If portability is a priority and you require high performance for tasks such as video editing or 3D modeling, the Apple MacBook Pro is an excellent choice with its premium build and powerful hardware, but it comes at a higher cost. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 15 offers a more budget-friendly option with respectable performance for everyday tasks like browsing, office applications, and media consumption, albeit in a less portable design with a shorter battery life. Consider the MacBook Pro for demanding professional work and the Dell for general use where cost and value are significant concerns. 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 15 3511
The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.8/10
7.6/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its powerful CPU, more RAM, and superior mini LED screen, is better suited for tasks that demand high performance and visual quality, alongside its longer battery life and better portability. Meanwhile, the Dell Inspiron 15 offers a larger storage capacity, and its adequate CPU and RAM make it a competent choice for general use where affordability and less intensive tasks are a focus.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is superior for 3D applications due to its powerful Apple M3 Pro GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 120 Hz, which allows for smoother motion and better rendering of 3D graphics; additionally, many popular games are incompatible with the MacBook's operating system.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
7.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its high-resolution Mini LED display, advanced Apple M3 Pro CPU and GPU, and high battery capacity, excels in screen quality and performance for demanding engineering and design tasks. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15 3511, while offering more storage and RAM, falls behind with its lower-tier Intel CPU and GPU, and standard IPS display, which makes it less suitable for intensive applications but more affordable for casual or less resource-intensive uses.
Content Creation
8.9/10
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
4.9/10
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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
6.0/10
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
230.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its high-resolution display and bright panel, offers a superior visual experience for general use and engineering/design tasks, where color accuracy is critical. In contrast, the Dell Inspiron 15's screen, while adequate for everyday tasks and basic design work, may not provide the vibrancy and sharpness that the MacBook's display does. However, for 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial, neither laptop excels, as they are optimized for other uses rather than the fast refresh rates preferred for 3D rendering and gaming.
Battery
17.5 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 15 3511 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 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 15 3511 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$580
$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 15 3511 costs $580.
"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."
"The Dell Inspiron 15 3000 (3511) is a solid, if unremarkable, 15-inch budget laptop. It improves on many of the issues we had with the previous 3505 model, and with the inclusion of Windows 11, the 3511 is already a step above its competition. The lack of a USB-C port, the subpar speakers, and the dim display are drawbacks to factor in, but it's still one of the better 15-inch budget laptops on the market, especially when you consider it's under $400."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the Dell Inspiron 15 3511
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
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