Dell Technologies has updated its lineup of commercial laptops and workstations with new and enhanced models optimized for hybrid workers.
Other new products unveiled today include new monitors, a new charging dock, a speakerphone, and a soundbar. All of the new systems, the hardware maker says, reflect ongoing investments in four attributes prized by today’s corporate workforce: collaboration, performance, sustainability, and design.
The new PCs feature 12th Gen Intel Core processors as well as a mix of 5G and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity options. They’re also engineered for comfortable use during long days at home or the office. “Our engineers have incorporated innovative thermal designs to keep the systems cool and quiet during CPU intensive video calls,” says Matt McGowan, Dell’s director of commercial PC product planning.
Included among nine new models in Dell’s Latitude notebook line is the “ultra-premium” Latitude 9430, which the company says is the smallest business PC with a 14-inch 16:10 display. Available either as a laptop or a 2-in-1, and weighing in at as little as 2.8 lbs., the product features a full HD webcam and intelligent audio for clear pictures and sound during online meetings. Buyers can order it in a brand-new color Dell calls graphite.
“It’s a great fit for executives, consultants, and sales makers,” McGowan says. The Latitude 9430 ships next month at starting price of $2,245.
Also due in April and available in both notebook and 2-in-1 form factors is the new Latitude 7330, which features a selection of aluminum and carbon fiber cases, plus a magnesium model that at 2.13 lbs. is the world’s smallest and lightest 13.3-inch premium commercial 16:9 laptop, Dell says.
Despite its portability, McGowan adds, the Latitude 7330 is built for durability as well. “It is super light, but it is sturdy and it is strong.” The device comes with two USB-C, one USB-A, and an HDMI port, and will sell for $1,899 and up.
Five new high-powered mobile workstations introduced today include the Precision 5470. At 3.26 lbs. and up, it’s the smallest and thinnest workstation in the world, according to Dell, as well as the first laptop based on 12th Gen Intel Core H-series processors that’s both verified to meet Intel Evo requirements and based on the Intel vPro platform.
“It will deliver performance levels that previously have not been available in this form factor,” says Mano Gialusis, a senior product marketing manager. “You’ve had to go to a larger mobile workstation.”
The system comes with up to 64GB of DDR5 memory, up to 4TB of storage, and up to NVIDIA RTX A1000 graphics. In benchmark tests, according to Gialusis, it’s delivered about 13 hours of battery life. “Pretty good for something as powerful as that,” he says.
Starting prices for the new device have yet to be announced. It will reach market in April.
Debuting today as well are three new docks, one each for use at home, office, and on the road. According to Dell, the home unit, called the Dell Dual Charge Dock, is the world’s first docking station with a wireless charging stand for Qi-enabled smartphones and earbuds. Set in an upright position that results in a 40% smaller footprint than its predecessor, the device supports dual 4K monitors.
An updated Dell Thunderbolt Dock, meant for the office, features Thunderbolt 4 charging and enough power to support multiple 4K monitors and a variety of peripherals. Like the Dual Charge Dock, it’s modular, so users can upgrade specific components without replacing the entire unit.
The new Dell Universal Dock, which is intended for shared hoteling workspaces, accommodates any USB-C laptop, including Apple notebooks, and comes with the highest port count of any universal dock on the market, Dell says.
The Dell Dual Charge Dock and Universal Dock both ship on May 12. The former will list at $368.99 and up, while the latter will sell for $459.99 and up. The Dell Thunderbolt Dock will reach market some time in Q2 bearing a $469.99 starting price.
The new Dell Speakerphone and Slim Conferencing Soundbar, also announced today and available immediately, come with AI-equipped noise cancellation technology designed to reduce background noise, so users can hear voices more easily during videoconferences, and are Microsoft Teams certified. The soundbar also features full duplex audio, echo cancelation technology, and both USB-A and USB-C connectivity.
“So now you’re getting a really great speaker that is also a speakerphone,” says Mike Basore, senior director of Dell’s client peripherals product group.
The speakerphone sells for $99.99 and up, while the soundbar lists at $79.99 and up.
Monitors introduced today include the Dell UltraSharp 32 and 27 4K USB-C Hub Monitors. Available now, both feature new IPS Black technology that Dell says enables richer contrast ratios, deeper blacks, and better gray representation, as well as improved viewing angles. In what Dell calls an industry first, users can daisy-chain an additional 4K display to the new units via USB-C.
The 32-inch monitor sells for $1,149.99 and up, while the 27-inch unit lists at $724.99 and up.
Available now as well is the 16:10 Dell UltraSharp 30 USB-C Hub Monitor, which offers ComfortView Plus for enhanced eye comfort, multitasking features, and a diverse array of ports. It lists at $1,049.99 and up.
All of the new PCs introduced today support a revised edition of the Dell Optimizer software suite equipped with “Intelligent Privacy” functionality that automatically hides sensitive information if it detects someone looking over your shoulder and automatically dims the screen when the user looks away from it.
A new multi-network connectivity feature, which Dell says is the first of its kind, lets users connect to two wired or wireless networks at once, with reduced buffering versus previous Optimizer releases and 30% lower latency.
“That’s super important for all of the video calls we’re doing right now,” McGowan says. So is Optimizer’s improved neural-noise cancellation technology, he adds, which is designed to reduce unwanted background noise during those calls.
Dell Optimizer is included free of charge across the entire Dell commercial PC portfolio. In response to user feedback, buyers can now selectively pick which features in the package they do and don’t install. Many of the new system’s features are backward compatible with earlier Dell laptops as well.
All of the new Latitude and Precision devices come in new packaging made of 100% recycled or renewable materials that can be recycled again. Other sustainability milestones in Dell’s new offerings include a fan housing in the Latitude 5000 series made from ocean-bound plastic.
“A key priority for Dell is to do our part to address climate change,” says Page Motes, Dell’s head of global sustainability.
In its 2022 fiscal year, which concluded in January, Dell shipped a record 59.3 million PCs, up 18% from the previous year.
