Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 vs Dell XPS 14 (9440)
Apple's MacBook Pro 14" M4 establishes clear superiority with its Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display delivering 1600 nits brightness and 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate, vastly outpacing the Dell's modest 500-nit IPS panel. Performance-wise, both handle professional workloads admirably, though the M4's unified 16GB architecture and optimized macOS integration excel for creative tasks, while the Intel Core Ultra 7 155H offers stronger multi-threaded performance for specific Windows applications. Battery life heavily favors Apple at 24 hours versus Dell's 12 hours, making the MacBook substantially more practical for mobile professionals. Dell's expandable storage and marginally larger 14.5" display provide minor advantages, but these don't offset the M4's superior display technology and battery endurance. At just $100 more, the MacBook Pro 14" M4 delivers exceptional value for demanding users prioritizing display quality and battery longevity.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 | Dell XPS 14 (9440) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.55 kg | 1.74 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC aluminum and carbon fiber |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 320.0 x 215.5 x 18.0 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 3 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours wireless web | Up to 12 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 69.5 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 14.5 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4
Pros
- 16 GB base RAM at no extra cost
- Excellent battery life up to 24 hours
- Mini-LED ProMotion display in entry MacBook Pro
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus HDMI and SD
- Quiet, efficient operation under typical load
Cons
- M4 lacks the GPU power of Pro/Max chips
- Storage upgrades remain expensive
- Only two external displays supported on M4
- Design unchanged from previous generation
Dell XPS 14 (9440)
Pros
- Striking minimalist CNC aluminum design
- Optional 3.2K OLED touch display
- Optional discrete RTX 4050 GPU
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus microSD
- Excellent quad speaker setup
Cons
- No USB-A or HDMI ports
- Capacitive function row lacks tactile feedback
- Seamless haptic touchpad has no visible borders
- Battery life below class-leading ultrabooks
- Premium price for the base configuration
Related Comparisons
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