If you value a high-quality build, excellent display, and long battery life, the Apple MacBook Pro may be worth the additional cost. Its performance is well-suited for tasks like video editing and software development. However, the Dell Inspiron offers a larger screen, is likely more affordable, and runs Windows, which might be preferable if you rely on specific software unavailable on macOS. It may also have a wider range of ports for connectivity. The MacBook Pro is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, making it a better choice if you frequently work on the go. The Inspiron may offer better value if your tasks are more general-purpose or if budget is a significant concern. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.0/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a high-resolution screen and excellent brightness, alongside a wide color gamut, making it suitable for general use and engineering tasks that require color accuracy. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has moderate resolution and brightness, which makes it adequate but not exceptional for everyday tasks and engineering, though lacking in color precision for professional design work. For 3D applications, the MacBook Pro's lower refresh rate isn't ideal, while the Dell similarly struggles due to its refresh rate, meaning neither are optimized for the smooth visuals usually desired in 3D environments.
Battery
20.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has 6.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$580
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 costs $580.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is powered by the Apple M1 chip, offering high efficiency and performance with long battery life for general use, and has a high-resolution display that enhances screen quality while being lightweight for portability.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020), with its integrated 8-core GPU, delivers solid performance for 3D tasks but is limited by macOS compatibility issues with many popular games, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is equipped with an Iris Xe graphics in its CPU that supports a decent gaming experience, but its capabilities in 3D tasks may also be limited due to the shared resources between the CPU and GPU.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-quality screen, capable CPU and GPU in the Apple M1 chip, and a silent operation which is important in quieter workspaces. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers a larger size display for broader workspaces, more RAM for heavy multitasking, and the flexibility of Windows OS which is essential for certain engineering applications that may not be available on MacOS.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.8/10
7.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3511 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 compare to other laptops
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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