First class looks with premium economy parts.
Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 review: A biz book without the looks
Like most Dell laptops, the nomenclature attached to the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 doesn’t really all that much about it. There's a reason the company recently reformed the way it names its laptop and desktop PCs, after all.
In any case, if you’re a consumer in the market for a premium PC that promises to blend together performance and portability, the first thing you’re likely to notice about the Latitude 9450 is the asking price. If that steep sum sends you running back to the clearance corner of your local JB Hi-Fi, I wouldn’t blame you. In a world where you could snag either (or, depending on the model involved, potentially both) the Apple MacBook Air or MacBook Pro for the same amount of cash, the asking price of the Latitude 9450 is such that the case for it can be difficult to make.
That’s not to say it can’t be made though. If you feel like most consumer-grade 2-in-1 laptops favor flexibility at the expense of firmer foundations or that enterprise-grade PCs often fall short when it comes to creature comforts and premium perks, the Latitude 9450 veers in the opposite direction to great effect.

How much does the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 (2024) cost in Australia?
In Australia, pricing for the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 starts at $4361. That's a pretty steep price to pay for a laptop, though it is less than you might pay for a decently spec'd out gaming laptop. Still, you might be able to save if you shop around.
To save you the time and trouble, we've rounded up what each retailer is selling the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 for below.
Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 (2024) - Design and features

The Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 walks the line between premium consumer and business-grade hardware. It's nice to look at, but sturdy and practical to use in the ways you'd want it to be. The design here is clean and minimalist from every direction but the underside.
The centerpiece here is a 14-inch IPS screen with QHD resolution, 500 nits of peak brightness and anti-glare coating. The bezels are just a smidge fatter than I'd like them to be, but otherwise what's here is a generous canvas for everyday usage. The one blemish to
The FHD webcam perched in the top-most edge of the display panel here is subtle enough to overlook at a glance. Although this inclusion is capable enough for video conference, though those who opt for this particular PC do miss out when it comes to a physical privacy shutter.
More broadly, the forceful simplicity in the layout found here is as easy to like as the tactile keyboard found on the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 is. It's got a satisfying clack to it and the way that it is nestled into the chassis of the machine is very nifty, even if it's not entirely unique. This choice is complemented by the split soundbar setup on the Latitude 9450 2-in-1. Again, this isn't the first laptop ever to feature this. All the same, it's a good look for a biz book like this one.
All told, the edges of the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 are just as sleek and polished as the rest of the package. What's more, they've got more than just the usual handful of ports. A few extra inputs goes a long way and having three USB-C ports rather than just two (as well as a headphone jack) give you a few more options, which is always welcome.
However, where the keyboard on the machine offers a lavish and consistent typing experience, the trackpad is a little more finicky by comparison. It felt overly sensitive, which often made it a bit more of a chore to use than I expected.
Ultimately, I can think of no better way to sum up the design of the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 than to say it was lavish enough that I found myself forgetting that it's more of an enterprise device than a consumer one and light enough that I found myself constantly double-checking whether it was actually in my bag.
Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 (2024) - Performance and battery life

