Dell Vostro 5468
A serious laptop that will best suit techies and business users; tablet gamers need not apply
Dell’s Vostro range is aimed unapologetically at the business market. But it may also appeal to power users, since the budget is directed towards practical features, rather than entertainment-focused fripperies.
That begins with the Pro edition of Windows 10, which comes with BitLocker, Hyper-V and more control over Windows Update. You also get a powerful processor to run it on: Intel’s Core i5-7200U drove the Vostro 5468 to an overall score of 48 in our application benchmarks, marking it out as this month’s best performer. It’s partnered with 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD – a solid, if not extravagant, provision.
In use, the Vostro 5468 feels very professional. The design is scrupulously sober, with a rock-solid keyboard and a large, responsive touchpad with a positive button action. A fingerprint reader at the right of the keyboard affords additional security, and lets you log on via Windows Hello.
The Vostro scores well for connectivity, too. Its three USB ports all support SuperSpeed USB 3, and in addition to the expected HDMI socket there’s an old-school VGA port so you can connect directly to a legacy projector. A wired Ethernet port lets you enjoy a Gigabit connection when you’re sitting at your desk.
On that note, be aware that portability isn’t the Vostro’s strong suit. To be sure, it’s slim, at just 18mm, but its 340 x 240mm footprint is comparatively bulky, and at 1.6kg it’s not exactly a lightweight. Moreover, battery life is merely so-so. In our looping video test it survived 5hrs 40mins – not a disastrous result, but far short of a working day; only two systems this month did worse.
The system’s other shortcoming is the screen. A large display can help your productivity by opening up a bigger workspace, but the 14in matte panel on this model offers a mere 1,366 x 768 pixels. Not only does Windows feel cramped, it looks blocky, at a low 111ppi. It doesn’t help that the screen is drab too, with a maximum brightness of just 210cd/m2 and a contrast ratio of 264:1.
It’s a shame, because with a sharper and more vibrant panel, the Vostro would make a temptingly functional offering. Indeed, for a desk-bound role in a well-lit office, it might still be a smart choice. As a general-purpose laptop, however, it’s undermined by the lacklustre screen and iffy battery life.