Zeke Jones / Digital Trends
Apple has been squeeze impossibly strong performance out of the14 - inch MacBook Profor years now . All the while , I ’ve been wondering if a right Windows alternative could ever really exist — a laptop computer that ’s as premium and compendious as it is potent .
TheDell XPS 14certainly seems like as suitable a rival as I ’ve add up across yet . Having review and examine both political machine myself , I have a jolly good idea where their intensity and weakness lie — and which is the better choice for most possible buyer .
Zeke Jones / Digital Trends
Specs and configurations
These are both supremely expensive laptops . The MacBook Pro technically has a cheaper starting price of $ 1,599 , though it comes with just an M3 chip ( 8 - core CPU , 10 - core GPU ) , 8 GB of RAM , and 512 GB of storage . Dell ’s $ 1,699 startle price include 16 GB of RAM . If you want 16 GB for your MacBook Pro , that ’ll be you an special $ 200 .
While it might seem like the XPS 14 is slimly cheaper , the remainder in displays is notable . Even the base configuration of the MacBook Pro comes with the same mini - LED XDR panel , while the XPS 14 has two dissimilar options : the 1200p IPS and the 3.2 K OLED . Neither screen door equate apples to apple with the MacBook Pro screen , but the OLED choice is the unaired comparability . To upgrade to OLED , Dell charge $ 300 , while the MacBook Pro ’s better screen door issue forth origin .
The one turn of pricing that Dell has on its side is storage . Dell charges much less to upgrade — only $ 100 to get bumped to 1 TB or $ 300 to get to 2 TB . Apple ’s outrageous storage costs think if you really project to max out your laptop computer , the XPS 14 is survive to end up being trashy .
Design
The XPS 14 and MacBook Pro are two of the more well - made and mod laptop computer ever produced . But as the newfangled design , the XPS 14 is the real standout . Rather than follow the design trends of the influential MacBook Pro , the XPS 14 sets its own path , using sharper Angle and straighter business line across the chassis . We all know what the MacBook Pro looks like , but it ’s deserving observe how dissimilar these two laptop computer are . The MacBook Pro emphasizes gentle bender and rounded corner , whether that ’s on the lid , the keycaps , or even the filmdom itself .
But open up the XPS 14 , and you ’ll see its keyboard and trackpad , which is where the laptop computer really gets unparalleled . It has a unseamed haptic feedback trackpad , meaning it ’s entirely inconspicuous . The touchpad itself is marvellous , using the same character of motorized haptics as the MacBook Pro . The quality of it is fantastic , and it ’s just as wide as the MacBook Pro ’s .
The keyboard , however , is where things diverge even further . The look of these keyboard could n’t be further apart , heighten by the XPS 14 ’s use of capacitive tinge button in place of a normal function run-in of keys . As bully as the cutaneous senses buttons expect , most hoi polloi ( including myself ) will prefer physical paint . On the other hand , I adore the minimalist look of the XPS 14 ’s zero - lattice keys , while both keyboard are cracking to type on .
Both laptops are incredibly well - built . You ’ll be hard - press out to retrieve a weak blot in either laptop , with lilliputian in the way of life of creak or flex .
Ports and expandability
The MacBook Pro has a better survival of the fittest of ports than the Dell XPS 14 . They both have three Thunderbolt ports and a earpiece jack , but the MacBook Pro adds HDMI 2.1 and a full - sizing SD wit slot .
The Dell XPS 14 only has a microSD scorecard slot , which is too risky . There are role cases for microSD , but for the consultation these laptops are target toward , a full - size Mount Rushmore State visiting card time slot is the honest pick . It ’s made more frustrative since the XPS 15 ( the laptop the XPS 14 replaced ) had a full - size SD card time slot .
It ’s a similar write up with upgradability . Neither laptop is user - upgradable , intend the RAM and storage are solder on in both cause . But again , the frustration comes because the XPS 15 used to be one of thebest upgradable laptop you could buy , and now its replacement has forfeited that call to fame .
Performance
The XPS 14 apply Intel ’s latestMeteor LakeCPUs , include the Core Ultra 7 155H and 165H that pop the question 16 cores ( six carrying into action and eight Efficient ) and 22 threads while run at slightly dissimilar clock speeds . That give way up against the MacBook Pro 14 , with a choice between M3 , M3 Pro , and M3 Max CPUs . We try out the M3 Max with 16 central processing unit cores and 40 GPU core , the top - of - the - line chipset available for the MacBook Pro . We ’ve also tested the M3 , though it was in the iMac .
So , we do n’t know exactly which of Apple ’s many M3 configuration is the closest in performance to the XPS 14 . With the M3 , the XPS 14 is behind in single - core performance , but slightly ahead in multi - core performance . The M3 Pro and M3 Max scarper round around the XPS 14 in condition of CPU performance .
Of course , it ’s the graphics where things get interesting . After all , this is the first laptop computer this concordat that Dell has had with discrete graphic . As evidence in the GPU tryout in Cinebench R24 , you could see where the RTX 4050 lands against the MacBook Pro . I also tested the machines in PugetBench in Adobe Premiere , showing how these laptops do in video editing .
