The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is ideal for demanding tasks, offering robust performance and a high-quality display, making it suitable for professionals in creative fields. However, it comes at a higher price and is less customizable than the Dell. The Dell Latitude 5431, on the other hand, is more cost-effective and might better serve business users with its range of ports and easy maintenance. If battery life and portability are priorities, consider the MacBook's reputed long battery life and lightweight design. For those who need a laptop for general use, prioritize a comfortable keyboard and durability, the Dell could be a more economical choice. Keep in mind the MacBook's ecosystem benefits if you use other Apple devices and services. 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 Latitude 5431
The Dell Latitude 5431 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) offers a superb Mini LED screen with higher resolution and color accuracy which is excellent for visuals, paired with an efficient M3 processor and a substantial battery life, making it a strong choice for demanding general use and media consumption on the go.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
6.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) excels in engineering and design with its high-performance Apple M3 CPU and integrated M3 GPU, supported by a stunning Mini LED screen that offers excellent screen quality with a high-resolution display. The Dell Latitude 5431, while not as impressive in display and GPU, appeals for its higher RAM capacity and Intel CPU, making it a viable engineering option, especially with its good portability and solid keyboard quality.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 Latitude 5431 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
7.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Latitude 5431 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
6.1/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5431 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro is recognized for its exceptional screen quality in general use and engineering due to its high-resolution retina display, which offers sharp visuals and a bright panel, coupled with wide color coverage that meets professional color gamut standards, ensuring accurate color reproduction for design tasks. However, its screen lacks the high refresh rates preferred for 3D work, which can limit its appeal to those in animation or gaming. Conversely, the Dell Latitude 5431 provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and engineering but falls behind in color accuracy and does not deliver the high refresh rates gamers or 3D designers seek.
Battery
17.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 5431 has 9 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
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Latitude 5431 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$950
$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 Latitude 5431 costs $950.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Dell Latitude 5431 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) excels in 3D tasks owing to its proprietary Apple M3 GPU and high refresh rate Mini LED display, whereas the Dell Latitude 5431, though it has a capable Intel Iris Xe graphics, is limited by its standard refresh rate IPS screen and might not offer the same smooth visuals.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Dell Latitude 5431 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the Dell Latitude 5431
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
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.