Apple MacBook Pro 16" M4 Pro vs Dell Precision 5680
The Verdict
Both laptops target creative professionals at the same $2499 price point but serve different needs. The MacBook Pro 16" M4 Pro excels with its stunning 3456 x 2234 Liquid Retina XDR display featuring 1600 nits brightness and 120Hz ProMotion, making it exceptional for video editing and color-critical work. Its M4 Pro chip delivers 14-core CPU and 20-core GPU performance with 24GB unified memory, while battery life stretches to 24 hours for web tasks. However, it starts with only 512GB storage and offers minimal upgrade options. The Dell Precision 5680 counters with a higher resolution 3840 x 2400 OLED touch display, 32GB DDR5 ECC RAM, and doubles the base storage at 1TB with expandable options. Its Intel Core i9-13900H provides strong multicore performance for computational tasks. The trade-off: Dell's display tops out at 400 nits and 60Hz, and battery life maxes out around 10 hours. Choose the MacBook Pro if you prioritize display quality and all-day portability; select the Dell if you need maximum RAM, storage flexibility, and Windows-based software compatibility for professional workloads like engineering or data analysis.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M4 Pro if…
- →Exceptional battery life up to 24 hours
- →Stunning mini-LED XDR display with 1600 nits HDR brightness
- →Class-leading M4 Pro performance and efficiency
Buy the Dell Precision 5680 if…
- →NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada workstation GPU with ISV certifications
- →4K OLED touch display with 100% DCI-P3 for color-critical work
- →ECC memory option for error-free computation in CAD/simulation
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M4 Pro
Pros
- Exceptional battery life up to 24 hours
- Stunning mini-LED XDR display with 1600 nits HDR brightness
- Class-leading M4 Pro performance and efficiency
- Excellent six-speaker sound system
- Wide port selection including HDMI and SD card
Cons
- Very expensive starting price
- Heavy at over 2.1 kg
- RAM and storage not user-upgradeable
- Limited macOS gaming library
Dell Precision 5680
Pros
- NVIDIA RTX 3500 Ada workstation GPU with ISV certifications
- 4K OLED touch display with 100% DCI-P3 for color-critical work
- ECC memory option for error-free computation in CAD/simulation
- Compact for a mobile workstation — smaller than most 16-inch laptops
- Dell's enterprise support and manageability tools
Cons
- Expensive starting at $2,499 with workstation GPU configs much higher
- Only USB-C/Thunderbolt — no built-in USB-A or HDMI
- OLED display limited to 60Hz refresh rate
- Fan noise under sustained workstation loads is loud
- Battery life drops to 4-5 hours under GPU-intensive tasks
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M4 Pro | Dell Precision 5680 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Pro |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 4.49 lbs (2.04 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC machined aluminum |
| Dimensions | 355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm | 13.64 x 9.17 x 0.74 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours wireless web | Up to 10 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 86 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | OLED touch |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 3840 x 2400 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 400 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB unified | 32 GB DDR5 ECC |
| Cores | 14-core CPU, 20-core GPU | 14 cores (6P + 8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M4 Pro | Intel Core i9-13900H (13th Gen) |
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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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