When considering the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3525, keep in mind the following tradeoffs: The MacBook Pro offers higher performance for intensive tasks like engineering and 3D or machine learning applications, superior build quality, louder and clearer speakers, better heat management, and a longer battery life, which makes it suitable for users who need to run demanding software and prefer a longer time away from the charger. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron is generally more budget-friendly and comes with a touch screen, which may appeal to those who prioritize cost savings and touchscreen interaction. Its larger screen can be a plus for those who prefer a more spacious display. However, the Inspiron has a shorter battery life, and it doesn't perform as well as the MacBook Pro for high-demand tasks, nor does it offer the same level of build quality or speaker performance. If ultimate portability is a concern, both laptops are relatively similar in weight, though the MacBook has slightly higher portability due to its more compact size. 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
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) offers superior performance due to its custom Apple M3 chip and exceptional screen quality with high brightness and color accuracy, complemented by a more portable design and longer battery life, which makes it well-suited for general use even on the move.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.0/10
4.5/10
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 (Late 2023) and Dell Inspiron 15 3525 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is equipped with a higher-end GPU and a faster screen refresh rate, which are crucial for smoother visuals in 3D applications; however, since many popular games are incompatible with macOS, its gaming potential is restricted. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 has a moderate GPU and standard screen refresh rate, making it adequate for gaming and 3D tasks on Windows, which supports a broader range of games.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
6.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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
6.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 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 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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
6.3/10
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
259.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a display with high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for general use, and its wide color gamut ensures accurate colors crucial for engineering and design but it lacks the high refresh rate needed for optimal 3D experiences. The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 offers a fair display for general tasks and sufficient for design work, but its screen falls short for gaming and 3D due to its lower refresh rate. Overall, the MacBook Pro excels in display quality for professionals, while the Inspiron is adequate for everyday tasks with some limitations in high-end visual applications.
Battery
17.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 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 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3525 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$400
$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 15 3525 costs $400.
"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. Many of its slightly higher-end rivals have to be on sale (and frequently are) to match it on price, but the Inspiron 15 (3525) is outclassed even by some similarly priced options, making it a difficult recommendation."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3525
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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