The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers high performance and a premium build, making it well-suited for tasks like video editing, music production, and software development, but at a higher cost and with an ecosystem limited to macOS software. Its Retina display is exceptional for visual tasks. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is more budget-friendly and runs Windows, offering wider compatibility with a variety of software useful for general usage and certain engineering applications. However, its performance may not match the MacBook, especially for graphics-intensive tasks. Both have good battery life, but the MacBook Pro typically leads. The Dell Inspiron, being lighter, provides better portability. Your choice depends on your budget, the specific software you need, and your performance requirements. 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
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 16 5630
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
8.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in performance for general use due to its powerful M1 Pro processor, abundant RAM, and a high-quality Mini LED screen with a long battery life, but it is heavier and more expensive, affecting its portability.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.7/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in engineering and design due to its powerful Apple M1 Pro chip with a 16-core GPU, double the memory, and superior screen quality, which is crucial for high-fidelity visuals and performance-intensive tasks. In comparison, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 offers a high-quality display and capable processing power with its Intel i7 and Iris Xe graphics, it has half the memory and a less powerful GPU, making it slightly less adept for more demanding engineering applications.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.1/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Dell Inspiron 16 5630 are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
7.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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
6.8/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a high-resolution display with a panel that delivers deep colors and high brightness, making images and text look crisp and vibrant for everyday tasks, and its wide color gamut is excellent for precision in engineering and design work. However, its screen has a standard refresh rate, which is less suitable for 3D applications where smoother motion and quicker refreshes are key. The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 also has a good quality display for daily activities and adequate color representation for creative work, but its gaming and 3D performance is hampered by a lower refresh rate and limited color range compared to screens designed for those purposes.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$849
$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 16 5630 costs $849.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is equipped with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, making it well-suited for 3D work, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 has a capable but comparatively less powerful GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, fitting for gaming where high refresh rates are not as critical.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 16 5630 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Dell Inspiron 16 5630 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Dell Inspiron 16 5630
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.