Dell Vostro 14 5468 review

Performance and Specs

The model we reviewed contained a Kaby Lake Intel Core i5-7200U with up to 3.10 GHz, 8GB of RAM and 256 GB of SSD memory. These are decent organs for a business grade machine, and better than the Swift 3's Intel Core i5-6200U or the Zenbook's Intel Skylake M3-6Y30.

This was reflected in our benchmark tests where the Vostro 14 achieved an overall score score of 48, which is around what we would expect from these kind of processors and better than the Swift 3's 32 and the Zenbook's 19.

There are cheaper versions of the laptop available which have an Intel i3-6006U processor, and 4GB memory. Interestingly, the cheapest version has 128GB of SSD storage whereas the middle version has a 500GB 5400rpm hard drive.

Moreover, thanks to the device's SSD it takes no time at all to start up or shut down. It's boot speed was 12 seconds - this is very useful and a great attribute if you need to get set-up to start working straight away.

The Vostro 14 can also handle multiple tasks and switches between windows very easily. When we had multiple tabs open on Microsoft Edge the machine dealt with them well and we were pleased with its speed. The only small problem was that the base of the machine got fairly hot since that is where the exhaust is located. Bear this in mind if you're going to be using it on your lap for extended periods.

Battery Life

The battery life, however, was very disappointing. It lasted for 5hrs 51mins, which is over an hour under the Swift 3's scores but only slightly worse than the Zenbook's 6hrs 4mins.

This is a worry if you are working remotely from a cafe or another office space for the day - you will probably need to find a plug socket in order to continue working. Even if you're at work you're going to have to ensure that you're plugged into the mains, otherwise you'll be shocked at how little battery you have.

Ports and features

The Dell Vostro 14 5468 has a good number of ports that businesses will find extremely useful. It has three USB 3.0 (one with PowerShare), a HDMI port and a VGA port. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port and an SD card reader.

The ports themselves are spaced out fairly well and fit in with the laptop's design. Unfortunately there is no USB-C port on the laptop which is a bit of a shame, especially since we feel there is space to include one on the side.

Additionally, the laptop has a fingerprint scanner which means you can increase your security by unlocking it with your finger. All you have to do is get setup on Windows Hello and you can sign in with just a touch.

Verdict

Dell's Vostro 14 is best suited for those who want to use it as a work laptop. It's easy to use thanks to its impressive keyboard and processor which allows you to get to work in a fast and efficient way. It also has a good range of ports which will no doubt be very useful.

However, you will be disappointed by some of its features. The first is its screen. You won't enjoy watching videos or looking at images as the colour range is very restricted - don't even think about editing either of these two mediums on this device. Its battery life is not suitable for anyone trying to work an 8 hour day without charging the device either. This is what holds us back from recommending it, especially since at 569 (excluding VAT) you would think it would be a little bit better.

Verdict

This device is fairly good to work on, as long as you stay near a power source and aren't worried about the quality of its screen