If you're looking for superior performance, particularly in graphics-intensive tasks like video editing or 3D design, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers high-end processing and a superior display quality. However, it comes at a higher cost. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is more affordable and can handle everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and media consumption well but might struggle with more demanding applications. The MacBook Pro also usually offers better build quality and battery life, whereas the Inspiron is more cost-effective and easily upgradeable. For portability, the MacBook Pro is heavier and less easily transported than the lighter Inspiron. If your work requires a lot of travel or if budget is a primary concern, the Inspiron would be the practical choice, but if you're a professional needing high-end performance and more robust features, the MacBook Pro could be worth the investment. 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 3530
The Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.4/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
220.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a more powerful CPU, more RAM, and a superior display with higher resolution and brightness, contributing to its very good rating for general use; furthermore, its larger battery supports longer unplugged use, although it's less portable due to higher weight. The Dell Inspiron 15 3530, while lighter and thus more portable, has lower screen quality and less effective battery life, but it's still rated as good for general use due to its decent CPU and ample RAM for everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.3/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
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 3530 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with a high-quality GPU and exceptional screen quality, which provide an enhanced 3D experience, but its screen refresh rate and the fact that many popular games do not run on macOS can limit its gaming potential. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 has a moderate GPU and screen refresh rate that can handle gaming and 3D tasks adequately, but it may not offer the same level of performance or visual fidelity as the MacBook.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) outshines the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 in engineering and design due to its more robust CPU and GPU, greater RAM capacity, and superior screen quality, which is especially important for tasks that require high-fidelity visuals and fast processing.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.3/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
8.9/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 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
9.4/10
6.6/10
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
220.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 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 16 (2021) has a high-resolution display with excellent brightness levels and color accuracy, providing vibrant and sharp visuals that are crucial for general use and engineering/design tasks which require precise colors. It lacks a high refresh rate that's essential for smooth visuals in 3D applications. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3530 offers a fair display quality which may suffice for everyday general use and some entry-level engineering tasks, but it doesn’t offer the color fidelity for high-end design work nor the high refresh rate for optimal 3D or gaming experiences.
Battery
17.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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.
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 3530 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$722
$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 3530 costs $722.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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.
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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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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