It should be remark that there are Windows laptops with an RTX 4050 , such as the thickerLenovo Slim Pro 9i , that compare a number more favourably against the MacBook Pro in terms of GPU carrying into action . The XPS 14 more strongly favors quieter , cooler operation . While the devotee can certainly gyrate up , the surface temperatures on the XPS 14 continue unco cool to the touch on the keyboard and medallion repose .
Display
The XPS 14 comes with two display option : a 14.5 - inch FHD+ IPS panel running at up to 120Hz and a 3.2 K OLED display at up to 120Hz . The former will enable better assault and battery life , while the latter will provide OLED ’s common inky blacks and spectacular color . In my testing , the XPS 14 uses a particularly honorable OLED control panel , with some of the best out - of - the - box color truth I ’ve escort on a laptop ( a Delta - eastward of 0.5 ) . The SDR luminosity tops out well under 400 nit , though it ’s licence at DisplayHDR 500 , meaning it has some decent HDR carrying into action .
The MacBook Pro 14 comes with just a exclusive display option , a 14.2 - inch mini - LED XDR board that offers unbelievable brightness both in standard active reach ( SDR ) at up to 600 nit and mellow dynamic range ( HDR ) at up to a fulgent 1,600 nits . In our examination , the display pop the question wide , accurate people of colour and thick contrast that rival OLED and it offers even good HDR performance .
Comparing the two , the XPS 14 has good gloss accuracy , while the MacBook Pro 14 is considerably brighter . Both are similarly acute , while the inky-black blacks of OLED mean significantly better contrast on the XPS 14 .
The only existent difference is that Apple proffer its mini - precede display at a cheap price , as Dell charges $ 300 to advance to OLED from its more conventional IPS jury .
Speakers and webcam
The MacBook Pro 14 has six speaker with force - scrub woofer pumping out the best sound you ’ll ever find on a laptop computer of this size . There ’s bass , a wide of the mark soundstage , and a surprising amount of clear intensity .
The XPS 14 has quadruplet loudspeaker with Waves MaxxAudio Pro tuning , and unfortunately , they do n’t arrive nigh to competing with the MacBook Pro in audio lineament . The two upward - firing speakers are becoming , but I do n’t like the to a fault tight tuning , which is specially detectable in euphony . The freshwater bass is lacking too .
Both the MacBook Pro and Dell XPS 14 come with a 1080p webcam , though on this front , I choose the XPS 14 ’s solvent . The image quality appear a bit more innate and less refined . Considering that the XPS 14 squeezes its camera mental faculty into that petite top bezel above the display makes it even more impressive .
The XPS 14 has an infrared tv camera that sustain Windows 11 Hello facial realisation and a fingerprint reader in the power button . The MacBook Pro 14 has a Touch ID sensor in its power release .
Portability and battery life
You ’ll feel both in your backpack more than you would 13 - inch machine , but for certain a lot less than with their 16 - inch equivalents .
But portability is about more than heaviness and weight . Battery life-time also matters , and the MacBook Pro 14 put up significantly better battery spirit — around double in many of the tests I ’ve play . Apple ’s M3 chips are implausibly efficient , and the MacBook Pro 14 will last you a full day and keep choke into the follow day as well . While the XPS 14 put up seemly shelling life , especially considering the resolution of the covert ( and the inclusion body of a discrete GPU ) , it ’ll only last you around 5 hours of piece of work clock time , depending on the consignment . In very unaccented web browsing , you may manage around eight - and - a - half hours , but the MacBook Pro get over 19 . I ca n’t overemphasize just how cock-a-hoop of a difference there is here .
The XPS 14 is fighting an uphill battle
When it comes down to it , the MacBook Pro is the better overall product for the money . It ’s more well - rounded in its features , proffer better embrasure selection , a brighter screen , importantly better speakers , and a more user - friendly keyboard .
Which laptop computer you really opt to buy comes down to more than just the character of the product in a silo , especially when both equipment are this mellow in quality . After all , most people ’s decisions will be made by adhering to a certain ecosystem of products or familiarity with an operating system . You wo n’t go wrong with either , and opt the product based on those argument is totally fair .
However , the XPS 14 just ca n’t contend with the electric battery spirit of the MacBook Pro , and there ’s no getting around that . It also ca n’t rival the amount of execution Apple is able-bodied to pack into this form cistron , whether we ’re speak the M3 Pro or the M3 Max constellation . The XPS 14 just does n’t descale up that far . Throw in things like AirDrop , SharePlay , iMessage , and iCloud — and it lend up to a compelling purchase for iPhone owner too .
On the other hand , the XPS 14 has weapons platform advantage too , whether that ’s the touchscreen , the IR camera , or the microcomputer gaming political program . If you desire to spend more of your time gaming , the XPS 14 is the obvious winner . It ’s also the best - depend laptop in my opinion , though your mileage may vary . Meanwhile , if you ’re more on the content creation and video redaction side , the MacBook Pro is going to give you more bang for your Pearl Buck in term of public presentation .
