, and free downgrades to various versions of Windows 7 are also available. The 1,600 x 900 costs an additional 32.

Most of these changes add cost, but a cheaper Latitude 6430u is also available. The entry-level model costs 699 and drops down to a slower Core i3 chip rather than the Core i5 model installed in our review sample.

Support

The Latitude is packed with a generous three-year warranty out of the box, but various options improve this deal. The same deal for five years costs 55 extra, and adding ProSupport and on-site servicing for three or five years costs 91 or 200 respectively. Other available services include accidental damage protection, data recovery, system tracking and anti-theft options.

Verdict

With military grade design and excellent battery life, the 6430u will satisfy the need of most business users. The only weakness is the screen. The low-quality means it's not ideal for graphical work.

OS: Windows 8 64-bit Processor: 1.8GHz Intel Core i5-3427U RAM: 4GB DDR3 Storage: 128GB SSD Screen: 14in 1,600 x 900 Connectivity: Dual-band 802.11n WiFi, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports: 2 x USB 3,eSATA, HDMI, D-SUB, SD card slot, audio jack Dimensions: 338 x 230 x 22mm (WDH) Weight: 1.6kg/2.1kg Warranty: 3yr RTB warranty