MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Dell XPS 13: Which laptop wins?

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The 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro quickly became one of our favorite laptops when information technology launched in 2021. In many respects, this is the MacBook Pro Apple tree enthusiasts accept longed for, thank you to its powerful M1 Pro chip, vibrant brandish, thinner bezels and MagSafe charger. Aside from the notch above the brandish, we remember it and its larger sibling the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 are Apple's best MacBook to date.

During the October 2021 launch consequence for these new MacBook Pros Apple compared them against the latest Windows laptops manufactured by competitors. To assist you make a more than informed buying conclusion, we're doing the same by comparing the new 14-inch MacBook Pro to one of our other favorite laptops: the 2021 Dell XPS 13 with an OLED upgrade.

This face-off draws on our experience testing and using these laptops for our Dell XPS 13 OLED review and our MacBook Pro 14-inch review, so check those out if yous want more information about either laptop. Last year we compared the differences between their predecessors, the 2020 XPS thirteen vs MacBook Pro. Now we get to run into how the latest iterations stack upward against one another.

MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Dell XPS 13 OLED: Specs

	MacBook Pro 14-inch	Dell XPS thirteen OLED
Starting price	$1,999	$1,699
Screen	14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (3024x1964 pixels, 254ppi)	xiii.4-inch OLED touchscreen (3,456 x 2,160 pixels)
Battery life	14:08 (1080p)	7:59 (1080p)
Processor	M1 Pro (8-core CPU, xiv-core GPU or x-core CPU, 16-cadre GPU), with optional M1 Max with up to x-core CPU and 32-core GPU	11th Gen Intel Cadre i7-1185G7
Graphics	(See above)	Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics
Storage	512GB to 8TB	512 GB SSD (1/2 TB also available)
Retentiveness	16GB to 64GB	sixteen GB
Ports	Thunderbolt 4 (x3), HDMI, MagSafe three, headphone jack, SD memory card slot	2 Thunderbolt iv/USB-C ports, headphone jack, microSD card reader
Webcam	1080p FaceTime Hard disk camera	720p
Dimensions	12.3 10 eight.7 x 0.half dozen inches	eleven.vi x 7.eight x 0.five inches
Weight	three.five pounds	2.viii pounds

MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Dell XPS 13 OLED: Cost and release date

Both of these laptops are available now. You tin purchase the MacBook Pro 14-inch for a starting price of $1,999 from the Apple tree shop. The Dell XPS 13 has a starting price of effectually $950 on Dell'southward website, but that'due south an entry-level model that doesn't have the eye-catching OLED brandish.

If you customize an XPS 13 with just the OLED upgrade, it volition cost you around $1,600 (depending on when you buy), but if you kit information technology out with the maximum 32 GB of RAM and 2 TB SSD you can look to pay but over $2,000. The build nosotros reviewed (and the ane we're comparing the xiv-inch MacBook Pro to) has an Intel Cadre i7-1185G7 processor, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD. At the time of writing, this configuration costs just over $i,600 — $1,636.59, to be precise.

The $1,999 entry-level 14-inch Pro features an M1 Pro chip with an 8-core CPU, a 14-core GPU, 16 GB of unified memory and a 512 GB SSD for storage. You can pay extra to configure information technology with a better bit, more retention, and more storage. If y'all deck out the fourteen-inch MacBook Pro with all the best components, from an M1 Max chip with a 10-cadre CPU and a 32-core GPU to 64 GB of unified memory and 8 TB of storage, expect to pay nearly $five,899.

Clearly Dell's laptop wins in terms of affordability, though when y'all kit it out with an OLED display information technology isn't that much cheaper than the entry-level fourteen-inch MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro xiv-inch (2021) vs Dell XPS xiii OLED: Design

The MacBook Pro xiv-inch and Dell XPS 13 each characteristic an aluminum chassis. They're besides very sparse, making them easy to carry around wherever you go.

Coming in at 12.3 ten eight.seven x 0.6 inches and weighing iii.5 pounds, the 14.two-inch MacBook Pro is slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 (12 x viii.4 x 0.6 inches, 3 pounds). The laptop is decidedly heavy but that also helps it experience like a premium product.

Dell XPS 13 OLED review — (Epitome credit: Future)

At 11.64 x 7.82 ten 0.58 inches and 2.8 pounds, the OLED-equipped XPS xiii weighs as much as the same MacBook Air with M1. Withal, information technology is lighter than the M1 Pro-powered xiv-inch MacBook Pro.

Due to being a niggling over one-half a pound lighter, we give this win to the XPS xiii.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) vs Dell XPS 13 OLED: Display

The MacBook Pro's Liquid Retina XDR display is one of its best new features. Information technology's a gorgeous screen, albeit one without touch adequacy, and the but option you accept if yous're buying a new fourteen-inch MacBook Pro. Conversely, the Dell XPS 13 allows you lot to choose betwixt a Total HD screen (either impact or not-affect), a 4K touchscreen, or the iii.5K OLED touchscreen. Assuming you don't hate the idea of a touchscreen, the diverseness of displays bachelor for the XPS 13 is an added bonus.

The fourteen-inch Pro has a 14.2-inch mini-LED display with a native resolution of 3024 x 1984 pixels (254 pixels per inch). It supports HDR and incorporates Apple'south ProMotion adaptive display technology, letting it achieve refresh rates of up to 120Hz. It emits upwardly to 487.viii nits according to our calorie-free gun — making it super bright.

