A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 12, 2024·
Choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 involves significant trade-offs. The MacBook Pro typically costs more but brings superior performance for tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or gaming due to its more powerful graphics chip. It also boasts a higher quality display, longer battery life, and a lighter, more portable design, making it well-suited for on-the-go use and presentations. However, if affordability is a key factor and your main uses are general computing and productivity, the Inspiron 15 offers a larger screen and more built-in ports for connecting peripherals, though at the cost of heavier weight and shorter battery life. 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 3530
- The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.4
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M3 processor and Mini LED display, delivers strong performance and high screen quality suitable for both general use and demanding tasks, with portability enhanced by its light weight and long-lasting battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, equipped with an Intel i5 processor and more RAM, offers good capabilities for general use at a lower price point, though it has a less impressive IPS screen and shorter battery life, making it less portable and more suited for stationary use.
Engineering and Design
8.1
6.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
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 15 3530 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is well-suited for engineering and design due to its high-quality Mini LED screen, powerful Apple M3 CPU and GPU, and ample battery life, making it superior in CPU, RAM, GPU, and screen quality, which are very important factors. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 accommodates engineering tasks with its capable Intel i5 CPU and Iris Xe graphics, more RAM, and a decent IPS screen, but falls short on screen quality and battery life compared to the MacBook Pro, while it offers slightly more portability and a keyboard with a number pad that might be convenient for some engineering applications.
Content Creation
8.4
7.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 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
8.2
7.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 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 (Late 2023) 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
6.6
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
489.0 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 is renowned for its high resolution and brightness, along with its wide color gamuts, making it ideal for detailed engineering work and design where precise colors and clarity are key, but it may fall short for 3D applications due to a standard refresh rate. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, with its fair screen quality, offers a balanced resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks, but its color range might not be as rich for professional design work and the lower refresh rate is less optimal for immersive 3D experiences. Both laptops offer different strengths, with the MacBook Pro excelling in display for creatives who prioritize color accuracy and clarity, while the Dell's display meets basic needs without the premium enhancements for specialized applications.
Battery
17.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) 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
6.2
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) 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
$1,499
$722
$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 3530 costs $722.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.3
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
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 3530 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, equipped with its own 10-core GPU, delivers strong performance for 3D applications and has a high refresh rate display, making it good for such tasks, although gaming capability is limited as many popular games are incompatible with macOS. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers fair performance for gaming and 3D with its Intel Iris Xe graphics and similar high refresh rate screen, but falls short due to its less powerful GPU and lower overall screen quality.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) | Dell Inspiron 15 3530 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,499 | $722 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 14.1'' x 9.3'' x 0.65'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 3.64 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 14.11" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 9.25" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M3 | Intel i5-1335U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17 Hours | 6.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 41 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 220 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | No | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"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 (Late 2023) 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) vs. Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) vs. Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) vs. Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023)
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3530 vs. Acer Nitro 5 15
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3530 vs. Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Titanium Yoga
VS
Compare Dell Inspiron 15 3530 vs. Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,795
Recommendations made
22,273
Consumer hours saved
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.
Featured in
