Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Dell Inspiron 16 (5640)
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and Dell Inspiron 16 (5640) sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Dell Inspiron 16 (5640) is the cheaper of the two at $799 versus $2,499, a difference of about $1,700. 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 16 (5640) is praised for affordable 16-inch productivity laptop. 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 16 (5640) if…
- →Affordable 16-inch productivity laptop
- →Generous port selection including HDMI and USB-A
- →Comfortable keyboard with numpad
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 16 (5640)
Pros
- Affordable 16-inch productivity laptop
- Generous port selection including HDMI and USB-A
- Comfortable keyboard with numpad
- 16 GB RAM and 512 GB SSD in base config
- Upgradeable storage and memory
Cons
- Dim 250-nit display unsuitable for bright rooms
- Plastic base feels less premium
- Mediocre battery life around 9 hours
- Low-power Core 7 150U trails H-class chips
- No discrete GPU option
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro | Dell Inspiron 16 (5640) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 1.90 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Aluminum lid with plastic base |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 357.9 x 252.0 x 19.0 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 9 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 54 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 16.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | WVA anti-glare LED |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 250 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 GB | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) | 10-core (2P+8E) |
| Chipset | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | Intel Core 7 150U |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs MSI GE76 Raider
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs HP OMEN 17
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Dell XPS 13 (2023)
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Apple MacBook Pro 14" M2 Pro
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs MSI Stealth 16 Studio
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.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all Dell products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro or the Dell Inspiron 16 (5640).