The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) offers robust performance, a high-resolution mini-LED screen, longer battery life, and high-quality build, suitable for demanding tasks like 3D rendering and machine learning. However, it's less portable due to its size and weight and carries a premium price. The Dell Latitude 5431 is more affordable and lighter, making it more portable, with good general-use performance for business applications. It has a standard IPS screen with a lower resolution suited to everyday tasks. Making your choice depends on balancing the need for high-end performance and screen quality for intensive tasks against budget considerations and the need for a lighter, more portable device for casual use or business applications. 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 (2023)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent 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 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
9.1/10
7.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 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 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in general use due to its top-rated CPU and RAM, superior screen quality, and best keyboard and speaker quality, despite being less portable and having a higher weight than the Dell Latitude 5431. On the other hand, the Dell Latitude 5431, while scoring good in CPU and RAM and very good in keyboard quality, trails behind in screen quality and speaker quality; however, it offers better portability and excellent heat management, making it a solid choice for users who prioritize mobility and thermal efficiency.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.2/10
5.8/10
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 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is better suited for 3D applications because it has a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth graphics and animations. However, the Dell Latitude 5431 running Windows has broader compatibility with popular games, but its integrated GPU and lower screen refresh rate make it less ideal for demanding gaming or 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
6.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 5431 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in engineering and design tasks due to its powerful Apple M2 Pro CPU paired with ample RAM and a robust GPU, complemented by a high-quality Mini LED screen that offers exceptional color accuracy and brightness. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5431, while still capable for engineering and design due to its competent Intel CPU, suitable RAM, and integrated Intel Iris Xe graphics, is hampered by a lower resolution IPS screen with less color coverage, making it less optimal for tasks requiring precise color work.
Content Creation
9.1/10
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent 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
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 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 (2023) 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
9.3/10
6.1/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 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, with its superior resolution and panel type, offers a vivid and sharp display that greatly benefits general use and provides wide color gamuts essential for engineering and design tasks. However, it lacks a high refresh rate which is crucial for smooth 3D rendering. The Dell Latitude 5431 offers decent resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and fair color reproduction for design work but falls short in gaming and 3D due to its lower refresh rate and less impressive color gamuts.
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 (2023) 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
$2,423
$950
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,423 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 (2023) 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.
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.