The MacBook Pro 2021 (14-inch) — (Epitome credit: Henry T. Casey)

Dell's XPS 13 OLED is capable of displaying images in 3.5K. That's not 4K but its image quality is and so well-baked that you volition barely notice a loss of pixels (especially on a xiii-inch screen). The 3456 x 2160 brandish supports HDR, which makes information technology exceptional for watching films. Every bit noted in our review, you'll want to keep a cleaning cloth around if yous oft use the touchscreen as the device is vulnerable to picking upwards prints and smudges.

This one is a tough call. The XPS 13 has a college pixel count only the MacBook Pro features a higher refresh rate at 120Hz (compared to the XPS 13's 60). The touchscreen functionality of the Dell XPS 13's OLED display is overnice, but this may not matter to some users. Nosotros'll let you decide the winner in this category.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) vs Dell XPS 13 OLED: Ports

Port-wise, the Apple MacBook Pro xiv-inch packs 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports (supporting DisplayPort), 1 HDMI port, an SDXC card slot and a headphone jack. The MagSafe 3 charging port is ane of its best (and most welcome) features.

The Dell XPS 13 has two Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports, a headphone jack and a microSD card reader. Yous can plug the USB-C charger on either side of the device, which is a nice impact. Of course, the MacBook Pro offers the same convenience, equally it also supports charging via USB-C and has USB ports on both sides.

Neither laptop supports USB-A, which is a disappointment. The Dell XPS 13 does at to the lowest degree come up with a USB-A adapter. It would have been nice if Apple tree packed ane with either of the new MacBook Pros.

Apple'south device wins hither due to the HDMI power and having three Thunderbolt ports instead of ii.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) vs Dell XPS 13 OLED: Performance

Nosotros constitute the XPS thirteen OLED to be quite performant in our review, but how does it stack upward confronting the M1 Pro-powered MacBook Pro 14-inch?

The XPS 13 OLED (11th Gen Intel Core i7-1185G7, Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics, 16 GB of RAM) scored five,420 on the Geekbench five.iv multi-core CPU benchmark. That'south impressive, but the MacBook Pro fourteen-inch (M1 Pro w x-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16-cadre Neural Engine) absolutely demolishes it, scoring 12,477 on the same examination.

Our Handbrake video editing test revealed that the XPS thirteen transcoded a 4K video to 1080p in 18 minutes and 12 seconds. The MacBook Pro xiv-inch grabs another victory here by transcoding a 4K video to 1080p in 4 minutes and 51 seconds.

Both laptops lacked in terms of their gaming functioning. The XPS 13 ran Culture Iv at an abysmal 22 frames per second at 1080p. Civilization 4 ran at 46fps on the MacBook Pro. That's more twice the frame rate of the XPS 13, but information technology's still below the 60fps minimum most PC gamers look.

We don't demand a deep analysis to decide a winner hither. The MacBook Pro 14-inch is a superior beast when it comes to operation.

MacBook Pro xiv-inch (2021) vs Dell XPS thirteen OLED: Battery life

As with performance, battery life is another expanse where the MacBook Pro xiv-inch excels over the Dell XPS 13.

It'southward fair to say that the 3.5K OLED screen on the XPS 13 diminishes the XPS thirteen's battery life. During our battery test (where nosotros had the laptop endlessly browsing the web over Wi-Fi with the screen set to a brightness of 150 nits), the XPS thirteen lasted 7 hours and 59 minutes. For comparisons' sake, the not-OLED Dell XPS xiii 2020 lasted just over 11 hours in the same battery test.

Conversely, the MacBook Pro 14-inch delivered all-day performance. Under the aforementioned test, the laptop lasted 14 hours and 9 minutes (also set to 150 nits). If battery life is important to you, Apple tree's new MacBook Pros have got you lot covered.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) vs Dell XPS 13 OLED: Webcam

The Dell XPS 13'due south 720p webcam won't win whatever contests with its grainy video. 720p webcams aren't uncommon in 13-inch laptops. But in a world where many rely on webcams for work or to communicate with loved ones, the lack of a decent 1080p webcam is a massive disappointment. 1 saving grace is that y'all can log in with your face via Windows Hello thanks to the webcam'south IR sensors.

On the other hand, the MacBook Pro's 1080p webcam is exactly what we desire. It delivers brighter, clearer images. The only drawback here has zilch to do with the webcam's quality, but its placement. Due to the thinner bezels around the webcam, in that location is now a notch sticking downward from the top of the display that obscures a small part of the screen. This is something you get used to over time, but it'south very noticeable at commencement.

We have to give this win to Apple tree, as the new MacBook Pros have the clearly superior webcam.

MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) vs Dell XPS 13 OLED: Verdict

The Dell XPS 13 OLED is 1 of the best laptops currently available. It delivers with its pocket-size light frame, well-baked OLED display and responsive touchscreen. We all the same highly recommend it.

However, it's clear that the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is the superior laptop. The M1 Pro processor delivers stunning operation, especially for professional illustrators and 3D artists. Its Liquid Retina XDR display displays eye-popping colors and strong contrasts that brand movies come to life. The 1080p photographic camera will present you in the best possible lite and its long battery life ensures all-day usage. Again, this is the finest MacBook Pro Apple has e'er released.

The XPS 13 is the better value. But if you're looking for the best laptop on the market and price isn't an obstacle, you can't go wrong with the Apple MacBook Pro.

More: Apple M1 Pro vs M1 Max: What'due south the difference?

Tony is a computing writer at Tom'due south Guide roofing laptops, tablets, Windows, and iOS. During his off-hours, Tony enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, reading speculative fiction novels, and spending also much fourth dimension on Twitter. His non-nerdy pursuits involve attention Hard Rock/Heavy Metal concerts and going to NYC confined with friends and colleagues. His work has appeared in publications such as Laptop Mag, PC Mag, and various independent gaming sites.