Dell Latitude 3490 review

Where the Latitude 3490 stands

The Dell Latitude 3490 is a 2017 business-class laptop priced around $243 — below the $297 category median. Configured with a Core i3-6006U and 32 GB of RAM, it is an ultra-budget office machine whose graphics score reads well on paper, though the practical reality is modest casual capability held back by an aging dual-core processor. The GPU is the nominal strength; the CPU is the genuine constraint.

Graphics: adequate for casual and older titles

The 3490's graphics score of 45.85 places it in the top quarter of its business class against a median of 3.84. In practical terms, that translates into capable minimum-settings performance on older and casual titles — it clears the bar for Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto V, and Rainbow Six Siege. This is not a gaming credential but a confirmation that the machine handles light, undemanding games and GPU-accelerated media without strain, which is more than most pure-office peers of its vintage can claim. The 32 GB of RAM removes memory as a concern for everyday multitasking.

CPU: the binding constraint

The Core i3-6006U's CPU score of 35.89 is 32% below the 52.97 class median, and that is the real weakness of this configuration. The dual-core processor handles everyday office work but will lag under heavy multitasking, compilation, or compute-intensive tasks. Reliability at 30 versus a 42.5 median reinforces the theme of an aging chassis — dependable enough for light duty, but not a machine to push hard.

Price trajectory

From a $1,300 launch price, the 3490 has declined to about $243, losing value at roughly 7.6% per year. The projected price two years out is near $208 — a further 14.62% drop. The steepest depreciation is behind it; remaining decline is gradual, and in absolute dollar terms modest given the already-low price.

How it compares

At $243 the 3490 sits below its direct peers, undercutting them on price. The Dell Latitude 5490 ($212) and Dell Latitude 3580 ($214) are cheaper but typically offer comparable vintage with similar trade-offs. The 3490's case rests on adequate casual graphics and 32 GB of RAM at the lower-middle of the business-segment price band — a defensible, if not dominant, position for budget office buyers who want a little GPU headroom.

Bottom line

The Latitude 3490 is a $243, 2017 business laptop that handles older and casual games at minimum settings and carries 32 GB of RAM for comfortable everyday multitasking. The honest trade-off is the aging dual-core CPU, which limits anything compute-heavy. For budget office buyers who want a little casual-GPU capability alongside dependable daily use, it is worth the asking price; for demanding work, the CPU rules it out.