FutureFavs Comparison
Dell XPS 15 vs MacBook Pro 14 (2024): Which premium laptop is worth €1,800?
Listen to the verdict
Both the Dell XPS 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 are exceptional premium laptops — but they serve fundamentally different users. The MacBook Pro 14 with M3 Pro delivers class-leading efficiency and the best-in-class display for creative professionals who live in the Apple ecosystem. The Dell XPS 15 offers Windows flexibility, RTX GPU horsepower for gaming and ML workloads, and superior port selection. If you're a developer or creative already invested in macOS, the MacBook Pro 14 is the clear winner. If you need Windows, GPU compute power, or run specialist software, the XPS 15 is the more versatile machine.
Buy on Amazon →Linus Tech Tips review
LTT's Dell XPS 15 review — the strongest video opinion you'll find on whether it still beats the MacBook Pro 14 for Windows users.
| Feature | Dell XPS 15 vs MacBook Pro 14 | Alt 1 | Alt 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (base) | Dell XPS 15: €1,599 | MacBook Pro 14 M3: €1,799 | MacBook Pro 14 M3 Pro: €2,199 |
| CPU | Intel Core i7-13700H | Apple M3 (8-core) | Apple M3 Pro (12-core) |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 4060 8 GB | Apple M3 (10-core GPU) | Apple M3 Pro (18-core GPU) |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 (upgradeable to 64 GB) | 18 GB Unified (soldered) | 18 GB Unified (soldered) |
| Storage | 512 GB NVMe (upgradeable) | 512 GB (soldered) | 512 GB (soldered) |
| Display | 15.6" OLED option 3456×2160 | 14.2" Liquid Retina XDR 3024×1964 120Hz | 14.2" Liquid Retina XDR 3024×1964 120Hz |
| Battery Life | 6–10 hours mixed use | 14–18 hours mixed use | 16–22 hours mixed use |
| Weight | 1.86 kg | 1.61 kg | 1.61 kg |
| Ports | 2× TB4, 1× USB-A, HDMI 2.1, SD, 3.5mm | 3× TB4, HDMI 2.1, SD, MagSafe, 3.5mm | 3× TB4, HDMI 2.1, SD, MagSafe, 3.5mm |
| Gaming | Excellent — RTX 4060 runs AAA titles | Limited — no CUDA, ~50% fewer titles | Limited — no CUDA, ~50% fewer titles |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS Sonoma | macOS Sonoma |
| RAM upgradeable? | Yes — up to 64 GB post-purchase | No — soldered | No — soldered |
| Best for | Windows power users, ML/gaming | Apple ecosystem, light creative work | Pro creative, developer, Apple ecosystem |
The MacBook Pro 14 with M3 Pro (12-core CPU, 18-core GPU) is the fastest thin-and-light laptop on the market for sustained CPU workloads. Apple's unified memory architecture eliminates the CPU-to-GPU bandwidth bottleneck, which means creative workloads like Final Cut Pro export, ProRes transcoding, and large Xcode builds complete 20–40% faster than comparable Intel-based Windows laptops. In Cinebench R23 multi-core, the M3 Pro scores around 15,000 — competitive with AMD Ryzen 9 desktop chips at a fraction of the thermal envelope.
The Dell XPS 15 with Intel Core i7-13700H and NVIDIA RTX 4060 tells a different story: raw GPU compute. The RTX 4060 scores approximately 15,000 in 3DMark Time Spy — far ahead of the M3 Pro's integrated GPU. For CUDA-dependent ML frameworks (PyTorch, TensorFlow), Blender Cycles GPU rendering, or gaming at 1080p/1440p, the XPS 15 has a decisive hardware advantage that no Apple silicon laptop can match in 2024.
The MacBook Pro 14's Liquid Retina XDR display is one of the best laptop panels ever made: 3024×1964 resolution (254 PPI), ProMotion adaptive 120Hz refresh, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness, P3 wide color, and True Tone. The mini-LED backlighting delivers excellent local dimming with minimal blooming — critical for video editors and photographers evaluating color accuracy.
