Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024)
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) is the cheaper of the two at $1,299 versus $2,499, a difference of about $1,200. 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 XPS 13 Plus (2024) is praised for remarkably thin and light at 1.24 kg. 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 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
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 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" M5 Pro | Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 1.24 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 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 24 hours | Up to 12 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 55 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 13.4 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 GB | 16 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | 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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