Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Dell Inspiron 15 (2024)
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and Dell Inspiron 15 (2024) sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Dell Inspiron 15 (2024) is the cheaper of the two at $599 versus $2,499, a difference of about $1,900. The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro stands out for largest macbook display at 16.2 inches, while Dell Inspiron 15 (2024) is praised for solid all-rounder for everyday productivity and web browsing at $599. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro if…
- →Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- →M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- →100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
Buy the Dell Inspiron 15 (2024) if…
- →Solid all-rounder for everyday productivity and web browsing at $599
- →Good port selection including HDMI and SD card reader
- →Reasonable 54 Wh battery provides good endurance for the price
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro
Pros
- Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- 100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
- Thunderbolt 5
- Up to 96GB RAM with M5 Max
Cons
- 2.14 kg is heavy
- $2499 starting price
- Non-upgradable components
Dell Inspiron 15 (2024)
Pros
- Solid all-rounder for everyday productivity and web browsing at $599
- Good port selection including HDMI and SD card reader
- Reasonable 54 Wh battery provides good endurance for the price
- Lightweight at 1.65 kg for a 15.6-inch laptop
- Expandable storage via second M.2 slot
Cons
- 250-nit display brightness is dim for any non-indoor use
- 60Hz refresh rate feels behind modern standards
- 8 GB base RAM needs upgrading for comfortable multitasking
- Plastic chassis feels basic compared to aluminum competitors
- Webcam is only 720p — poor for video calls
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro | Dell Inspiron 15 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 1.65 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Plastic chassis with aluminum palm rest |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 358.5 x 235.6 x 16.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | — |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 12 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 54 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 250 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB | 512 GB PCIe NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 GB | 8 GB / 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) | 10-core (Intel) / 6-core (AMD) |
| Chipset | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | Intel Core i5-1335U / AMD Ryzen 5 7530U |
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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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