Dell Wyse 5470 review

Where the Wyse 5470 stands

The Dell Wyse 5470 is a compact ultra-portable device originally designed for the thin-client and enterprise endpoint market. At roughly $214, it sits well below the ultrabook-category median of $373. Its strength is pure mobility — it is exceptionally light and portable. Its weakness is performance across the board: zero GPU score, zero performance index, and an overall score near the bottom of the category. This is a device for cloud-based work, web access, and basic productivity, not for local computing of any seriousness.

Exceptionally portable

The Wyse 5470's mobility score of 82 is 28% above the ultrabook-class median of 64, placing it in the top tier for portability. This is an ultra-compact, lightweight device designed to be carried all day without effort. For users whose work happens in the cloud — browser-based applications, remote desktop sessions, web-based productivity tools — this level of portability is the primary selling point.

Performance is not the point

The performance metrics tell a clear story: a performance index of zero, a GPU score of zero, and an overall score of 6 (87% below the category median). This device was not built for local computing workloads. It handles web browsing, email, document editing, and remote sessions without issue, but anything that taxes the local CPU or GPU — whether gaming, media encoding, or heavy development work — is entirely out of scope. Buyers should understand that the Wyse is a terminal, not a workstation.

Price trajectory

Without a confirmed release year, a depreciation curve cannot be reliably calculated. At $214, the device is priced in budget territory, and the lack of performance headroom means its value is tied almost entirely to its portability and build condition rather than to computing capability. Buyers should assess the device's physical condition and battery health directly rather than relying on depreciation projections.

How it compares

In the $195-$245 refurbished range, the HP Envy 15-U081NA ($227) and Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Chrome 15IJL6 ($243) sit above, while the HP Envy dv7-7243cl ($197) and Lenovo V15-IWL ($200) sit below. The alternatives in this range offer more traditional laptop capabilities — the Envy and IdeaPad models have actual computing performance. The Wyse 5470's advantage is its extreme portability; its disadvantage is that most competitors offer more versatility for similar money.

Bottom line

The Wyse 5470 is worth the asking price at $214 for a specific buyer: someone who needs an ultra-portable device for cloud-based work, web access, and remote sessions, and who does not need local computing power. Its mobility score is exceptional. For any other use case — gaming, media work, development, or multitasking — the zero performance scores make it the wrong tool. Buyers should weigh whether the portability advantage justifies the performance sacrifice compared to more capable alternatives at similar prices.