The MacBook Pro is less expensive and offers great general performance and impressive screen quality, including wide color coverage, which is ideal for creative work that requires color accuracy. It has a long battery life for extended working sessions and a quiet, fanless design that's lightweight for portability. However, it is not suited for intensive gaming, engineering, or 3D/machine learning tasks. The Dell Precision, on the other hand, is more expensive and has a powerful Intel processor and dedicated Nvidia graphics, making it better for 3D rendering, engineering applications, and machine learning projects. It also has more RAM for handling complex tasks, but it trades off with shorter battery life and a heavier build which affects portability. Both have high build quality and are without number pads, which can matter for data-intensive work. Choose the MacBook Pro for general and creative use or the Dell Precision if you need higher performance for specialized tasks and don't mind the extra weight and shorter battery life. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Precision 5470
The Dell Precision 5470 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Dell Precision 5470 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for engineering and design, though the Dell Precision 5470 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Dell Precision 5470 for general use, and engineering and design.
The MacBook Pro 13 offers a high-resolution Retina display with vivid colors and excellent brightness levels, making it ideal for tasks like browsing, document editing, and video streaming. For engineering and design, its wide color gamut coverage ensures accurate color representation, crucial for detailed and color-sensitive work. However, its standard refresh rate limits its effectiveness for 3D applications, which benefit from higher refresh rates for smoother motion and better user experience.
Battery
20.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Dell Precision 5470 has 9 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Precision 5470 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$1,669
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Dell Precision 5470 costs $1,669.
The Dell Precision 5470 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) boasts a high-resolution screen, longer battery life, and silent, fanless operation, making it well-suited for general use in varied environments, while the Dell Precision 5470 includes more RAM and a dedicated graphics card for handling more intensive tasks but does not have as long a battery life and produces some fan noise. Both laptops are highly portable with quality screens and keyboards, but the MacBook tends to be favored for its MacOS ecosystem and longer battery life, whereas the Dell Precision is preferred if Windows 11 Pro compatibility and additional horsepower for specialized software are required.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Dell Precision 5470 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Dell Precision 5470's Nvidia RTX A1000 GPU provides better performance for gaming and 3D applications compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)'s integrated Apple M1 GPU. Additionally, the Precision 5470 is compatible with a wider range of games due to its Windows operating system, whereas many popular games do not run on the MacBook's macOS.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Dell Precision 5470 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) 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
7.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Precision 5470 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Dell Precision 5470 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Dell Precision 5470 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 Precision 5470 is a mobile workstation that's far more portable than most alternatives. Between its slim 14-inch design and top-quality MIL-STD 810H build, it's one of the best options around for taking professional-grade performance on the road or to the job site. There are tradeoffs for its portability, and users of the most demanding, graphics-intensive applications will need to carry something heavier. But the Dell's exceptional battery life underscores its desirability as the most portable workstation we've seen."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Dell Precision 5470
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.