If performance during intensive engineering tasks or content creation is critical for you, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 is an excellent option with higher build quality, and better screen colors and brightness, although it comes at a higher price. However, the Dell Inspiron 14 offers more RAM, which can be beneficial for multitasking, along with the familiar Windows operating system at a lower price point, and with sufficient capabilities for general use and some degree of engineering work. The MacBook Pro boasts a longer battery life and a more portable design, but with the Dell, you'll get more ports, including an HDMI and an Ethernet port, which could be convenient for connectivity. Keep in mind that neither is designed for intensive gaming. 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 (Late 2023)
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 5425
The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) stands out for general use due to its high-quality Mini LED screen, superb keyboard and speaker quality, and longer battery life, but with less RAM compared to the Dell Inspiron 14 5425, which offers more RAM, hence potentially better multitasking capability, with good portability and a reliable IPS screen suitable for daily tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is built with a powerful Apple M3 CPU and integrated GPU, providing excellent screen quality with high brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for engineering and design tasks that demand visual precision and processing power. The Dell Inspiron 14 5425, with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU and Vega 8 GPU, offers more RAM which benefits multitasking in engineering applications but has a more modest screen in comparison, balancing performance with a generally more affordable price point.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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
8.2/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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
6.3/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
279.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's screen offers high resolution and brightness, along with a wide color gamut, which delivers a crisp and vibrant display for general use and color-accurate work required by engineering and design professionals. However, it typically has a standard refresh rate, which makes it less suitable for 3D work where higher refresh rates can make a significant difference in visual smoothness. The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 provides an adequate display for everyday tasks and professional work within a more budget-friendly price, but it may not support the higher refresh rate needed for smooth gaming and 3D rendering, nor does it have the color range that high-end engineering and design tasks may require.
Battery
17.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has 12 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
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$479
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,499 and the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 costs $479.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Mini LED display, higher refresh rate, and Apple's own graphics processing unit (GPU), offers better screen quality and GPU performance suitable for 3D applications. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 14 5425, with an Integrated AMD GPU on the Ryzen processor, provides decent graphics capabilities for gaming, but with a standard refresh rate and IPS screen, its performance will be modest compared to the MacBook Pro, and the MacBook Pro's inability to run many popular games limits its gaming potential.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Dell Inspiron 14 5425 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Dell Inspiron 14 5425 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."
"A slim chassis, an acceptable weight (1.6 kg) and a real-world battery life of almost 13 hours turn the Inspiron into a mobile companion. Good: The battery can not only be charged using Dell's proprietary power adapter, but also with a universal USB-C power adapter (min. 45 watts). Office and Internet applications are handled by the built-in combination of Ryzen 5 5625U APU and 16 GB of RAM just as easily as modest computer games. Heat and noise development are generally okay, but the laptop should work a bit quieter under full load."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the Dell Inspiron 14 5425
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.