Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 vs Dell Alienware x14 Comparison

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Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023

14.2 inches | October 2023

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Dell Alienware x14

14 inches | January 2022

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Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 vs Dell Alienware x14 Comparison Overview

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Dell Alienware x14

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Apple MacBook Pro 14...

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Dell Alienware x14

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In this review, we will be comparing MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14, two laptops from Apple and Dell. Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 was introduced to market in October 2023 and Dell Alienware x14 was launched in January 2022. There is 21 months difference between MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14 so it would still give an advantage to younger MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Dell Alienware x14 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 Key Specs

Launched in October 2023
14.2" Mini LED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M3
GPU: Apple M3 GPU (10-core)
16GB Ram
312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm (12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches)
Weight: 1.55 kg (3.42 lbs)

Dell Alienware x14 Key Specs

Launched in January 2022
14.0" IPS LCD, 16:9 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 12500H
GPU: GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB
16GB Ram
321.5 x 262.7 x 14.5 mm (12.66 x 10.34 x 0.57 inches)
Weight: 1.79 kg (3.95 lbs)

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 was replaced by Apple MacBook Pro 14 M4 2024. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M4 2024 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M4 2024 vs Dell Alienware x14

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2024 over Dell Alienware x14

Weight	1.55 kg vs 1.79 kg	0.24 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~84.6% vs ~64%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	3.4 mm vs 5.8 mm	2.4 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	14.2 inches vs 14 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Contrast Rate	1000000:1 vs 1736:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	254 ppi vs 157 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	3024 x 1964 pixels vs 1920 x 1080 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	100% vs 99.6%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Max Brightness	600 nits vs 400 nits	Brighter Screen
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 10 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 8 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Bottom	Flexible cable positions
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	Better Sound capture
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5.2	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Camera
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.2	Faster USB-C connection
Touchpad Size	13.2 x 8.1 cm vs 10.8 x 5.5 cm	Larger Touchpad Area
Avg. MSRP Price	$1600-2000 vs $2000-2400	Lower Price (*may change depending on config, seller, location, and time)

Reasons to choose Dell Alienware x14 over Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2024

Refresh Rate	144 Hz vs 120 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
Response Time	7 ms vs 72 ms	Faster Response screen
GPU FLOPS	6.14 TFLOPS vs 5.1 TFLOPS	Dedicated GPU unit
GPU Type	Dedicated vs Integrated	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Better typing feel
Key Travel	1.2 mm vs 1 mm

Common Strengths of Dell Alienware x14 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2024

Launch Dates	October 2023 vs January 2022	Both laptops are recent models
HDR Support	Yes, Dolby Vision vs Yes, Dolby Vision	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Wi-Fi Standard	v6E vs v6E	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
HDMI Output	1x HDMI 2.1 vs 1x HDMI 2.1	Connect to External Displays via HDMI cable
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Built-in SD Card Reader	Yes vs Yes	Read & Write SD Cards
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Dell Alienware x14 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2024

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 vs Dell Alienware x14: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and the Dell Alienware x14.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.55 kg (3.42 lbs)	1.79 kg (3.95 lbs)
Surface Area	691 cm2 (107.2 inches2)	845 cm2 (130.9 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~84.6%	~64%
Side Bezel Thickness	~3.4 mm	~5.8 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.11 kg/inch	0.13 kg/inch
	0.242 lbs/inch	0.286 lbs/inch
Colors	Black, Silver, Gray	White
Cover Opening Angle	135Â°	140Â°

Comparison of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and the Dell Alienware x14 External Dimensions

Weight

MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 weighs 1.55 kg (3.42 lbs), whereas the Alienware x14 weighs 1.79 kg (3.95 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 1.55 kg

Dell Alienware x14 1.79 kg

Min 0.88 kg

Average 1.42 kg

Max 2.19 kg

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 15.50 mm

Dell Alienware x14 14.50 mm

Min 8.40 mm

Average 17.12 mm

Max 32.50 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 is 0.11 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Dell Alienware x14 is 0.13 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 vs Dell Alienware x14: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Apple M3 Apple M3 Pro Apple M3 Max	Intel Core i5 12500H Intel Core i7 12700H Intel Core i9 12900H
Base Frequency	3.7 GHz	2.5 GHz
Number of Cores	8	12
Number of Threads	8	16
Integrated GPU	Apple M3 GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	10 nm
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1892	1702
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	10352	13247

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Dell Alienware x14.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Apple M3

Laptops with: Intel Core i5 12500H

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Apple M3 GPU (10-core)	GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3050 Ti Mobile 4GB GeForce RTX 3060 Mobile 6GB
Base Clock Frequency	500 MHz	1065 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1600 MHz	1343 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)		45 W
Type	Integrated	Dedicated
FLOPS	5.1 TFLOPS	5.501 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	4 GB
Memory Type	LPDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bus	128 bit	128 bit
Memory Speed	6.4 Gbps	1500 MHz 12 Gbps effective
Shading Units Cores	1280	2048
TMUs	80	64
ROPs	40	32

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 has a FLOPS value of 5.1 TFLOPS whereas the Dell Alienware x14 ' has a FLOPS value of 6.14 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Dell Alienware x14 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 24GB 36GB 48GB 64GB 96GB 128GB	16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	4x4 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	6400 MHz	5200 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5	LPDDR5
Upgradable	No	No
Memory Bus	Custom	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

Both laptops, the MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and the Alienware x14, come with similar RAM capacities of 16 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2024)	Dell Alienware x14
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✖ Not supported.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	70 Wh	80.5 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Ion
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Bottom
Charge Power	70 / 96 W	130 W
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr	2:10 hr
Cable Length	2 meters

On the other hand, the Alienware x14 features a higher battery capacity of 81 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023's 70 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 70 Wh

Dell Alienware x14 81 Wh

Min 32.00 Wh

Average 55.79 Wh

Max 90.00 Wh

STORAGE
With a larger storage capacity up to 8 TB, the MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 provides more space for storing files and applications compared to the Alienware x14's max. storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	No	Yes
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 vs Dell Alienware x14: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Dell Alienware x14 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 has a display size of 14.2".On the other hand, Alienware x14 has a smaller 14.0" display.The total usable screen area of the MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 is 585cm² / 91inch² whereas the Alienware x14's total usable screen area is 540cm² / 84inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 features a higher pixel density with 254 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 254 ppi

Dell Alienware x14 157 ppi

Min 112 PPI

Average 173 PPI

Max 323.00 PPI

Refresh Rate
The Alienware x14 offers a higher refresh rate of 144 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the Alienware x14 boasts a faster response time of 7.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 offers a higher maximum brightness of 600 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 600 nits

Dell Alienware x14 400 nits

Min

200 nits

Average 383 nits

Max 1200.00 nits

Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 vs Dell Alienware x14 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6E), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Alienware x14 is equipped with 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 does not have USB-A ports.
Both MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14 have USB Type-C ports. MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 has 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while Alienware x14 has 3x USB 3.2 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Both MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14 feature an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Both MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14 come with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards.

Audio Jack
Both MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 and Alienware x14 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.3	v5.2
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	1x USB 3.2
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	3x USB 4.0	3x USB 3.2
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	1x HDMI 2.1
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	No
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	Yes	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	Yes	No