2016 MacBook Pro 13-Inch Vs. 2016 Dell XPS 13 [Opinion]

The MacBook Pro 2016 with the Touch Bar has arrived with controversy, with many saying that the device is way overpriced. It has received many mixed reviews. Digital Trends claims that the latest version of the MacBook Pro is the first one they can’t recommend.

“Apple’s new MacBook Pro 13 with Touch Bar is a beautiful machine, but it has several flaws, and it’s far too expensive,” says critic Matt Smith, who doesn’t like the fact that adapters are needed to connect to devices.

Smith also thinks that the Touch Bar really doesn’t have a purpose. In a way, he is correct, but the Touch Bar still gives the MacBook Pro it’s “cool” factor. Let’s compare Apple’s latest MacBook Pro to the top PC ultraportable, the Dell XPS 13 (2016 high-end version).

Build and Design

The industrial metal build expands on Apple’s previous notebooks and makes the new MacBook Pro the best designed laptop on the market. Everything on the new Pro is built to precision, including the “butterfly” keys, the huge glass trackpad, and the speaker grilles on the sides. In terms of hardware, the new MacBook Pro represents perfection.

The Dell XPS 13 has its advantages, including the fact that Dell is able to fit in a 13-inch screen on a laptop usually built for 11-inch displays. However, Dell’s laptop feels cheaper and “rubbery” compared to the MacBook Pro. The shallow keyboard is fine, but may not be for everyone. The rubbery trackpad takes a little bit of getting used to. Even though the Dell XPS 13 has a solid build, it can’t compare to any laptop from Apple.

The winner — MacBook Pro 2016

Display

In late 2012, a 13-inch screen with a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution (227 PPI) was a big deal. In 2016, the same resolution on the MacBook Pro is still high, but behind the times, especially given that some 13-inch laptops have 4K screens. Apple likely keeps the resolution lower in order to save battery life.

However, there is a noticeable difference between the Pro’s 2012 display and the current one, and it all has to do with Apple’s Wide Color display. The screen reproduces colors accurately and beautifully. Looking at colorful images on the new MacBook Pro is like looking at a beautiful canvas.

Dell’s 13-inch laptop has a 3200 x 1800 pixel resolution screen (276 PPI), and the images are slightly (but noticeably) more clear than they are on the MacBook Pro. However, Dell’s display doesn’t pop out at you like the MacBook Pro does, and viewing the XPS 13 in direct sunlight can be quite a challenge.

The winner — No clear winner here; both displays have their advantages.

Performance

The 13-inch MacBook Pro includes a 2.9GHz (3.3GHz with Turbo Boost) dual-core Intel Core i5 processor. One would think that Apple would include an i7 processor for the $1799 price tag, but the i5 is good for just about every task, including editing 4K videos. The 8GB RAM on two of the models is definitely enough for most consumers. However, if one needs more memory, they can opt for a 16GB version.

The Dell XPS 13, which can be purchased for at least $200 less than the Pro with Touch Bar, includes a 2.7GHz (3.5GHz with Turbo Boost) Intel i7 processor. It should perform noticeably faster than the 2016 MacBook Pro, but it doesn’t. This is because OS X integrates performance better than Windows 10 does, even though Microsoft’s operating system has improved.

The winner — Once again, this is a tie. Both notebooks offer excellent performance.

Sound

The 2016 MacBook Pro produces the best audio out of any notebook available — the sound is crisp, has a decent amount of bass, and does not distort at high volumes whatsoever. You can always get better sound by attaching the Pro to regular or even some high-quality speakers if you need even better sound.

The sound from the Dell XPS 13 speakers is satisfactory as well, but it doesn’t have any noticeable bass, and the sound can be tinny, especially if you are playing music. Dell’s speakers could use an extra level or two of volume as well.

The winner — MacBook Pro 2016

Battery Life

In several tests, the 2016 MacBook Pro didn’t live up to the 10-hour battery life, but it came pretty close. An average of 8.5 to 9 hours of battery life is great for a machine that has as much power as the MacBook Pro. The non-Touch Bar version, which is $300 cheaper, lasts a little longer, but there are trade-offs that make the $300 price difference seem unimportant.

The Dell XPS 13 has given this author an average of 7.5 hours of battery life — this is pretty impressive considering the XPS has a touch screen, which eats battery life. The fact that the XPS 13 has a higher resolution screen and a more powerful processor than the 2016 MacBook Pro also means it will consume more power than Apple’s device.

The winner — A relative tie here. Even though the MacBook Pro lasts longer, the XPS 13’s battery life might be slightly more impressive given how good it is for the amount of power it consumes.

Conclusion

The $1799 MacBook Pro 2016 with Touch Bar slightly edges out the high-end Dell XPS 13. However, at $1399-$1599, Dell’s laptop is a better buy than Apple’s.

[Featured Image by Daryl Deino]