Dell Latitude 7480 Review: Compact, Powerful, and Business-Ready

Introduction

The Dell Latitude 7480 is a premium 14-inch business laptop designed for professionals, students, and anyone seeking a compact, reliable, and high-performing device. It combines portability with durability and offers features that make it stand out in the business segment. Equipped with a 6th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, 4 GB DDR4 RAM, and a Full HD display, it provides notable improvements in speed, responsiveness, and multitasking compared to older Latitude models.

By 2025, refurbished Dell Latitude 7480 laptops are still highly sought after due to their affordable pricing, reliability, and productivity-focused features. While the laptop cannot compete with the latest ultrabooks, AMD Ryzen models, or Apple Silicon machines in terms of raw performance, it remains a solid and cost-effective solution for office work, remote learning, and professional productivity.

Whether you are a student, business professional, or freelancer, the Latitude 7480 continues to deliver the essentials needed for everyday computing tasks. Let’s explore its features, performance, and why it remains relevant in today’s laptop landscape.

Specifications Overview

Design and Build Quality

The Dell Latitude 7480 stands out for its sleek and professional design. Dell has long been known for building durable business laptops, and the 7480 continues this tradition with a robust magnesium alloy chassis that is lightweight yet resistant to wear and tear.

Weighing just 1.36 kilograms, it is easy to carry during commutes or business trips. Its compact 14-inch form factor ensures that it fits comfortably in backpacks and briefcases without feeling bulky. The slim bezels add a modern touch, while the matte finish reduces fingerprints and smudges, maintaining a professional appearance.

The keyboard deck is solid, and the hinges are stable, allowing the laptop lid to open and close smoothly over long periods. For professionals who travel frequently, the build quality ensures longevity and reliability even under daily use.

Compared to older Latitude models, the 7480 is lighter, slimmer, and more refined, providing an excellent combination of portability and durability for business users.

Display

The 14-inch Full HD display of the Latitude 7480, with a 1920×1080 resolution, offers sharp visuals and crisp text. This improvement over 1366×768 panels found on older models allows for better productivity, as documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are clearer and easier to read.

The display produces accurate colours for general office work, video conferencing, and multimedia consumption. While it is not suitable for professional photo editing or graphic design that requires precise colour calibration, it is more than adequate for everyday business tasks.

With a 60 Hz refresh rate, scrolling through documents, web pages, and email feels smooth. Compared to older laptops with lower resolutions, the Latitude 7480 provides a significantly improved user experience, making it ideal for students, office workers, and small business owners.

Performance and Everyday Usage

Performance is where the Latitude 7480 shines for productivity tasks. Equipped with a 6th Gen Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, it provides sufficient processing power for most business and academic applications. Combined with 4 GB DDR4 RAM and a 128 GB SSD, the laptop boots quickly, applications open without delay, and multitasking is generally smooth.

Users can comfortably run office applications, web browsers with multiple tabs, email clients, and video streaming without major slowdowns. The Intel HD Graphics 520 is capable of handling video playback, light photo editing, and even multiple monitor setups, making it a versatile device for professional work environments.

While the Latitude 7480 is not designed for gaming or heavy creative workloads, its combination of processor, RAM, and SSD ensures that it delivers consistent performance for tasks like spreadsheets, presentations, and document management.

Keyboard and Trackpad

Dell’s Latitude laptops are known for their comfortable and precise keyboards, and the 7480 continues this legacy. The keys are well-spaced, responsive, and provide good tactile feedback, allowing long typing sessions without fatigue. This is particularly beneficial for professionals, writers, and students who spend hours on assignments or reports.

The trackpad is smooth and accurate, supporting multi-touch gestures such as scrolling, zooming, and switching between applications. While some users may prefer an external mouse for extended use, the built-in trackpad is reliable and responsive for everyday navigation.

Battery Life

The battery life of the Latitude 7480 is one of its stronger points. Under light to moderate usage, it delivers 6 to 7 hours of battery life, enough for a full day of meetings, classes, or office work without needing to plug in.

