Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro vs Dell XPS 15 (2023)
The Verdict
Both laptops target creative professionals but serve different priorities. MacBook Pro 16 M2 Pro delivers superior display technology with Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED reaching 1600 nits brightness and 120Hz ProMotion, paired with Apple's optimized M2 Pro chip offering exceptional performance-per-watt. Dell XPS 15 counters with an excellent OLED panel, capable Intel i7-13700H processor, and significantly lower price at $1499 versus $2499. Battery life favors MacBook Pro considerably at 22 hours versus 13 hours. Storage remains non-expandable on both 512GB base models. XPS 15 provides expandable RAM and traditional ports, while MacBook Pro offers MagSafe charging and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity. For video editors and designers valuing color accuracy and display performance, MacBook Pro justifies its premium. Budget-conscious creatives benefit from Dell's $1000 savings and Windows ecosystem flexibility.
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 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 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 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 16" M2 Pro | Dell XPS 15 (2023) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Ventura | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 4.23 lbs (1.92 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC machined aluminum |
| Dimensions | 355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 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 22 hours wireless web | Up to 13 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 86 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | OLED anti-reflective |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 3456 x 2160 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe (configurable to 8 TB) | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB unified | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU | 14 cores (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M2 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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