Skip to main content

Dell’s new Latitude laptop can detect your presence and wake itself

Your laptop might already use your face to sign in, but Dell is taking it one step further.

More CES 2019 coverage

Ahead of CES 2019, the computer manufacturer has unveiled an updated version of its commercial 2-in-1, the Latitude 7400. These enterprise devices don’t usually come with the most exciting technologies, but this one is different. The new Latitude 7400 device comes equipped with a feature that can actually sense your presence and use Windows Hello to log you in.

Dell calls the feature “ExpressSign-In,” a technology that pairs a special proximity sensor that with Windows Hello to make sign-ins just a bit faster. Essentially, the sensor will detect a person’s nearby presence and will wake the system on its own, rather than waiting for someone to hit the power button. Once awake, the Windows Hello infrared camera then searches for a face match. It should make for automatic logins and signs out.

Outside of the new sign-in feature, the convertible also packs some other enterprise features such as options for Cat 16 Gigabit LTE, a fingerprint reader, and the FIPS 201 Smart Card Reader. IT professionals can also enjoy the ability to manage Windows 10 endpoints with DCDD and Workplace One integration.

Key Specs

  • Processor: 8th-gen Intel Core Whiskey Lake
  • Speakers: Stereo Speaker with MaxxAudio Pro
  • Memory: Up to 16GB LPDDR3 SDRAM
  • Storage: 256GB up to 2TB SSD
  • Battery: 52 watt-hour or 78 watt-hour
  • Ports: 2 USB 3.1 ports, 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports, SD 4.0 memory card reader
  • Security: Fingerprint reader, FIPS 201 Smart Card Reader, NFC, Windows Hello IR

The Latitude 7400 2-in-1 has also been dubbed the world’s smallest commercial 14-inch 2-in-1, as it packs narrow borders that are 25 percent smaller than the previous generation. It is also light and comes in at 3 pounds in weight, with its machined aluminum and diamond cut finish.

Elsewhere, Dell has redesigned the cooling system with a new “intelligent thermal responsiveness,” which can adjust to the way the laptop is used. Be it on the lap or a desk, Dell promises the system can keep the Latitude cool.

Battery life is also boasted to not be an issue, as Dell is packing a super low-power panel, as well as support for express charge technologies. That should ensure that you can charge faster and get through the day without having to plug into an outlet. How long can it last? Up to a whopping 24 hours, according to Dell.

The Latitude 14 7400 will be available in March for prices starting at $1,600.

Editors' Recommendations

Arif Bacchus
Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…
Dell’s new 6K UltraSharp refuses to sacrifice pixel density for size
The Dell UltraSharp 6K monitor connected to a laptop on a desk.

At CES 2023, Dell introduced a new 32-inch monitor that doesn't sacrifice pixel density for size.

As the name implies, the Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor (U3224KB) has a resolution of 6144 x 3456 and a 31.5-inch screen size -- and those aren't just random numbers. That matches the pixel density of sharper, smaller screens, like the one you'll find on a high-end laptop.

Read more
Dell’s modular laptops can be dismantled in under a minute — no screws required
All the parts of the Concept Luna laptop laid out on the table.

Modern laptop design has dug itself into a hole.

Many of the best laptops have increasingly resorted to soldering down components to keep devices thinner, but that has meant worse repairability and more e-waste. Dell's Concept Luna is an attempt at an answer to this problem, and the latest developments show some serious potential in shaking up the way laptops are manufactured and maintained.

Read more
Dell’s new G16 is a larger, more powerful budget gaming laptop
An open Dell G16 laptop with its lid open.

Dell's G-series gaming laptops are meant to provide a budget-friendly option for gamers, especially when compared to their more expensive Alienware machines. But the new Dell G16-7620 looks to be a beast of a gaming laptop.

This a significant departure from past G-series machines. The previous-generation G15 was decent, but compared to the Alienware lineup, it lacked the best cooling, graphics, refresh rates, and other mainstays of high-end gaming laptops. The G16 appears to be different.

Read more