Apple MacBook Air vs. Dell XPS 13: which one should you choose?

Apple and Dell have two of the most popular laptops in 2020. Both brands updated their computers with new features and designs, and you may be wondering which one is the better choice. That’s why we decided to pit the Apple MacBook Air vs. Dell XPS 13. Read it well before making any decision, and buy the right computer for your taste and needs.

Dell XPS 13 is the best buy

Both the XPS 13 and the MacBook Air are premium laptops. Both are worth what you pay for them and on that point there is no problem. These machines are built with excellent build quality and world class design.

The XPS 13’s pure white look and ultra-thin bezels make it more attractive, but that doesn’t take away from the MacBook Air’s beauty. It hasn’t changed visually since its major overhaul in 2018, but the aluminum unibody is as beautiful as ever, especially in gold.

For starters, let’s get one feature out of the way right off the bat. Base price. Both companies have $999 starting models, but Dell has a performance advantage. Its newest base configuration features an 11th-generation Core i3 processor with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. The MacBook Air offers a 10th-generation Core i3 chip with 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of space.

While the reference MacBook Air has the previous generation processor, it has a higher resolution display than the XPS 13. At 2,560 x 1,600 pixels, with a sharper density than other 13-inch laptops, including the XPS 13. Although Dell’s 1,920 x 1,200 pixel display is lovely and bright.

The XPS 13 has much more room to grow with more expensive configurations and offers upgraded versions with 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, plus a 4K display. Of the two, however, it’s the only one with a touchscreen option.

Ultimately, when you max out both devices, the cost increases by only $100 with the XPS 13. It’s worth the extra money for faster memory, a next-generation processor and better resolution.

Dell XPS 13 is the faster laptop

When you look at the prices where these two laptops intersect, the XPS 13 already has a consistent advantage. For example, the $1,199 price point starts with a quad-core 11th generation Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD.

The MacBook Air, with a starting price of $1,299, has a 10th generation quad-core Core i5, 8 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD.

While, admittedly, the XPS screen doesn’t have as much pixel density, performance takes a big leap. The Dell is the most powerful 13-inch laptop we’ve tested. It offers raw power that most laptops of this size don’t offer. In top-tier configurations like Core i7, it even outperforms the MacBook Pro.

Apple originally touted its latest Core i5 MacBook Air as twice as fast as previous models. But, don’t be fooled, it’s a less powerful processor. With only 9W of power consumption, it can’t keep up with the 15W Core i5 chips used in other XPS 13 configurations. A low thermal profile means tight restrictions on heat and, therefore, performance.

Will you notice the difference? Yes, though it depends on the workload. If your daily routine consists of Chrome, Spotify, Netflix, Slack, and YouTube, you probably won’t feel the disparity in processing power.

Even with dozens of tabs and many apps open, the MacBook Air Core i3 won’t suffer. You can even open GarageBand or iMovie to create lightweight content without a problem.

But, if you’re a photographer working with high-resolution images in Lightroom or an extreme multitasker looking to power multiple 4K monitors, the extra bandwidth of the XPS 13 comes in handy.

Plus, it’s the preferred choice for traveling with a laptop. The XPS 13 is thinner and lighter than the MacBook Air and, thanks to the slim bezels, takes up significantly less space.

As for the battery, it will last a few hours longer than the MacBook Air on a single charge to allow you to get a little extra work done on that long trip and be a little more productive.

However, there is a caveat. The MacBook Air will maintain similar battery life no matter what configuration you use. The XPS 13 will drop a couple of hours once you equip it with the optional 4K display. When upgraded, the XPS 13 gets closer to the MacBook Air in terms of battery life.

Windows, Mac and Apple

The ecosystem is something to consider. There’s no question that the iPhone, Apple Watches, AirPods and MacBooks combine very well. Having iMessage, iCloud and AirDrop across all platforms is undeniably convenient.

It’s what Apple has always done so well, and while it’s possible to use a similar solution with Windows apps (Dell’s Mobile Connect and Microsoft’s Your Phone Companion for Android), it’s just not the same.

When you buy Apple’s MacBook Air, Apple’s suite of apps is also free. Most prefer Microsoft’s Office suite, but you’ll have to pay more to bundle it with the Dell XPS 13.

While neither the App Store nor the Microsoft Store will blow you away, Apple’s Mac Catalyst program means more iPad apps ported to the Mac. That could have great potential for the future of the Mac app ecosystem.

Most people prefer macOS or Windows. But today, there are far fewer differences than there used to be. MacOS offers better trackpad gestures, while Windows has full touchscreen support.

Windows has facial authentication to quickly unlock the device, while Touch ID on macOS can be used for things like payments and user profile authentication.

Both Windows 10 and macOS are modern pieces of software and support annual software and security updates. Neither gets the kind of development attention that mobile platforms get, but in terms of stability, you can’t go wrong.

Apple MacBook Air vs. Dell XPS 13: which one should you buy?

In its latest version, the MacBook Air has a good keyboard (finally), and it’s priced right. However, when you compare Apple to Dell at $999, the XPS 13 is the better deal despite the lower screen resolution.

As you move up to the higher-end top configurations, the Dell XPS 13 leaps ahead. It offers better performance, a more attractive design, and an excellent optional 4K display. XPS 13 models priced above $1,500 beat out the MacBook Air and even Apple’s MacBook Pro 13.