Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro vs Dell XPS 15 (2023)
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro and Dell's XPS 15 serve different user priorities. Apple delivers superior display technology with its 120Hz Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED offering 1600 nits brightness, exceptional for creative work, while Dell counters with a larger 15.6-inch OLED panel at 3456x2160 resolution, ideal for content consumption. Performance heavily favors the M3 Pro's unified architecture with 18-core GPU versus Intel's 13700H, translating to faster video editing and compilation tasks. Battery life noticeably advantages the MacBook at 17 hours versus Dell's 13 hours. Dell costs $500 less and offers expandable storage plus HDMI connectivity. Weight slightly favors Apple at 1.61kg versus 1.92kg. For professional creators prioritizing performance and display excellence, the MacBook Pro wins; budget-conscious users needing larger screens should choose the XPS 15.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro if…
- →M3 Pro with 3nm process delivers 20% faster CPU than M2 Pro
- →Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- →18 GB unified memory is a welcome base RAM increase over M2 Pro
Buy the Dell XPS 15 (2023) if…
- →Gorgeous 3.5K OLED display with perfect blacks and vivid colors
- →86 Wh battery provides solid all-day battery life
- →13th-gen H-series processor with strong sustained performance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro
Pros
- M3 Pro with 3nm process delivers 20% faster CPU than M2 Pro
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- 18 GB unified memory is a welcome base RAM increase over M2 Pro
- 17-hour battery life is outstanding for a pro laptop
- Excellent port selection with HDMI, SD card reader, and MagSafe
Cons
- $1999 starting price is steep for the base configuration
- 512 GB base SSD may fill quickly for creative professionals
- 1.61 kg is noticeably heavier than the MacBook Air
- Notch on display can interfere with certain menu bar apps
- macOS limits gaming compared to Windows laptops
Dell XPS 15 (2023)
Pros
- Gorgeous 3.5K OLED display with perfect blacks and vivid colors
- 86 Wh battery provides solid all-day battery life
- 13th-gen H-series processor with strong sustained performance
- SD card reader is a welcome inclusion for photographers
- Compact footprint for a 15.6-inch laptop
Cons
- No USB-A or HDMI ports — USB-C/Thunderbolt only
- Discrete GPU (RTX 4050/4060) models are significantly more expensive
- 4.23 lbs is heavier than many 15-inch competitors
- OLED display limited to 60Hz — no high-refresh option
- Palmrest can get warm during extended CPU-heavy tasks
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 Pro | Dell XPS 15 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sonoma | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.61 kg | 4.23 lbs (1.92 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC machined aluminum |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 13.56 x 9.06 x 0.73 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 17 hours wireless web | Up to 13 hours |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 86 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | OLED anti-reflective |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 3456 x 2160 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe (configurable to 4 TB) | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 18 GB unified | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU | 14 cores (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 Pro | Intel Core i7-13700H (13th Gen) |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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