The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is more expensive but offers better battery life and a high-quality Mini LED display; it's tailored for performance-intensive tasks like video editing, thanks to its Apple M1 Pro chip. Consider the MacBook Pro if your priority is performance and display quality at a higher cost, or the Dell Inspiron for everyday tasks and better value. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus
The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
326.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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
8.3/10
7.7/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
7.0/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2240 x 1400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
326.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness and wide color gamut coverage, providing sharp, vibrant visuals for general tasks and accurate color representation crucial for engineering and design work. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus offers a decent resolution and good brightness ensuring clear and bright images suitable for everyday use and professional applications requiring color precision but falls short of the MacBook's display standards. However, for 3D work where the refresh rate becomes a critical aspect, neither laptop's screen is ideal as they prioritize resolution and color accuracy over faster refresh rates, which are essential for smooth 3D rendering and gaming experiences.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has 6 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
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,162
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus costs $1,162.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with a high GPU performance suitable for 3D applications, and a screen refresh rate of 120Hz that can offer smoother visuals, which is great for 3D creation but fewer games may be compatible due to the macOS platform. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, while also capable of handling 3D tasks with its Iris Xe graphics, has a lower refresh rate of 60Hz, but its Windows operating system supports a wider range of gaming titles, giving gamers more options to choose from.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) to be very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is favored for engineering and design due to its powerful M1 Pro chip that offers strong CPU and GPU performance, alongside its superior Mini LED screen which provides high brightness and color accuracy. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus, while offering a larger storage capacity and a capable Intel i7 processor with good integrated graphics, has a less impressive screen and might not match the raw performance or screen quality of the MacBook Pro, but it is a competitive alternative with a balance of power and features.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 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 14 (2021) and the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus compare to other laptops
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"The Dell Inspiron 14 Plus is for power users on a budget. If you're looking to maximize CPU and GPU performance on your next 14-inch laptop, then consider the pricier Razer Blade 14 or Asus Zephyrus G14. If you're looking for a thin-and-light 14-inch Ultrabook, then the Asus Zenbook 14 or LG Gram 14 may be better options. For the best of both worlds, however, the Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7420 rides a fine line between extreme performance and portability while keeping prices at reasonable levels. Frequent travelers who rely on performance beyond what the Core U-series and integrated graphics series can offer will find the Dell to be a solid solution."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Dell Inspiron 14 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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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.
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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.