Dell introduces a range of new business laptops in its Latitude series with “SafeShutter”, Dell’s new optical webcam system, and an integrated automatic webcam shutter that covers up the entire optics when not used.
As we are nearing the CES 2021 slated to be aired live due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Dell is all set to launch several upgrades to older Latitude models, essentially across Latitude 5000, 7000, and 9000 series. All new iterations will power on Intel’s upcoming 11th Gen vPro chips, scheduled for March 2021.
The new Latitude laptops feature a few of the most apparent additions, one of which is the optical webcam system aka “SafeShutter” considering a surge in online videoconferencing for almost every business meeting while the work remains at respective homes. Whether or not your laptop’s webcam is turned on, it can automatically shut itself open or close, although the manual “mute” keys can be leveraged to enable or disable both microphone and camera as well. A relief to users taping over their webcams or sliding shutters.
Coming to the Latitude 9000 series, the Latitude 9420 will be configurable up to the Core i7 model. The new Latitude will ship in 2560 x 1600 2-in-1 and 1080p configurations whilst the RAM and storage can go as high as 32GB and 1TB PCIe NVMe SSD respectively. Moreover, it will use both Snapdragon X20 and X55 modems for optional 5G and LTE support.
Next in the 9000 line is Latitude 9520 scheduled for upcoming Spring. This too will feature the same upgrades — SafeShutter, Intel’s 11th Gen chips, and alleged improved battery life.
The Latitude 9420 will retail starting at $1,949 (~NPR 230,000) though we are yet to know the price of Latitude 9520.
As for the Latitude 7000 line, we have the new Latitude 7520 with the first-ever 15.6-inch screen and a couple of smaller — 13.3-inch Latitude 7320 and 14-inch Latitude 7420 laptops. All three will power on Intel’s 11th Gen vPro chips while the RAM is configurable up to 32GB. Dell unhesitantly advertises the camera and audio upgrades for enhanced videoconferencing too.
In contrast to new models in the Latitude 9000 series, all of the new Latitude 7000 laptops will miss out on 5G support. Frustratingly, the series also lacks the automatic optical webcam shutter.
On to the Latitude 5000 line, we are again looking at new business laptops in three different sizes — Latitude 5320 with 13.3-inch, Latitude 5420 with 14-inch, and Latitude 5520 with 15.6-inch screens. These too will power on the same Intel chips but we have some downgrades here.
All the new laptops are primarily built with 21% bioplastic made up of tree waste in Dell’s own way to contribute to the environment.
The Latitude 7000 series will retail as of 30 March with prices starting at $999 (~NPR 117,000) and the Latitude 5000 series will arrive as soon as 12th January starting at $1049 (~NPR 123,000).
