Dell Latitude 5290 — 12.5" Compact Business Laptop
A genuinely small business machine that still runs a quad-core Intel Core i5-8350U vPro with 16GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, on Windows 11 Pro. Built for people who carry a laptop all day rather than move it between desks, and backed by a 12-month warranty from Reboot IT.
Key benefits
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12.5" compact chassis: one of the smallest full-Windows business laptops Dell made — it fits a small bag, a train tray table and a hot desk without negotiation.
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Intel Core i5-8350U vPro: quad-core with eight threads, 1.7GHz base and up to 3.6GHz turbo — four real cores in a machine this size.
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16GB memory: double what most machines in this class shipped with, so Office, Teams and a browser full of tabs coexist without swapping.
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256GB SSD: solid-state throughout — quick to boot, quick to wake, and no moving parts to fail in a bag.
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vPro remote management: hardware-level management your IT team can use to reach the machine even when the operating system will not start.
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Windows 11 Pro: BitLocker, domain join and Remote Desktop host, already licensed and ready on first boot.
Performance in use
The 5290 is built around portability. At 12.5" it is noticeably smaller than the 14" machines that dominate business fleets, which matters if the laptop lives in a bag rather than on a desk — site visits, client meetings, hot-desking, commuting, or simply working from a cafe table that will not take a larger footprint. Dell built the chassis to its business standard rather than as a thin-and-light consumer machine, so it tolerates being carried.
Inside, the i5-8350U is a quad-core part rather than the dual-core chips common in small laptops of this era. Four cores and eight threads at up to 3.6GHz handle the everyday load properly: a large spreadsheet recalculating while Teams runs in the background, twenty or thirty browser tabs, a remote desktop session into the office. The 16GB of memory is the specification that makes the difference here — most 5290s shipped with 8GB, and the extra headroom is what stops the machine slowing down as the working day accumulates applications.
Be clear-eyed about the display: this unit has the HD 1366x768 panel, not the Full HD option. For documents, email, line-of-business applications and remote sessions it is perfectly workable, and the smaller screen keeps battery life and weight down. If you routinely put two documents side by side or work in large spreadsheets, a Full HD machine will serve you better and we list plenty of those.
Technical specifications
| Brand & model |
Dell Latitude 5290 |
| Form factor |
Clamshell laptop (not a 2-in-1) |
| Processor |
Intel Core i5-8350U vPro, quad-core / 8 threads, 1.7GHz base, up to 3.6GHz turbo |
| Memory |
16GB DDR4 |
| Storage |
256GB SSD |
| Display |
12.5" HD 1366x768, non-touch |
| Graphics |
Intel UHD Graphics 620 (integrated) |
| Wireless |
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth |
| Operating system |
Windows 11 Pro |
| Management |
Intel vPro |
| Warranty |
12-month warranty from Reboot IT |
Is it right for you?
| Best for ✓ |
Not for ✗ |
Anyone who carries a laptop daily and wants it small Email, Office, browser and line-of-business applications Remote desktop and thin-client style working Students and second machines that must travel light Fleets that need vPro remote management |
Anyone who needs a Full HD or larger screen Spreadsheets or documents viewed side by side Gaming or GPU rendering (integrated graphics only) Video editing, 3D CAD or other heavy creative work Users who want a touchscreen — this is a standard panel |
Condition grades
| Grade |
What to expect |
| A — Excellent |
Minimal signs of use. Light marks may be visible on close inspection but the chassis and screen present as near-new. Battery holds 70% or more of its original capacity. |
| B — Good |
Light cosmetic wear consistent with normal business use — small scuffs or scratches on the lid or palm rest. Fully functional with no impact on performance. Battery holds 50–70% of its original capacity. |
Every machine is tested, cleaned and graded before dispatch. Batteries carry a 30-day warranty.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the Latitude 5290 2-in-1 tablet?
No. Dell sold two different machines under the 5290 name. This is the clamshell laptop with a fixed hinge and a standard keyboard, not the detachable 2-in-1 tablet.
What screen resolution does it have?
This unit has the 12.5" HD 1366x768 panel. The 5290 was also sold with a Full HD screen, but that is a different configuration to this one.
Is Windows 11 Pro genuine and already activated?
Yes. Windows 11 Pro is installed and licensed, ready to use from first boot. Pro includes BitLocker encryption, domain join and Remote Desktop host.
Can I upgrade the memory or storage later?
The 5290 uses standard DDR4 SODIMM memory and an M.2 SSD, both of which a technician can change. Doing so does not affect your warranty with us.
Does it have a touchscreen?
No. This unit has a standard non-touch display.
What is included in the box?
The laptop and a compatible power adapter. Original packaging and manuals are not included.
How long does delivery take?
Orders are dispatched from our Melbourne warehouse on business days, with free standard AU shipping included. Metropolitan deliveries typically arrive within 2–5 business days.
Buy with confidence
This laptop is covered by a 12-month warranty from Reboot IT, with batteries covered for 30 days. If something is not right, you deal with a local team — not an overseas call centre.
Reboot IT has been refurbishing business IT in Melbourne since 2001. Every machine is data-wiped, tested, cleaned and graded by our own technicians before it ships. Free standard AU shipping is included, and our support team is contactable through reboot-it.com.au.