The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers a higher-quality display, better graphics performance, and a more robust construction compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3530. It's well-suited for demanding creative work like video editing or design, with a display that offers higher resolution and brightness. The MacBook's build quality and ecosystem, including the operating system and software integration, tend to be highly regarded. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, while significantly less expensive, provides good value and is capable enough for everyday tasks and light productivity work. It runs Windows, which may be preferable or required for some programs or work environments. If maximum portability and battery life are less critical for you, and you need a machine for general use without the premium features, the Dell could be a sensible, cost-effective choice. However, if you're looking to invest in higher performance and a top-tier screen, the MacBook Pro is a strong contender, although at a higher price. 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
Very good portability
Excellent 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 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers a higher quality screen, longer battery life, and a more powerful CPU, making it very good for general use; it's also more portable owing to its lighter weight and smaller dimensions. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, while still good for general use due to its comparable RAM and storage, falls short with a lower screen quality, shorter battery life, and a less capable processor, though it is slightly larger which can be an advantage for those preferring a bigger screen.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in engineering and design use due to its high-performing Apple M1 Pro CPU and GPU, better screen quality with Mini LED technology, and higher color accuracy, making it ideal for tasks demanding color precision and graphics performance. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, while still good, has a less powerful Intel i5 processor and Iris Xe graphics, and its IPS screen offers lower resolution and color accuracy, though it may be more affordable and still capable for less demanding engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 15 3530 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
7.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 3530 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
6.6/10
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
220.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 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 14's display offers high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for clarity and visibility in general use; its wide color gamuts also make it suitable for professional engineering and design work that requires accurate color representation. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, with fair screen quality, serves basic needs adequately but doesn't excel in color accuracy or brightness, making it less optimal for specialized tasks. For 3D applications, however, both laptops fall short as they lack the high refresh rates that are crucial for smooth rendering and fast-paced interactions in this sphere.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 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
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) 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 14 (2021) 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
$1,905
$722
$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 3530 costs $722.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Dell Inspiron 15 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high-resolution Mini LED screen, greater GPU power from the M1 Pro chip, and 120Hz refresh rate, is well-suited for 3D work and will display smoother motion in animations compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3530, which has a lower screen quality and relies on integrated graphics that are less powerful for gaming and 3D applications. However, the MacBook's macOS may not support many popular games that run on the Dell Inspiron's Windows 11 Home, making it a less ideal option for gaming despite its superior hardware.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) 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
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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.