The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) offers seamless integration with other Apple devices and a user-friendly experience thanks to macOS. It's known for robust build quality and long-term software support. The Retina display is great for media consumption and creative work, while the M-series chips provide excellent performance for most tasks with efficient battery life, ideal for on-the-go use.
On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13 Plus runs Windows, which means broader software compatibility, especially for business environments or users who prefer Windows. It often has a sleek design and a high-quality display as well. Performance can be strong for professional and personal use, but battery life and portability may vary depending on the configuration.
When deciding between these two, consider your ecosystem preference, the operating system you're more comfortable with, and whether specific software you need is available on macOS or Windows. Also, think about the importance of touch screen options, port selection, and whether you value a slightly lighter and thinner design for portability. Generally, the MacBook may lead in battery life and integrated hardware-software optimization, while the XPS can offer more versatility in software and sometimes a more modern array of ports. 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 (2022)
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell XPS 13 Plus
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
374.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.1/10
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus outshines the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) in general use mainly because of its higher RAM capacity and more vibrant OLED display which provide smoother multitasking and a more visually appealing experience. However, the MacBook Pro offers a better battery life and a fanless design for silent operation, representing a tradeoff for those who prioritize endurance and a quiet working environment over top screen quality and performance.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Dell XPS 13 Plus outshines the MacBook Pro 13 (2022) for engineering and design due to its superior main processor, double the RAM for handling complex tasks, and a higher-resolution OLED touchscreen that is advantageous for detailed visual work. While both have high-quality screens and silent operation, the XPS 13 Plus also has more storage and a sharper screen, which could be crucial for storage-heavy and graphics-intensive projects.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
374.0 nits
The Dell XPS 13 Plus has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 provides a sharp and bright display which is great for day-to-day activities, but it might not support the wide color gamuts required for professional engineering and design tasks, and its standard refresh rate isn't suited for 3D applications that benefit from smoother visuals. On the other hand, the Dell XPS 13 Plus offers high resolution and brightness along with a wider color coverage, making it excellent for precision tasks in design and engineering. However, like the MacBook, it falls short for 3D uses due to a refresh rate that isn't high enough for the most fluid experience in gaming or 3D modeling.
Battery
20.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Dell XPS 13 Plus has 10 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 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Dell XPS 13 Plus has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,219
$1,849
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the Dell XPS 13 Plus costs $1,849.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Dell XPS 13 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with its own GPU is rated fair for 3D tasks due to less powerful gaming performance compared to typical gaming hardware, while the Dell XPS 13 Plus with its Intel Iris Xe graphics is considered good for gaming and 3D, benefitting from a stronger GPU for such tasks, despite both having similar screen refresh rates. Additionally, the broader game compatibility with Windows on the Dell XPS 13 Plus enhances its suitability for gaming compared to the MacBook Pro 13, which cannot run many popular games.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
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
8.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
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
Excellent
13.3in
SIZE
13.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Dell XPS 13 Plus to have excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and the Dell XPS 13 Plus 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 XPS 13 Plus is powerful, but has its drawbacks. Dell did not only update the processor generation, but also decided to offer two completely different models from now on. The XPS 13 Plus gets the faster Intel Alder Lake-P chips, and the Core i7-1260P in our review unit offers good performance figures. However, the device once again shows the problems of the current Intel CPUs, because the high performance requires a lot of power. This affects the battery runtime as well as temperatures, so the new model (even with the Optimized power profile) is louder than the older model."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the Dell XPS 13 Plus
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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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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