Dell Latitude 5290 · Intel Core i5 (8th Gen) · 12.5" HD · 8 GB / 256 GB SSD

Looking for something dependable rather than flashy? This Dell Latitude 5290 ticks that box. The Latitude 5000 series is Dell's mainstream business laptop — the reliable middle of the range that most companies roll out to their staff. It balances build quality, ports and price very well. The 5290 is a 12.5-inch Latitude with an 8th-gen chip, so it's small and light without feeling underpowered.

The Core i5 is the sweet spot for most people — quick enough for multitasking, Office, coding and online classes, without the extra cost of an i7. 8th generation was a big jump for Intel: it was the first time thin business laptops got four cores instead of two. In practice that means noticeably smoother multitasking than older models — this is the generation we most often recommend. 8 GB RAM is the right amount for study, office work and normal multitasking. Storage is a 256 GB SSD, so start-up and file loading are fast. The 12.5-inch HD screen is fine for documents, browsing and video.

Build and everyday use

Sturdy 14-inch body around 1.5–1.7 kg, with a full set of ports including HDMI and USB-A. Comfortable keyboard with good travel; many units are backlit. It comes with genuine Windows 11 Pro installed and activated.

Upgrades

Most 5000-series models have two RAM slots and a standard M.2 SSD, so they're easy to upgrade.

Who it suits

Office work, study, coding and small businesses. It sits in our picks for students, programmers, startups.

Condition and what's in the box

Grade A means it looks very clean — at most, light marks you have to look for. Every unit is tested on our checklist, securely wiped, cleaned and shipped with a compatible charger, a GST invoice and 12-month warranty.