If you prioritize high performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering tasks, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) would be a superior choice, as it has a powerful M1 Pro processor and a high-quality mini LED screen. The MacBook also offers better battery life and a higher-resolution display than the Dell Latitude 5431. However, it comes at a higher price and is less portable due to its larger size and weight. On the other hand, the Dell Latitude 5431 is more affordable, lighter, and offers a more traditional Windows environment, which may be important for compatibility with certain software. The performance is adequate for general use and some engineering tasks, but it may not handle intensive gaming or heavy 3D tasks as effectively as the MacBook. 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 Latitude 5431
The Dell Latitude 5431 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) surpasses the Dell Latitude 5431 in CPU and RAM capacity, screen resolution and quality, and battery life, which are very important aspects for general use, providing a more powerful and visually striking experience with longer unplugged usage.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.2/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is better for 3D applications because it has a more powerful dedicated GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which provides a smoother visual experience, though it is limited by the range of popular games that can run on macOS.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in engineering and design due to its powerful M1 Pro processor, plentiful RAM, and high-performance GPU, complemented by an expansive high-resolution Mini LED display. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5431 offers modest capabilities with an Intel processor, less RAM, and integrated graphics, alongside a standard full HD IPS screen, making it less suited but still competent for engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.4/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
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 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
8.9/10
7.3/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
9.4/10
6.1/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
241.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 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 16 has an exceptional display that offers high resolution and brightness, which makes it excellent for general use such as browsing, watching videos, and working with documents. Its screen also covers a wide range of colors, making it suitable for engineering and design work where color fidelity is crucial. However, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is essential for smooth visuals in 3D applications and gaming, hence it doesn't excel in those areas. The Dell Latitude 5431 offers reasonable resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and standard engineering and design work, but falls short for gaming and 3D due to its limited color range and lower refresh rate.
Battery
17.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
$1,949
$950
$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 Latitude 5431 costs $950.
"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 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.
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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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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.