Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro vs Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024)
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro and Dell's XPS 13 Plus serve different needs. MacBook Pro excels with a stunning 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display at 1600 nits brightness, exceptional 22-hour battery life, and a powerful 12-core CPU with 19-core GPU, ideal for creative professionals handling demanding workflows. Dell's XPS 13 Plus offers portability and value at half the price, weighing just 1.24 kg with a sleek 13.4-inch display, though its 500-nit screen and 12-hour battery feel underpowered by comparison. Performance-wise, M2 Pro dominates creative tasks, while Intel Core Ultra 7 handles everyday computing competently. MacBook Pro includes HDMI, SD card, and three Thunderbolt ports for connectivity, versus Dell's minimal port selection. For professionals needing screen real estate and raw power, MacBook Pro justifies its premium. Budget-conscious users prioritizing ultraportability will appreciate Dell's lightweight design and competitive processor, despite compromised display quality and battery performance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro if…
- →Outstanding 22-hour battery life for a 16-inch professional laptop
- →Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- →M2 Pro handles demanding creative workloads like 4K video editing
Buy the Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) if…
- →Remarkably thin and light at 1.24 kg
- →Striking futuristic design with zero-lattice keyboard
- →Strong Intel Core Ultra performance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro
Pros
- Outstanding 22-hour battery life for a 16-inch professional laptop
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- M2 Pro handles demanding creative workloads like 4K video editing
- Excellent port selection including HDMI, SD card, and MagSafe
- Fantastic six-speaker sound system with spatial audio
Cons
- Heavy at 2.14 kg — not ideal for frequent travel
- 16 GB base RAM should be 32 GB at $2499
- M3 Pro lineup arrived months later making this a short-lived generation
- macOS limits gaming compared to Windows alternatives
- No Face ID — relies on Touch ID in the keyboard
Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024)
Pros
- Remarkably thin and light at 1.24 kg
- Striking futuristic design with zero-lattice keyboard
- Strong Intel Core Ultra performance
- Excellent build quality with premium aluminum finish
- Optional 4K OLED upgrade available
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports — no USB-A, HDMI, or SD card
- Capacitive function row lacks tactile feedback
- Soldered RAM and SSD cannot be upgraded
- Battery life is merely average for an ultrabook
- Haptic touchpad has invisible borders
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro | Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Ventura | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 1.24 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm | 295.3 x 199.0 x 15.3 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 0 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 0 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 22 hours wireless web | Up to 12 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 55 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 13.4 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe (configurable to 8 TB) | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M2 Pro | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
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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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