The Dell Latitude 12 7000 wont win any beauty contests but then again, for what it is designed to do it is very good. Debatably, Apple has perfected the trackpad and unfortunately sometimes rival laptop trackpads can feel less responsive. The edge-to-edge Gorilla Glass covering the screen has some shine to it, though the display remains viewable in a variety of lighting conditions, even under the bright lights over our PC Labs benches. While the Latitude 12 7000 is tougher, more secure and more customizable than its consumer sibling, it succumbs to the same issues that made the XPS 12 hard to recommend: poor battery life and mediocre performance. For extended video watching or long Skype conference calls though, wed recommend a decent pair of headphones or headset. And yet despite some nice touches, it's hard to recommend the Latitude 12. After streaming HD video for 15 minutes from Hulu, the hottest spot on the system (between the camera and the Dell logo on the back) measured 101 degrees Fahrenheit. "Get down to business with the power of a laptop and flexibility of a tablet. That means amount of volume you get that doesn't sound distorted is pretty limited. Gaming scores not tested The Latitude 12 is an ultra-skinny tablet closer in dimensions to an iPad Pro 12 than your typical "business tablet." The Dell Latitude 12 7000 is firmly in high-end territory when it comes to price. If your boss sent you off to work with a system that lasted just 5 hours and 19 minutes on a charge, you'd be pissed. However, the Surface Pro did beat the Latitude 12's screen with a brightness of 382 nits. This doesn't affect our editorial independence. Andrew Williams PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Like the Dell Latitude 14 7000 Series (E7450), the Latitude E7250 is MIL-SPEC rated, which means it was tested to make sure it could handle damp, dusty, high-vibration, and extremely hot and cold environments, so it is more than qualified to survive the day-to-day physical demands of an enterprise-class business laptop. The new Latitude 12 7000 Series 2-in-1 features an innovative design, all the latest industry-leading features and is surrounded by purpose-built accessories for ultramobile productivity. Heres our rundown of the 2.40GHz Intel Core i5 Unfortunately, we were not able to test this as the function requires additional business software and installation, but its great to see technology that has graduated to smartphones stay on laptops, where they were first seen. But despite those extras, as well as a vibrant full-HD or optional 4K display, the $1,049 ($1,871.48 as reviewed) Latitude 12 7000 suffers from almost all of the same problems as its consumer-market sibling -- namely, its poor battery life. At the bottom of the laptop, there's a magnetic docking port that lets the Latitude 12 connect to one of its keyboard options, and in front, there are glossy black bezels surrounding the 12.5-inch touch screen. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, The Samsung Galaxy TabPro S, Microsoft Surface Book, and Dell Latitude 12 all try to offer a picture of what the laptops of the future might look like. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. When it comes to connectivity, the Latitude 12 7000 really shines. We steer you to products you'll love and show you how to get the most out of them. He is responsible for overseeing PC Labs testing, as well as formulating new test methodologies for the PC Hardware team. The panel notched a Delta-E rating of 3.22, which is well above (i.e., worse than) a perfect 0. Bluetooth Yes Using 3DMark's Fire Strike graphics test, the Latitude 12 7000 scored 545, which isn't bad for a system without a discrete graphics card but is still behind other notable systems in the category. The system has the same number of I/O ports as the larger, 14-inch Dell E7450. If you're looking for a 2-in-1 with a detachable keyboard for use at home, there are a ton of systems that fit the bill. It's definitely one for the corporate card. Sign up or login to join the discussions! That's faster than rivals, like the Dell Latitude E7450 (2,681), the HP EliteBook Folio 1040 G1 (G4U67UT)( at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) (2,775) and the Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch (2015)($1,281.75 at Lenovo)(Opens in a new window) (2,646). Connectivity is excellent. Hes played with most consumer electronics technologies, but the two hed most like to own next are a Salamander broiler and a BMW E39 M5. The device is also built with premium materials like magnesium alloy. But if you need something tougher and more secure for business, the pickings are much slimmer. On both keyboards, the touchpad measures 4 x 2 inches. When open, the Latitude 12 7000 measures 12.22 x8.47 x 0.74in, which is one of the most portable premium business laptops weve ever come across. Multi-tabbing between Google Docs, Sheets and other third party programmes was smooth with no noticeable lag unless we had near to 25 Chrome tabs open at once. Media card slot Yes PCMag, PCMag.com and PC Magazine are among the federally registered trademarks of Ziff Davis and may not be used by third parties without explicit permission. With the new Latitude line, we are delivering commercial devices employees will desire for being thinner, lighter and more capable than many of the most popular consumer products without compromising on the security and manageability requirements of IT.". published 15 March 16. I also noticed that I made most of those typos because I felt like I had to press extra hard on the keys, which led to a few double presses. But when compared to some of its competitors from both the business and consumer sides, the Latitude 12 7000's performance lagged behind. HP's Spectre x2 and Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Yoga were a good deal behind the Latitude 12. Dell's prices can vary wildly thanks to its "instant savings." Of course, you can ignore the functionality if its there, but it can often add bulk to the screen and figures to the asking price, so its absence here is no bad thing. