Dell Latitude 7490 review

Where the Latitude 7490 stands

The Dell Latitude 7490 is a 2017 business ultrabook positioned in the ultra-budget tier at roughly $232, below the category median of $297. As the direct successor to the 7480, it carries a similar GPU profile — a score of 6.8, 77% above the category median of 3.8 — but trades the 7480's exceptional graphics outlier for a more balanced overall package. The result is a competent, if unremarkable, business laptop for the price.

Graphics: a steady above-median position

The 7490's GPU score of 6.8 places it comfortably above office-class peers, enough to run Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto V, and The Sims 4 at recommended settings. It is not a gaming machine, but the headroom is real and useful for casual gaming, video playback, and GPU-accelerated media work. The figure is modest compared to its 7480 sibling, but in the broader ultra-budget category, it remains a differentiator.

Reliability and performance: the dual caveats

The binding constraints are reliability and overall performance. The reliability index of 28 is 34% below the category median of 42.5 — reflecting eight years of cumulative wear. The performance index of 31 is 25% below the category median of 41.5 — a broader indication that the 7490 lags its category on general compute. Neither figure is catastrophic, but together they define the trade-off: this is a budget machine with a limited remaining service horizon and below-average responsiveness for its class.

Price trajectory

From $1,300 in 2017 to $232 today, the 7490 has depreciated roughly 82% at an annual rate of about 7.6%. The projected price two years out is approximately $198 — a further 15% decline. The depreciation curve is past its steepest phase; what remains is a gradual drift toward the price floor.

How it compares

In the $210-$260 refurbished business range, the 7490 is one of several 2017-2019 alternatives. Above it, the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 at $256 and the Dell Latitude 7400 at $248 offer similar or slightly newer hardware. Below, the HP EliteBook 840 G5 at $217 and the HP EliteBook 830 G5 at $212 are direct competitors from the same era. The 7490's GPU surplus is its distinguishing factor — modest, but enough to set it apart from typical office configurations in this band.

Bottom line

The Latitude 7490 is a competent ultra-budget business ultrabook with a steady above-median GPU and a balanced but aging overall package. At $232, it sits below the category median and offers more graphics headroom than typical office alternatives. The trade-offs are reliability and general performance, both below the category median. For buyers seeking a budget office machine with light gaming capability, it is a reasonable pick among similarly-priced competitors.