For refurbished units purchased in 2025, battery health may vary, but replacement batteries are readily available and affordable. The energy-efficient Intel Core i5 processor and SSD contribute to reduced power consumption, ensuring long-lasting performance on the go.

Compared to modern ultrabooks, which may offer up to 12 hours of battery life, the Latitude 7480 provides adequate autonomy for business professionals who need portability and reliability.

Connectivity and Ports

The port selection on the Latitude 7480 is well-suited for business users who rely on connectivity with multiple devices. It includes:

• 3 × USB-A ports for external drives, peripherals, and accessories
• 1 × USB-C Thunderbolt 3 port for fast data transfer, docking, and external monitors
• HDMI port for connecting to projectors and displays
• Ethernet port for stable wired networking

Although it lacks a touchscreen, the range of ports ensures compatibility with most business environments and peripherals. The inclusion of Thunderbolt 3 allows high-speed data transfers and adds future-proofing for users who may need more advanced connectivity.

Security and Reliability

Business users prioritise security, and the Latitude 7480 delivers. While the base model lacks advanced biometrics such as fingerprint scanners, it supports Windows security options such as passwords, PINs, and encryption.

Dell’s renowned build quality ensures that the chassis withstands frequent handling, commuting, and daily wear. For organisations or students seeking a dependable and durable laptop, the Latitude 7480 provides a secure and reliable platform for work and study.

Why the Dell Latitude 7480 Still Matters in 2025

The refurbished Dell Latitude 7480 remains a strong choice due to several factors:

• Portable and lightweight design for commuting and business travel
• Full HD display for clear, sharp visuals
• SSD storage for faster boot and load times
• Wide range of ports for legacy and modern peripherals
• Reliable performance for business, office, and academic tasks

For budget-conscious buyers or students who do not require the latest high-end hardware, the refurbished Latitude 7480 delivers excellent value and remains competitive with newer budget business laptops.

Comparison with Similar Laptops

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Lightweight and portable design
• Full HD display enhances productivity
• SSD storage improves boot times and responsiveness
• Robust build quality for long-term durability
• Comprehensive port selection including Thunderbolt 3

Cons

• Base RAM is only 4 GB, limiting heavy multitasking
• Not suitable for gaming or graphics-intensive work
• No touchscreen or high-refresh-rate display
• Refurbished units may vary in battery health

Why Buying Refurbished Makes Sense

Purchasing a refurbished Dell Latitude 7480 is an excellent investment for those seeking reliable computing at a lower cost. Refurbished laptops are tested, cleaned, and often upgraded with SSDs or new batteries, ensuring they function like new devices.

Students, small businesses, and budget-conscious professionals benefit from the value, performance, and portability of refurbished Latitude 7480 units. Additionally, opting for refurbished laptops contributes to environmental sustainability by extending the life of high-quality hardware.

Conclusion

The Dell Latitude 7480 offers performance, portability, and durability in a 14-inch package that continues to meet the demands of business and academic users. While it cannot match the latest ultrabooks or Apple Silicon devices, it remains an excellent choice for students, professionals, and anyone looking for a reliable, cost-effective laptop.

Refurbished units are especially compelling due to their affordability, Full HD display, SSD storage, and robust build quality, making the Latitude 7480 a strong contender in the refurbished business laptop market.

FAQs

Q: Is the Dell Latitude 7480 suitable for students in 2025?
A: Yes, it is excellent for office applications, research, and online learning tasks.

Q: Can it handle modern productivity software efficiently?
A: Yes, with an SSD and Intel HD Graphics 520, it runs most office applications and light multimedia smoothly.

Q: Can the RAM be upgraded?
A: Yes, the laptop supports RAM expansion, improving multitasking performance.

Q: How long does the battery last on refurbished units?
A: Typically 6 to 7 hours, depending on battery condition; replacements can restore full capacity.

Q: Is it worth buying refurbished instead of new laptops?
A: Yes, it offers excellent value, reliability, and performance at a fraction of the cost of new business laptops.