The MacBook Pro is pricier but offers better build quality, fanless operation for near silence, superior display color coverage, and longer battery life, which may be beneficial for general use and creative work where color accuracy and noise are factors. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron is more affordable, has a larger screen and more storage, includes a touchscreen, and is considered more suitable for intensive gaming. Choose the MacBook Pro if you value a better screen, quieter operation, and premium build. However, opt for the Dell Inspiron if you need more storage, prefer a larger touchscreen, and want to save money. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
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 3525
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is somewhat better.
The MacBook Pro 13 offers superior CPU and RAM performance, ensuring smooth operation for everyday tasks, coupled with a high-quality screen and long battery life, making it ideal for those needing a powerful and portable option with reliable performance. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 provides decent performance and a larger screen but may fall short in portability and battery life, appealing to users looking for a more budget-friendly option that can handle basic tasks without the premium cost of higher-end models.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is better for engineering and design due to its superior CPU and GPU performance, as the Apple M1 chip provides robust processing and graphical capabilities, and its high screen quality with a higher resolution and color accuracy which is crucial for such tasks.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is somewhat better.
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
6.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Pro's screen offers higher resolution and brightness, which provides a crisp and vivid display that enhances your everyday computing experience alongside your engineering and design tasks, primarily due to its wide color gamut ensuring more accurate colors. The Dell Inspiron, while fair for general tasks due to an adequate screen, may fall short for precision work in engineering and design because of its more limited color range and lower resolution. For 3D applications, the MacBook Pro's refresh rate may not be ideal, whereas the Dell Inspiron, with a similar limitation, struggles with both refresh rate and resolution, impacting smoothness and detail in fast-paced 3D environments.
Battery
20.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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 3525 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 3525 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
$400
$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 3525 costs $400.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers a fair performance for 3D applications due to its integrated Apple M1 GPU, which is competent but not specialized for high-end 3D tasks, and its 60Hz screen refresh rate is standard for smooth visuals but not exceptional for high-paced 3D scenarios.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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."
"Dell's Inspiron 15 (3525) is a peppy-enough and affordable-enough home or remote work machine, but it's not very ambitious; it does little to go beyond the basics. More the concern: It’s readily overshadowed by a number of machines that outperform and outclass it. Even if the Inspiron can get the job done today, its competition has the mettle to keep doing the job tomorrow in a way the Inspiron simply can’t promise. Many of its slightly higher-end rivals have to be on sale (and frequently are) to match it on price, but the Inspiron 15 (3525) is outclassed even by some similarly priced options, making it a difficult recommendation."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.