If you prioritize a larger screen and potentially better build quality, the MacBook Pro 16 is a solid choice, although it may have less flexibility in software compatibility compared to the Dell. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 offers more portability due to its smaller size and possibly better battery life. It may also be superior if you need to use specialized software only available on Windows. If your work involves processor or graphics-intensive tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, or gaming, the MacBook Pro may perform better, while for general usage, either will suffice, with the Dell potentially being a more cost-effective option. 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 16 (Late 2019)
Good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
Very good portability
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
6.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) stands out for engineering and design due to its high-quality display with excellent color accuracy and strong CPU and GPU capable of handling demanding tasks, although it's heavier and slightly less portable. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has a good balance of power with its latest generation CPU and integrated graphics for less intensive engineering work, and it's more portable, but has a screen that's less vibrant and bright compared to the MacBook Pro.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.3/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
7.9/10
7.3/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
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
7.8/10
6.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and color accuracy, delivering an immersive experience for general use and precision for engineering and design tasks due to its wide color gamuts. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420, with a lower resolution and brightness, provides a satisfactory but less impressive display for general activities and lacks the color depth needed for professional design work. Neither is well-suited for 3D endeavors, as they both fall short on the high refresh rates critical for smooth rendering of 3D graphics and fast-paced visuals.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 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
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$801
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 costs $801.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is well-suited for general use with its powerful Intel i7 processor, dedicated AMD graphics, large high-resolution display, and significant battery life, offering strong performance and screen quality, but it is less portable due to its size and weight. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 also provides solid general performance with the same amount of RAM and storage, a capable Intel i7 processor with integrated graphics, and a smaller yet sharp touchscreen display, making it more portable while having a shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.2/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
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 16 (Late 2019) and Dell Inspiron 14 7420 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) provides a moderate experience for 3D applications because it has a dedicated AMD Radeon Pro GPU, which is more powerful than the integrated graphics in many laptops, but it falls short for gaming as many popular games don't run on macOS. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 also offers a fair performance for gaming and 3D due to its integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, which can handle lighter gaming and 3D tasks but won't perform as well as laptops with dedicated GPUs.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"Notable qualities of the Inspiron 7420 2-in-1 include the 16:10 aspect ratio, strong hinges, 12th gen Intel CPU with optional GeForce MX graphics, and easy serviceability. Such features would typically cost hundreds of dollars more on higher-end alternatives from competing manufacturers. The value proposition is therefore relatively high for users looking to maximize bang for the buck."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
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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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
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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