Dell offers the XPS 15 with either a 1920×1200 IPS (baseline) or a 3456×2160 OLED touch panel upgrade. The OLED version produces perfect blacks, infinite contrast ratio, and exceptional color saturation — in some metrics it beats the MacBook display. However, OLED on laptops carries risk: static UI elements (taskbar, menu bar) can cause burn-in over 3–5 years of daily use, and the 60Hz refresh rate on the OLED tier feels sluggish next to the MacBook's 120Hz ProMotion. For pure creative color work, OLED XPS 15 is a worthy alternative; for longevity, the MacBook's mini-LED is the safer bet.
Battery life is where the MacBook Pro 14 makes its most compelling case. Apple's M3 Pro chip is efficient enough that Apple rates the MacBook at 22 hours of Apple TV playback. Treat that as a best case — mixed productivity work draws it down well below the rated figure — but the efficiency gap over the XPS 15 is large enough that a full work day away from the charger is realistic.
The Dell XPS 15 with RTX 4060 manages 6–10 hours of light productivity (browser, email, documents) — dropping to 3–4 hours under GPU load. Hybrid graphics switching helps, but the discrete GPU's idle draw still consumes power. If you commute, travel frequently, or work in cafes without reliable power access, the MacBook Pro 14's battery advantage is a genuine quality-of-life differentiator worth hundreds of euros over the laptop's lifespan.
The Dell XPS 15 wins on ports decisively. It ships with 2× Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), 1× USB-A 3.0, 1× SD card reader, 1× 3.5mm headphone/mic combo jack, and an HDMI 2.1 output. That's a complete workstation port selection — most users will never need a hub.
The MacBook Pro 14 has improved dramatically: 3× Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, HDMI 2.1, SD card reader, and headphone jack. The MagSafe connector means you preserve Thunderbolt ports for peripherals. The absence of USB-A still requires an adapter or hub for legacy devices, but the MagSafe + HDMI combination covers 90% of professional workflows without dongles.
One of the most significant long-term factors: the Dell XPS 15 allows RAM and SSD upgrades post-purchase. If you buy the 16 GB / 512 GB configuration today, you can upgrade to 64 GB RAM and a 4 TB SSD later as prices fall. This extends the productive lifespan of the machine and reduces total cost of ownership.
Apple solders all MacBook Pro 14 memory and storage to the logic board — there is no upgrade path. Buying the 18 GB M3 Pro base configuration is fine for today's workloads, but AI-assisted creative tools are rapidly increasing memory requirements. We recommend buying at least 36 GB unified memory if you plan to keep the MacBook 4+ years. The inability to upgrade is a genuine long-term risk that Dell's modular architecture avoids.
macOS is a decisive advantage for users in the Apple ecosystem: Handoff, AirDrop, iPhone Mirroring, iCloud Drive, and seamless continuity features create a workflow that Windows simply cannot replicate. Creative professionals using Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, or Motion benefit from Apple's first-party software being uniquely optimized for M-series chips — exporting a 4K ProRes sequence 2–3× faster than Adobe Premiere on comparable Windows hardware.
Windows 11 on the XPS 15 offers broader software compatibility, including niche industry tools (AutoCAD, SolidWorks, specialist scientific software), all PC gaming titles, and enterprise IT environments standardized on Active Directory. For developers, WSL2 now delivers near-native Linux performance. The choice often comes down to your primary software stack — if your critical tools run better on one platform, that platform wins regardless of hardware specs.
Lighter, fanless, longer battery — ideal if you don't need the XDR display or Pro chip performance
View on Amazon →Ryzen AI 9 + RTX 4050 and a Pantone-validated 3K OLED touchscreen — a compact Windows 2-in-1 built for colour-critical creative work
View on Amazon →No longer sold on Amazon — only the X1 Carbon line is listed
Enterprise-grade build quality, RTX 4060 MQ, superior keyboard — best Windows laptop for business travellers
View on Amazon →As an Amazon Associate, FutureFavs earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability accurate as of publish date.
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