The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers superior display technology, better build quality, and overall higher performance, particularly in graphic-intensive tasks due to its more powerful GPU. It also features longer battery life, but it comes at a higher price. The Dell Latitude 5431, on the other hand, costs less and is a competent laptop for general use, though its performance in more demanding engineering or 3D work is limited compared to the MacBook Pro. Both laptops have the same amount of RAM and are similar in weight, making them fairly portable, but the MacBook Pro has a higher portability score due to its better battery life and thinner design. If your work involves graphics, video editing, or other performance-intensive applications and you're willing to invest more, the MacBook Pro could be a great choice. However, for cost-conscious buyers focused on productivity, web browsing, and less demanding tasks, the Latitude should suffice. 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 Latitude 5431
The Dell Latitude 5431 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers high screen quality with a Mini LED display, powerful Apple M1 Pro processor, and longer battery life, making it very suitable for general use, but these features come with a higher price and less portability. In comparison, the Dell Latitude 5431 delivers good general performance with a standard IPS screen and an efficient Intel processor at a lower cost and slightly more portability, though it falls short in terms of battery life and screen resolution.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.2/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Dell Latitude 5431 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 considered good for 3D due to its dedicated GPU and high screen refresh rate, while the Dell Latitude 5431, with its integrated graphics and standard refresh rate, is fair for gaming and 3D; however, it is worth noting that the MacBook's MacOS may not support many popular games, limiting its gaming potential despite superior hardware.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in engineering and design due to its high-performance M1 Pro CPU, dedicated GPU capabilities, and a Mini LED display offering excellent screen quality with high brightness and color accuracy, making it very suitable for detailed visual work. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5431, while still capable with an Intel CPU and integrated graphics, offers a lower resolution IPS display and less color coverage, therefore it may not provide the same level of detail and vibrancy for design tasks.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 Latitude 5431 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
7.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Dell Latitude 5431 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
6.1/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5431 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers exceptionally high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for everyday tasks, and its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation crucial for engineering and design work. However, its standard refresh rate makes it less suitable for 3D applications where smoother visuals are preferred. The Dell Latitude 5431, with its fair resolution and brightness, is adequate for daily use and some professional tasks, but the limited color gamut and average refresh rate make it less ideal for high-end design work and demanding 3D applications or gaming.
Battery
13.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 5431 has 9 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
14.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$950
$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 Latitude 5431 costs $950.
"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 Latitude 5431
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 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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