The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) generally offers higher build quality, better performance for demanding applications such as video editing or software development, and has a longer battery life, but comes at a significant premium. It's also lightweight and has a high-resolution display, making it suitable for professionals who prioritize portability and screen quality. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, on the other hand, provides a larger screen, which can be better for multitasking and is considerably cheaper, making it a good fit for everyday use like web browsing, office tasks, and media consumption. It may not handle intensive tasks as well as the MacBook Pro and might have a shorter battery life, but it can be a more cost-effective choice for users with basic computing needs. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
Good for engineering and design
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 3530
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
6.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
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.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
7.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is somewhat better.
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
6.6/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a high-resolution Retina display that provides crisp and clear visuals with vibrant colors, making it excellent for general use and suitable for engineering and design tasks that require precise color representation. Although the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a fair screen quality, its lower resolution and brightness make it less suitable for tasks that demand high visual fidelity. Neither laptop is ideal for 3D applications as they lack high refresh rate screens, which are crucial for smooth rendering and gameplay.
Battery
20.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,219
$722
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 costs $722.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is favored for its high-quality display, superior battery life, excellent keyboard, and silent operation, making it highly portable and convenient for daily tasks, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, with more RAM and storage, slightly larger screen size, and good thermal management, offers a better price-to-performance ratio, though it compromises on battery life and portability.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.3/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has an integrated GPU that provides fair performance for 3D applications, but its 60Hz screen refresh rate isn't ideal for fast-paced gaming. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 also offers fair 3D performance with its integrated graphics and has a higher 120Hz refresh rate, which is better for gaming, albeit many popular games not running on MacOS could be a deciding factor for gamers.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3530
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.