The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is in an upper midrange price tier and offers higher storage and more RAM, a powerful Apple M1 Pro processor, and a larger battery compared to the Dell Inspiron 15 3520, which is a budget model with less storage and RAM, and an Intel i3 processor. The MacBook Pro has a Mini LED display with higher brightness and resolution, suitable for intensive tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning, whereas the Inspiron uses an IPS panel with lower resolution and brightness, more suited to general use. The MacBook Pro is heavier, less portable, but with longer battery life, while the Inspiron is lighter and easier to carry but with shorter battery life. The MacBook Pro also has a better build quality, speaker, keyboard, and significantly better performance across all sectors—general, engineering, and 3D/machine learning. If performance and high-quality display are priorities and cost is less of an issue, the MacBook Pro is suitable, but for cost-sensitive buyers who need a laptop for everyday tasks, the Dell Inspiron is sufficient. 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 (2021)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
6.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) outshines the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use due to its significantly higher performance CPU and GPU, larger and faster RAM, superior screen quality with higher resolution and color accuracy, along with a much longer battery life. On the other hand, despite having a smaller storage capacity and less impressive screen, the Dell Inspiron offers a decent general use experience with the reliability of a solid CPU performance for less demanding tasks and a good keyboard, but it falls short with a shorter battery life and a display that's less vibrant compared to the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.0/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3456 x 2234
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 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in 3D tasks due to its strong GPU and high-quality Mini LED screen, but its operating system limits the range of available games. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520, while capable in gaming with the same screen refresh rate, is held back by a less powerful integrated GPU and lower screen resolution, making it fair for gaming and 3D but not outstanding.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.3/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
8.8/10
7.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
8.9/10
6.7/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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
9.4/10
6.8/10
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
259.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and a wide color gamut, which enhances overall viewing experience and color accuracy for engineering and design work, but its standard refresh rate lessens its appeal for 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 provides a display with adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and sufficient color range for casual engineering and design use, but its modest refresh rate and screen characteristics make it less ideal for gaming or 3D work where high frame rates are beneficial. Both laptops prioritize different aspects of screen quality, with the MacBook excelling in visual fidelity for general and professional use, while the Inspiron maintains a balance suitable for general use but falls short for specialized high-refresh-rate tasks.
Battery
17.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3520 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$346
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the Dell Inspiron 15 3520 costs $346.
"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."
"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. Plus, those alternatives are much more enjoyable after work."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3520
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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