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. New York, Laptop Mag is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 802.11ac VGA No Dell's Active Stylus is a $50 optional accessory. It's not tested to survive stress for as long as the Dell Latitude 12 Rugged Extreme($995.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window), but it will endure the occasional drop to the floor, vibration, and being out in a light rain for a few minutes. Extras HD webcam Joel Santo Domingo joined PC Magazine in 2000, after 7 years of IT work for companies large and small. There are some smart design decisions in the Latitude 12, then, but it doesnt have the glamour of the Surface. The programmes do not come preinstalled and youll have to purchase a subscription. Dell knows better than to gunk up a business machine with unnecessary bloat, which means the Latitude 12 7000 features a pristine installation of Windows 10 Pro. The specific model we reviewed here is the Dell Latitude E7270, which at the time of writing starts at 929 excluding VAT and shipping, thanks to a promotional discount of 500. The Latitude 12 7000 features two choices for its detachable keyboard: the rigid, slim keyboard that comes with the system; or the optional magnetic folio keyboard, which costs an extra $35. The tablet's frame is covered in a plain black soft-touch finish, while the case is covered almost entirely by what looks like gray tweed fabric. Theres also 8GB RAM, which when paired with the i5 absolutely blitzed through an average working day, with several Chrome tabs open alongside email, Spotify, Slack, and many other programmes besides. If youre a little unsure of the differences between the operating systems and want to find out more, here are some of our most useful articles on the topic. Get down to business with the power of a laptop and flexibility of a tablet. Plus, Dell bundles a full-size USB adapter in the box. The Surface Pro 4, the ThinkPad Lenovo X1 Yoga and the Spectre x2 all performed better. Note that the m7 Latitude 12 7000 starts at $1,549, so those high-end components don't come cheap. Evidently, youll have everything you need for every trip, presentation, download and more with this laptop at your beck and call. MORE: Laptops with the Longest Battery Life. The rugged features and compact form factor of the Dell 12 7000 Series (E7250) make this 12-inch business ultrabook a good choice if you travel frequently for work and need more PC functionality than a tablet or stripped-down ultraportable can offer. HDMI Yes Designed for durability, the Latitude 12 has passed MIL-SPEC 810G tests for shocks, humidity and extreme temperatures. You'll find a mini DisplayPort, an Ethernet port, a headset jack, an HDMI port, a Noble security port, an SD card slot, a Smart Card reader, and three USB 3.0 ports on the system's sides. Join the Ars Orbital Transmission mailing list to get weekly updates delivered to your inbox. The rear 5.75-megapixel (3200 x 1800) camera fared much better. Given that the screen is LCD it has a matte finish, which actually tones down the brightness and sharpness of the display somewhat, unlike other ultrabooks that have crisper but more negatively dazzling backlights. There's not a ton of connectivity on the Latitude 12 7000, but what you do get is pretty adaptable. Dell has unveiled their thinnest and lightest 12.5-inch two-in-one device that features an "innovative magnetic connection" allowing you to seamlessly transition from laptop mode to tablet mode -- sounds just like the Surface, right?. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The Latitude 12's screen also covered a wide range of colors, registering 112 percent of the sRGB spectrum. Along the wide top bezel when opened is a webcam for conference calls. MORE: The Best Laptops for Business and Productivity. Despite being so thin, the Latitude 12 doesn't have any major problems with heat. That's a bit faster than HP's Spectre x2 (149 MBps) and an Intel Core i5-powered Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Yoga (143.7 MBps), but not nearly as quick as the 256GB SSD on Microsoft's Surface Pro 4 (318.1 MBps). All rights reserved. On booting up, we were prompted to install Windows 10, and if you are buying this laptop for personal use then you can upgrade for free until 29 July 2016. Joel cut his tech teeth on the Atari 2600, TRS-80, and the Mac Plus. The Latitude 12 7000 (actual model number 7275) is decidedly less out there, and not just because it hails from Dell's stuffy business PC range. These are much better performers on the same test than the Core-M equipped HP EliteBook Folio 1020($1,249.99 at Amazon)(Opens in a new window) (1,464). The device features an UltraSharp 4k UHD 3840 x 2160 display, including Corning Gorilla Glass. Our $1,871 Latitude 12 7000 review unit came fully loaded with a 1.2-GHz Intel Core m7-6Y75 CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB solid-state drive and integrated Intel HD Graphics 515.