Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (M5) vs Dell XPS 13 (2026)
The MacBook Air M5 is the stronger laptop of the two. It has a 10-core M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of base storage and up to 18 hours of battery life, and owners and reviewers consistently praise its build quality. The XPS 13 wins on weight at 2.2 lb and adds a 120Hz touchscreen, but its Core 5 320 with 8GB of RAM is a much weaker configuration for heavy multitasking. Buy the Air for performance, battery and longevity; buy the XPS 13 if you want the lightest chassis and a touch display.
- Choose the MacBook Air 13-inch if you want the faster chip, double the memory, longer battery life and macOS.
- Choose the Dell XPS 13 if you want the lightest 13-inch laptop with a 120Hz touchscreen and Windows.
Prices
- Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (M5): $1,089.00 at PC Richard & Son (checked today)
- Dell XPS 13 (2026): $600.00 at eBay (checked today)
- Difference: the Dell XPS 13 (2026) is $489.00 cheaper than the Apple MacBook Air 13-Inch (M5) today
