Dell Latitude E6420 XFR Review

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To say the 14-inch Dell Latitude E6420 XFR could take a licking would be an understatement. The fully rugged MIL-STD tested notebook can withstand anything from 6-foot drops to wind-blown rain, making it ideal for those working in hazardous locations. Equipped with a Core i7 processor, a bright display, and a long-lasting battery such as dell Latitude X300 battery, dell W0465 battery, dell Inspiron 2000 battery, dell Latitude LS battery, dell 2834T battery, dell 4834T battery, dell Inspiron 1520 battery, dell Inspiron 1521 battery, Dell Inspiron 1720 battery, dell Inspiron 1525 battery, dell Inspiron 1526 battery, the E6420 XFR can handle heavy-duty tasks without breaking a sweat. But is this rough and tumble notebook worth its $5,612 price tag?

The E6420 XFR not only looks like a tank, it also has tank-like durability. The high-strength PR-72 ultra-polymer in the chassis improves upon the E6400 XFR's PR481 chassis material, increasing the notebook's drop spec from 4 to 6 feet. The rubber bumpers have also been redesigned for better protection against bumps and drops.

Click to EnlargeSimilar to the E6400 XFR's design, all ports and slots on the E6420 XFR are protected by doors using PrimoSeal technology, which has an industry rating of IP-65. When closed, the port doors seal completely thanks to compression gasketing designed to keep water and dust from the notebook's interior.

The E6420 is able to operate in extreme temperatures thanks to its QuadCool thermal technology. Dell says the E6420 XFR can stay cool under pressure without the use of external vents, thanks to a combination of conductive cooling, thermal pipes, and a sealed fan chamber.

These components combine to create what Dell calls its Ballistic Armor, which enables the notebook to withstand rigorous MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461F testing. The E6420 XFR can withstand drops from 6 feet while closed and off. When it's open and turned on, the machine can survive a fall from 3 feet. The notebook can also endure 5.8 inches of rain and 70-mph winds while open and operating, as well as temperatures ranging from -20 degrees Fahrenheit to 145 degrees. And if that wasn't enough, the E6420 XFR can operate in an explosive environment--for example, a room saturated with gasoline fumes--without igniting the air around it.

With the notebook turned off and closed, we dropped it twice from a height of 6 feet. While some of the port covers popped open, the notebook didn't suffer any damage, and started up normally. Then, with the notebook turned on and open, we dropped it twice from a height of three feet. This time, the port covers remained closed, and the E6420 continued running normally.

As mentioned above, all the ports on the E6240 are protected by gasket-sealed metal doors that keep moisture and dust from entering. On the right, one large door covers two USB 2.0 ports, an ExpressCard/54 slot, a Wi-Fi radio switch, and the tray-loading DVD burner. A smaller door next to it protects an HDMI and a USB/eSATA port. On the left, one door covers a VGA and Serial port, while another shields the hard drive.

Click to EnlargeOne large door on the rear of the E6420 opens to expose the battery; two small doors on either side cover the power and Ethernet ports. On the front edge, a sliding door, just underneath the handle, protects the SD card slot. Below that is a slot for the small metal stylus. The bottom of the notebook has a connector dock, which is also covered by a sliding latch.

Swappable media bay modules allow users to switch out or remove components, such as the DVD burner, while the notebook is up and running.

Click to EnlargeUsing Dell Webcam Central, the 2-megapixel captures stills and video in 1920 x 1080. When we shot photos of our face under fluorescent lighting, images looked clear with sharp detail. We did notice that colors, especially red, appeared a little washed out. During our Skype session, our caller reported a slightly grainy image, but with in-sync audio that was plenty loud.

During the LAPTOP Battery Test (continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi), the E6420 XFR clocked in at exactly 8 hours, nearly twice as long as the 4:37 mainstream category average. Since this laptop is designed for field use, its extra-long endurance is critical to the target audience.

The Dell Latitude E6420 XFR combines extreme durability with strong overall performance and long battery life, exactly what demanding rugged notebook shoppers are looking for. The only thing that keeps this tank of a laptop from earning our Editors' Choice award is its above-average running temperature. Some may prefer the Panasonic Toughbook 31, which offers a sealed all-weather design that can also handle 6-foot drops. However, the Toughbook doesn't have a Core i7 option like the Dell and it weighs over a pound more despite featuring a smaller 13-inch screen. While the $5,612 price is steep, the E6420 XFR is an excellent choice for the military, those who work on oil rigs, or anyone looking for a highly durable, high-performance notebook for field use.