The star of the Dell Latitude 14 7455 is the Snapdragon X processor. We are seeing this family of chips pop up in an increasing number of laptops and tablets and is Qualcomm’s answer to Apple’s Arm-based chips. The Latitude 7455 ships with either the Plus or Elite versions, although the version I tested packed the latter.
By way of comparison, I loved reviewing the HP Elitebook Ultra, which also has the Snapdragon X Elite processor. It packs 12 cores up to 3.4GHz, dual-core boost up to 4GHz, and NPU up to 45 TOPS. Back to the Dell specifically, if that performance wasn’t enough, the laptop I tested shipped with 16GB of memory.
In terms of design, the laptop is in a small form factor that is targeted towards hybrid and remote workers who need a machine that is both reliable and portable. This makes it a strong contender for remote workers who need one of the best laptops for graphic design or photo-editing.
Read on to see how the Latitude 7455 performs and whether it has any chance of making it into our guide of the best AI laptops.
Dell Latitude 14 7455: Key specifications
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Specs as tested
Processor
Snapdragon X Elite
Graphics
Integrated into the processor
Memory
16 GB, LPDDR5x, 8448
Screen size
14-inch
Resolution
QHD+ (2560×1600)
Refresh rate
Not specified
Storage
512GB
Connectivity
2x USB-C, 1x USB-A, audio jack
Dimensions
314 x 223.75 x 16.9 mm
Weight
1.44 kg (3.17 lb)
Design & Build
(Image credit: Future)
I love the design of the Dell Latitude 14 7455. It reminds me of a more refined and sleeker version of my much-loved 14-inch MacBook Pro. Dell has pulled off the incredible feat of packing a tonne of hardware into an unbelivably small case. The fact that the thickness is only 16.9 mm shows what they’ve achieved.
The case itself is made of aluminium, which is strong and rugged enough to withstand all the knocks and scrapes that are sure to come its way. It is designed to be a portable laptop after all. Corners and edges are smoothed off to provide a smooth-looking aesthetic.
The 14-inch display boasts a beautiful 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution with 400 nits of brightness. The top level of brightness was too much for me in most office settings so I was grateful that I could easily reduce it using the keyboard shortcuts. I like the QHD+ resolution, which goes beyond Full HD and offers additional pixels—something that is perfect for design work.
(Image credit: Future)
The keyboard provides a high level of tactile feedback without needing to press hard on the keys. As a result, I had no problems typing for long periods of time. The keyboard is also backlit, which is perfect when working in low-light environments. Moving onto the touchpad. It’s a decent size, although the top 25% isn’t clickable, which is a personal bugbear of mine in most laptops.
There is a distinct lack of ports, with only three USB ports and an audio jack making up the total offering. I would have liked to have seen at least one HDMI port and one or two more USB-C ports but that would have forced Dell to increase the size of the profile. If you like the Latitude 7455, then I would highly recommend budgeting for a docking station at work and at home.
The underside contains a rubber strip at the rear to make sure it stays in place wherever it’s sitting. There’s also a single ventilation strip that ejects air that has been drawn through from the front of the laptop. This could have posed a problem if it wasn’t for the screen pushing the rear of the laptop up when it’s fully extended.
Features & Performance
(Image credit: Future)
The performance of the Latitude 14 7455 is almost identical to the HP EliteBook Ultra G1Q Laptop. This is to be expected considering they contain identical Snapdragon processors. Let’s dive into what that means by using Geekbench, Handbrake, Blender, and PugetBench benchmark tests.
The CPU single-core and multi-core scores came in at 2683 and 13445, respectively. As well as the EliteBook Ultra, this score is comparable to the MSI Stealth 16 AI. That doesn’t mean you’d want it if you’re heavily dependent on a high-performing GPU, though. To back that statement up, the Stealth scored 160,998 in the Geekbench GPU test compared to 19317 for the Latitude.
Moving onto Blender benchmark testing, the laptop scored 69, 52, and 24 for Monster, Junkshop, and Classroom tests, respectively. This means it has slightly outperformed the MSI Prestige 14 AI, although not by much. In reality, these scores are not great. Therefore, if you’re looking for a higher-performing laptop for rendering work, then I’d go for something like the MSI Titan 18 HX, although you’ll pay a premium for it.
(Image credit: Future)
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Dell Latitude 14 7455: Benchmark scoring
Geekbench 6:
CPU single-core: 2683
CPU multi-core: 13445
Row 1 – Cell 0
GPU OpenCL: 19317
Row 1 – Cell 2
Handbrake:
6m 20s
Row 2 – Cell 2
Blender:
Monster: 69.12Junkshop: 52.34Classroom: 24.23
Row 3 – Cell 2
PugetBench Photoshop:
6236 (General = 61.6, Filter = 63.1)
Row 4 – Cell 2
Moving onto photo and video editing. The PugetBench Photoshop score was 5709 with Handbrake able to transcode a 10-minute, 34-second 4K video to 1080p in only 6 minutes and 20 seconds. These scores put the Latitude among the best performing of all 14-inch laptops for sale at the time of writing.
Now, you might think all this performance would result in poor battery life but surprisingly, it doesn’t. The 3-cell, 54 Wh battery will get you through two or more standard days of working. This means you can leave your charger in one place rather than lugging it around everywhere. This enhanced battery performance is partly thanks to the Qualcomm Hexagon NPU, which improves power efficiency and therefore extends battery life.
In summary, the Latitude 7455 is ideal for general AI features but not powerful enough for more demanding workflows in photo-editing, video-editing, or 3D rendering.
Price
(Image credit: Future)
The Dell Latitude 14 7455 with Snapdragon Elite X processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage will set you back £1,316.34. If you’re happy with the Plus X processor, then you could save around £150 on the total price.
One of the best things about Dell laptops is the ability to customise almost every piece of hardware so that you only pay for what you actually want.
Another similarly priced alternative is the Acer Swift 14 AI. If you have a little bit more money in the budget, then you could shoot for the HP EliteBook Ultra G1Q, which costs £1,499.99.
Who is it for?
The Dell Latitude 14 7455 is a 14-inch laptop that is designed with hybrid workers in mind. This is thanks to the 14-inch display size, super thin case, and lightweight materials. It’s perfect for throwing in your bag and taking with you wherever you’re working.
It’s not specifically suited towards creatives but there’s enough power and battery life in it to make it a good fit for medium-intensity designers and visualisers.
The Snapdragon processor and latest in AI laptop technology are a perfect fit for creatives who are beginning to dabble in AI features in their favourite applications. If you’re performing high-intensity AI operations, then you’ll need one of the best AI laptops instead.
This is for the all-out gamers who want better battery life than in previous-gen gaming laptops. Mind you, it works real nice for creative pursuits too.
The lightweight MacBook is cheaper than its big Pro sibling, more portable too, and will cover all the basic creative bases, such as photo and video-editing.
