If you prioritize high performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, and you are comfortable with a higher price, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is an excellent choice. However, it is less portable than some other models. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is more affordable and offers more storage space and a larger screen, but it is not as powerful, making it better suited for general use rather than intensive tasks. Also, the MacBook Pro has a longer battery life and a higher resolution screen but comes with MacOS, while the Inspiron comes with Windows 11 Home, which could affect your software compatibility preferences. 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 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
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 3511
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) provides a superior experience for general use with its more powerful CPU, vibrant Mini LED display with higher resolution and better color coverage, and its longer battery life; yet it compromises on storage capacity and RAM when compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3511. On the other hand, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 offers more storage and memory, it lags behind in screen quality, portability, and battery longevity, which are crucial for an overall smoother and more convenient everyday use.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.2/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a highly capable GPU and a high screen refresh rate, which makes it good for 3D work, whereas the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, with a less powerful GPU and a standard refresh rate, is rated fair for gaming and 3D tasks. Despite Apple's traditionally robust screen quality and the MacBook's better GPU, many popular games aren't available for MacOS, which limits its gaming potential compared to the Dell Inspiron, which runs Windows and has broader game compatibility.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.0/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is superior for engineering and design due to its more potent Apple M2 Pro CPU and GPU, which enable better performance in compute-intensive tasks, alongside a high-quality Mini LED screen with greater brightness and color accuracy, beneficial for detailed design work. While the Dell Inspiron 15 offers more RAM and a larger screen, its Intel i5 CPU and integrated GPU are less powerful, and its IPS display has lower brightness and color gamut, though it offers a better portability balance with somewhat lower keyboard, speaker, and overall build quality compared to the MacBook.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.5/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
8.4/10
7.3/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
6.0/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-resolution, bright display with superior panel technology, making text sharper and colors more vivid compared to the Dell Inspiron 15, whose display is adequate but not as striking or detailed. The MacBook Pro excels in engineering and design due to its wide color gamut coverage, offering precise color representation crucial for professional creative work, while the Dell Inspiron provides a respectable display that may not fully satisfy color-critical tasks. Lastly, for 3D applications, the MacBook Pro falls short with a lower refresh rate which could affect fluidity and smoothness, an area where gaming laptops typically offer higher refresh rates to enhance the visual experience, a feature that is not a strength of either the MacBook Pro or the Dell Inspiron.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$580
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 costs $580.
"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 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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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