Under the hood, the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 laptop is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of on-board storage. The review sample we tested came with an intel Core Ultra 5 processor, so the performance didn't exactly eclipse what you can expect from Apple's more recent MacBooks. That's not necessarily a deal-breaker but it doesn't do much to detract from the hefty asking price you're looking at here.
In terms of how we'd rate it, the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 laptop sits in the lower band of Enthusiast territory. It doesn't have a dedicated GPU, which is a drawback that some will find it difficult to discount. However, if you can get past that, there's a lot to like here in terms of the CPU, memory and storage it brings to the table.
Essential processors should be able to handle the basics: email, social media and some light web browsing. Gaming or more advanced tasks like image and video editing are likely off the table.
Everyday processors should be able to confidently meet basic performance requirements for most people. Email, social media and web browsing shouldn’t be a hassle, and while they aren’t able to handle graphically-demanding AAA releases, they should be able to run some indie or casual games. This is typically where Chromebooks top out.
Enthusiast processors should be able to easily exceed the minimum requirements of most users and be powerful enough to handle some AAA gaming, though not at the highest fidelity. That usually excludes most ARM processors.
Extreme processors should be able to do anything you can think of. Games should run at high frame rates on the highest possible settings, and multitasking shouldn’t be limited in any significant way.
When it comes to everyday performance, the Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 was something of a mixed bag. While the exterior is gorgeous, the internals are a little modest by comparison and the performance it delivers very much reflects that.
Still, it comes to web browsing, editing documents, Slacking and all the usual everyday workflow things, the hardware inside the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 was more than up to the task. Since there's no GPU, gaming is pretty much out of the equation but if that matters to you there are many other laptops that'll be a better bet than this one.
When it came to benchmarks, the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 failed to keep up with laptops we've reviewed that run on more powerful Ultra 7 processor and even those that run on the likes of the Snapdragon X Elite like Surface Pro 11. You're paying a lot more here than you probably can get away with and you're definitely not getting better performance for it.
As for battery life, I found this to be something of a weakness for the device. I'd have to top up the PC more than once over the course of a long day of reporting. Then, when it came to our usual battery rundown tests, it took a whole 13 hours and 5 minutes of video streaming to run the battery inside the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 from 100% to zero.
That's a stronger result than you can expect from the likes of the ASUS CX34 Chromebook or Microsoft's Copilot Plus-grade Surface laptop, though it falls short of the high bar set by the likes of the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x. Anecdotally, I found myself having to charge the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 back up more than once over the course of a long day of a reporting and worried about it running out of juice in a way that I did have to with my usual MacBook Pro.
Dell Latitude 9450 2-in-1 (2024) worth buying?

After using the Dell Latitude 2-in-1 as my daily driver for a few weeks, I'm in something of two minds about it. On one hand, it's a confident fusion of Dell's consumer and business lines that's loaded up with little things that make it a delight on an everyday basis. On the other, the performance and battery life left me wanting in a way that my usual MacBook didn't. In some respects, the level of performance that the Latitude 9450 delivers is actually one of the strongest endorsements of Windows on ARM I've seen to date.
At it's best, the Latitude 9450 is a 2-in-1 that offers ample flexibility without compromising on more standard use and packed with premium perks that rarely get in the way of more practical concerns. At it's worst, you're paying an excessive premium for performance that doesn't quite live up to the hype. I've little doubt that those who fall into that category will find just as much to love about the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 as I did. At the same time though, I'm certain they'll run into those same shortcomings before too long. No PC is perfect but dollars aren't the only price you're paying here.
Still, the Latitude 9450 2-in-1 is a glimpse of a world where 2-in-1 business books are just as compelling as their consumer-grade cousins. I just wish that world was a little more affordable.
How we review laptops
Whether you're looking at a mainstream computer brand like Dell or a dedicated gaming brand like MSI, there's an immense number of decisions you'll need to make when purchasing a laptop. If you're not sure where to start, here are a few important features to consider when shopping for your next laptop:
- Screen size and type: Unlike upgradeable components like your GPU, RAM and storage, you're stuck with the display you buy when you purchase a laptop. Is it a comfortable size? Does it offer a wide-viewing angle?
- Resolution: Similarly, you can't change your display's resolution after the fact. 1080p (Full HD) is the bare minimum these days and most laptops worth their price tag aim for 1440p at least (QHD or QuadHD) but you can also opt for 4K if you're willing to spend a little extra.
- Refresh rate: A screen's refresh rate is the measurement of how frequently it changes. If you play fast-paced multiplayer games like Call of Duty, you know that the difference a few milliseconds that a high refresh rate gets you can count for a lot. The higher the refresh rate, the better. Most conventional laptops offer 60Hz to 90Hz but fancier gaming laptops can offer 144Hz, 165Hz or even 240Hz screens.
- Ports and connections: Like your screen, ports will impact your everyday experience with a laptop, particularly if you use it for work. While you can work around this with USB hubs and adapters, a laptop with fewer ports than you need can quickly become a headache.
- Future-proofing: There are no hard and fast rules here but as a general suggestion, you'll want to sure you're laptop has the legs to survive a few years of technology improvements in any way you can. You can overshoot on your desired specs, spending more on a machine that's more powerful than you currently need, or opt for a model or brand that has support for upgrades down the track. Check which features of the machine are upgradeable. The Dell XPS 15, for example, supports additional RAM, while Apple MacBooks do not.
Check out our dedicated laptop buying guide for more suggestions on shopping for the best laptop for your needs or this more in-depth guide on how we review laptops.
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