Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 vs. Latitude 7400: Which is a better buy?

Dell Latitude 7400
Dell Latitude 7400 (Image credit: Windows Central)

Both the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 and Dell Latitude 7400 are excellent business laptops, but we think that overall, the 7400 2-in-1 is the better device as it offers more versatility and a stronger battery life. However, if you're looking to save a little money or have no need for a tablet mode, then the Latitude 7400 is a very strong alternative.

Duel of the Latitudes: Versatility or affordability?

In many respects, the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 and Latitude 7400 are similar (although the names would tell you that). Both of them offer great business laptop specs: they both have Intel UHD 620 Graphics and up to an Intel Core i7-8665U processor, and both of them have great 14-inch 1080p screens with great color gamut and touch support, though you'll need to pay a little extra in order to get touch support for the Dell Latitude 7400. In addition, both devices have durable metal frames, excellent keyboards, quality mouse pads, and both of their bezels are razor thin.

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Header Cell - Column 0 Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1Dell Latitude 7400
GraphicsIntel UHD 620Intel UHD 620
ProcessorUp to Intel Core i7-8665UUp to Intel Core i7-8665U
RAMUp to 16GB LPDDR3Up to 32GB of DDR4
StorageUp to 2TB SSDUp to 1TB SSD
DisplayFHD 1920x1080FHD 1920x1080
BatteryUp to 78 WhUp to 60 Wh
Dimensions (H x W x D)0.59" x 12.59" x 7.87"0.75" x 12.65" x 8.42"
Weight (Minimum):2.99 lbs2.99 lbs
Tablet ModeYesNo
Express Sign-InYesNo

Past these similarities, though, the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 pulls ahead in most categories. Most notably, the battery life is much better. You can get up to a 78 Wh battery with it as opposed to the 60 Wh battery that can be chosen for the Dell Latitude 7400, and this combined with the fact that the Latitude 7400 2-in-1 uses less power for its display results in almost 15 full hours of life.

It can be configured with a full terabyte more of storage space than the Dell Latitude 7400 too, and it's also got slightly smaller dimensions, though not by very much. In general, the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 is simply more versatile, as it can be used in a tablet mode and also comes with Dell's advanced Express Sign-In security feature that makes good use of Windows Hello.

The regular Latitude 7400 has neither of these things, but it can be configured with double the RAM, so you'll have more power to run multple tasks at once. In addition, and most importantly, it's less expensive than the Latitude 7400 2-in-1 across all configuration match-ups.

Duel of the Latitudes: Which should you buy?

Overall, I think most people will get more use out of the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1, as the increased battery life and 2-in-1 form factor mean that you'll be able to use it anywhere, for a much longer period of time.

However, if you don't think you need a device with an exceptional battery or the ability to be used as a tablet, than don't count out the Dell Latitude 7400. It's just as powerful as the Latitude 7400 2-in-1 in most respects, and you can save yourself a considerable amount of money by opting for it instead.

Brendan Lowry

Brendan Lowry is a Windows Central writer and Oakland University graduate with a burning passion for video games, of which he's been an avid fan since childhood. You'll find him doing reviews, editorials, and general coverage on everything Xbox and PC. Follow him on Twitter.