For performance in general use, 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering tasks, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 shines, and it offers high-quality screen colors, which might be critical for visual work or entertainment. Despite its top-notch build quality and performance, this laptop is less portable due to its weight and size. Conversely, the Dell Inspiron 14 offers a greater degree of portability and is more cost-effective, though it doesn't match the MacBook Pro's performance or screen quality. It's suited for users whose main requirements are general productivity, web browsing, and media consumption, and it is also a good fit for those who prioritize a touch screen. 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 (Late 2023)
Very good 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 14 7420
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.8/10
7.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) provides exceptional performance with a high-quality screen and long battery life, making it excellent for general use, but also heavier and less portable than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 which is lighter and offers good general performance with the added versatility of being a 2-in-1 convertible, though with a shorter battery life and lower screen quality.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 with its higher-end GPU and superior screen refresh rate excels in 3D tasks, providing smoother visuals and more graphic processing power than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420, which has a modest GPU and standard refresh rate; however, the Inspiron's compatibility with a wider variety of games due to its Windows operating system is a crucial advantage for gaming.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
6.9/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) stands out for engineering and design tasks with a robust CPU and GPU combination, more RAM, and superior screen quality that displays more colors accurately, making it very good for these purposes. In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420, while offering good performance with a capable CPU and graphics, falls short in screen quality and color accuracy, yet it is lighter and may be more portable for some users.
Content Creation
8.9/10
7.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 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
6.2/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
260.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers an exceptional display with high resolution and brightness, coupled with large color gamuts, providing vivid and accurate colors for tasks like engineering and design; however, its lower refresh rate limits its functionality for high-frame-rate 3D applications. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 provides adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and is suitable for engineering and design work, but it falls short for gaming and 3D due to fair color reproduction and lower refresh rates. Both laptops are geared towards productivity, but for the best image and color quality, the MacBook Pro excels, while the Dell offers a functional screen for general use at possibly a lower price point, but enthusiasts in 3D or gaming may need to look elsewhere.
Battery
17.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has 7.5 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$801
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has a price of $2,499 and the Dell Inspiron 14 7420 costs $801.
"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."
"Notable qualities of the Inspiron 7420 2-in-1 include the 16:10 aspect ratio, strong hinges, 12th gen Intel CPU with optional GeForce MX graphics, and easy serviceability. Such features would typically cost hundreds of dollars more on higher-end alternatives from competing manufacturers. The value proposition is therefore relatively high for users looking to maximize bang for the buck."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the Dell Inspiron 14 7420
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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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