The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) offers robust performance, a high-resolution Mini LED display, long battery life, and is highly suited for general use and creative tasks such as video editing, due to its superior screen color accuracy and brightness. However, it comes at a higher price and may not be as suitable for engineering software that relies on Windows or high-end gaming.
In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 provides more storage, higher RAM, and is significantly less expensive while featuring a larger screen and a dedicated number pad. Its performance is adequate for general use and engineering, but it may not handle intense 3D rendering or machine learning tasks as smoothly as the MacBook Pro. The Inspiron's battery life is shorter, and while it may not deliver the same level of display quality, it is a cost-effective choice for Windows-based productivity and moderate gaming. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
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 16 5635
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
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 16 5635 is good.
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.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
6.6/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro's superior screen quality for general use and engineering stems from its high-resolution display and bright panel, which enhances clarity and detail. Additionally, its wide color gamut support offers excellent color accuracy essential for engineering and design tasks. Conversely, for 3D tasks, this MacBook Pro falls short due to its lower refresh rate, which is less optimal for rapid motion rendering compared to displays with higher refresh rates.
Battery
17.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has 8 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
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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 16 5635 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$735
$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 16 5635 costs $735.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 are both very good for general use.
The Dell Inspiron 16 5635 delivers very good performance for general use, with double the RAM of the MacBook Pro 14, which supports multitasking and more demanding workloads, a larger but heavier form factor that might not be as portable, and with Windows it offers a broad compatibility with software. The MacBook Pro, while good for general use, offers a higher quality display with its Mini LED panel and better portability due to its lower weight and superior battery life, but it comes with a higher price tag, and the MacOS can be a limitation if you rely on Windows-specific software.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.3/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Dell Inspiron 16 5635 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high-refresh Mini LED screen and built-in 10-core GPU, offers impressive 3D capabilities. However, the Dell Inspiron 16, sporting a capable Vega 8 GPU and a standard-refresh IPS screen, provides decent gaming and 3D performance, but keep in mind that the MacBook's MacOS might not support many popular games available on Windows-based systems like the Dell.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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
7.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Dell Inspiron 16 5635 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."
"Compared to the previous year’s Inspiron, Dell upgraded the screen aspect ratio on this generation, but also transitioned to a more minimalistic centered keyboard flanked by up-firing speakers. The 16-inch screen is huge plus and I really appreciate the extra real estate without sacrificing the footprint much. This year’s model is a little larger than last, though, as the former model was already very small for a 15 incher."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the Dell Inspiron 16 5635
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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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.
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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.