The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is in the upper midrange price and is typically much more expensive compared to the budget-friendly Dell Inspiron 15 3520. The MacBook Pro has a more powerful Apple M1 Pro processor, twice the RAM and storage, and a superior mini LED screen with higher resolution and brightness, suitable for professional creative work and intensive multitasking. Meanwhile, the Dell has an Intel i3 processor with integrated graphics, which is adequate for everyday tasks and light productivity. The MacBook's battery life is substantially longer, yet with its higher performance comes less portability due to its weight and limited ports compared to the Dell. If budget is a constraint and your usage is basic, the Dell may suffice, but if you need a high-performance machine for demanding tasks and can afford it, the MacBook Pro is the better option. 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 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
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers superior general use capabilities, with a powerful CPU in the Apple M1 Pro, more RAM, and a high-quality Mini LED screen, making it well-suited for a range of tasks, further enhanced by better portability and longer battery life. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has a less capable Intel i3 CPU, less RAM, and an IPS screen with lower color coverage, which reflects its fair rating for general use; however, it also has a lower price point, making it accessible for those with budget constraints.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.0/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Dell Inspiron 15 3520 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with a robust integrated Apple M1 Pro GPU that supports demanding 3D tasks, complemented by its high-refresh-rate Mini LED screen that presents vivid visuals, but keep in mind that gaming options are more limited due to operating system restrictions.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) exceeds the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 in engineering and design because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU combination, higher RAM, and superior screen quality, offering better performance and image precision for demanding tasks. While the MacBook offers better portability and has a quieter operating noise, the Inspiron falls short in these areas, although it may be easier to carry due to its slightly lower weight.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
6.7/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
9.2/10
6.8/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021), with its high-resolution Retina display, offers exceptional clarity and vibrant colors, making it excellent for engineering and design tasks that require accuracy in color representation. However, for 3D applications, where a high refresh rate is crucial to keep visuals smooth, its standard refresh rate falls short. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3520's screen quality, being more modest in both resolution and color accuracy, provides an adequate experience for general and engineering uses, but its lower refresh rate and display characteristics do not support the demands of high-end gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$346
$0
$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 15 3520 costs $346.
"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."
"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. Plus, those alternatives are much more enjoyable after work."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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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