Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Dell XPS 16 (9640)
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro and Dell XPS 16 (9640) sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The Dell XPS 16 (9640) is the cheaper of the two at $1,899 versus $2,499, a difference of about $600. 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 16 (9640) is praised for premium cnc aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard. 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 16 (9640) if…
- →Premium CNC aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard
- →Optional 4K OLED touch display available
- →Powerful Core Ultra and RTX 4050-4070 GPU options
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 16 (9640)
Pros
- Premium CNC aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard
- Optional 4K OLED touch display available
- Powerful Core Ultra and RTX 4050-4070 GPU options
- Large 99.5 Wh battery
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports
Cons
- No USB-A, HDMI, or SD card slot
- Capacitive touch function row is divisive
- Invisible haptic trackpad takes adjustment
- Heavy and runs hot under load
- Mediocre battery life with discrete GPU
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro | Dell XPS 16 (9640) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 2.13 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | CNC aluminum and carbon fiber |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 cm | 358.1 x 240.1 x 18.7 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 3 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 13 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 99.5 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 16.3 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 | ||
| 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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