Overview
The two best creator laptops compared: Apple’s M4 Pro powerhouse against Dell’s OLED Windows machine. Both target video editors, photographers, and designers, but they take very different approaches.
Quick answer: The MacBook Pro 16 wins on performance and battery life. The XPS 16 wins if you need Windows or prefer OLED.
Head-to-Head Specs
| Spec | MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro | Dell XPS 16 9640 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,499 | $2,199 |
| Display | 16.2” XDR 120Hz (1600 nits HDR) | 16.3” 4K+ OLED 120Hz touch |
| CPU | M4 Pro (14-core) | Core Ultra 9 285H |
| GPU | 20-core integrated | RTX 4070 Laptop |
| RAM | 24 GB unified | 32 GB LPDDR5x |
| Battery | 100 Wh | 99.5 Wh |
| Battery Life | 14-16 hours | 6-8 hours |
| Weight | 4.7 lbs | 4.7 lbs |
| Ports | 3x TB5, HDMI, SD, MagSafe | 3x TB4, SD |
Creative Performance
The MacBook Pro’s M4 Pro outperforms the XPS 16 in most creative workloads despite having no discrete GPU:
| Workload | MacBook Pro 16 | Dell XPS 16 |
|---|---|---|
| DaVinci Resolve 4K export (10 min) | 5m 30s | 8m 30s |
| Lightroom (100 RAW export) | 1m 45s | 2m 45s |
| Blender BMW render | 45s | 38s |
The XPS 16’s RTX 4070 pulls ahead in GPU-specific tasks like Blender rendering, but the MacBook wins in video editing thanks to Apple’s dedicated media engines.
Display
A genuine toss-up. The XPS 16’s OLED has perfect blacks and slightly more vivid colors. The MacBook’s XDR has much higher peak brightness (1600 nits vs ~500 nits) and better HDR rendering. For color-critical work, both are excellent.
Tie. OLED vs XDR is personal preference.
Battery Life
Not even close. The MacBook Pro delivers 14-16 hours of creative work. The XPS 16 manages 6-8 hours. Apple’s efficiency advantage is massive.
Winner: MacBook Pro 16 (by a mile).
Software Ecosystem
This is the real deciding factor:
- macOS: Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Xcode, native Apple ecosystem
- Windows: Adobe suite parity, CUDA support, broader game compatibility, enterprise software
If your workflow requires CUDA (3D rendering in Octane, AI/ML work) or Windows-only tools, the XPS 16 is your only option.
Recommendation Matrix
| Priority | Pick |
|---|---|
| Video editing | MacBook Pro 16 (media engines) |
| 3D rendering (CUDA) | Dell XPS 16 (RTX 4070) |
| Photo editing | MacBook Pro 16 (display + performance) |
| Battery life | MacBook Pro 16 (14-16 hours) |
| Touch/pen input | Dell XPS 16 (touch screen) |
| Best value | Dell XPS 16 ($300 less) |
| macOS required | MacBook Pro 16 |
| Windows required | Dell XPS 16 |
Verdict
The MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro is the better creator laptop if you’re in or willing to enter the Apple ecosystem. The performance-per-watt, battery life, and port selection are all superior. The Dell XPS 16 is the pick if you need Windows, CUDA, or want to save $300 and prefer OLED.