The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) offers a high level of performance suitable for demanding tasks like video editing or 3D modeling, thanks to its advanced processor and graphics, and it features a high-resolution Mini LED screen for outstanding visual clarity. Its battery life is excellent, making it a good option for those who need to work on the go without frequent charging, and it runs on MacOS, which might be preferred for certain creative professions. However, its high cost reflects these premium features, and it is heavier, which impacts portability.
On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 offers commendable performance at a more affordable price point, making it an attractive option for general use and lighter productivity tasks. It has an IPS screen with a lower resolution, which is adequate for everyday activities. It is lighter, enhancing portability, and runs on Windows 11 Pro, which might be important if you rely on specific Windows applications. However, its battery life and overall performance may not match the MacBook Pro, which could be a limitation if you often perform intensive tasks or prefer extended unplugged work sessions. 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 16 5625
The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.8/10
7.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
265.0 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 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its more powerful processor and higher RAM, excels for general use thanks to its superior screen quality and longer battery life; however, it is less portable due to its weight. On the other hand, the Dell Inspiron 16 5625, while having a less powerful CPU and lower RAM, is lighter, making it more portable, with good screen quality and quieter operation, but falls short on battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.2/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
7.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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 16 5625 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its high-resolution Mini LED screen, more powerful CPU and GPU, and larger RAM, offers better performance and screen quality for engineering and design tasks compared to the Dell Inspiron 16 5625, which has a standard IPS display and less capable processing hardware but might be more portable and quieter during operation due to lower weight and silent fanless cooling.
Content Creation
8.9/10
7.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
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 16 5625 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
7.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.8/10
18.0 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 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
265.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's display offers high resolution and brightness, alongside a wide color gamut that brings out vibrant and accurate colors, making it excellent for general use and engineering/design tasks. However, its typical refresh rate is lower than what's preferred for 3D applications where smoother motion is critical. The Dell Inspiron 16 has a decent display for everyday tasks and design work, but the lower quality panel, reduced color coverage, and standard refresh rate limit its effectiveness for gaming and 3D content where high refresh rates and superior color representation are crucial.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Dell Inspiron 16 5625 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 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Inspiron 16 5625 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$800
$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 16 5625 costs $800.
"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."
"I think there is fair value in the Inspiron 16 this year. Very little has changed with the laptop and my opinion hasn’t really changed either. In other words, I like it. Overall, I think the pros far outweigh the cons of this laptop and the price is certainly justifiable. I found this to be a great typer and I could potentially work all day on this machine, provided I don’t need a graphics card."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the Dell Inspiron 16 5625
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
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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.