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Deal.ai › Compare

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1 vs Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop

The MacBook Air M1 is the better-built machine and the safer long-term buy for most people. Its M1 chip, silent fanless design, sharp 400-nit Retina screen and up to 18 hours of movie playback beat the Dell on display, battery and resale value, and owners rate it very highly. The Dell wins on raw specs per dollar: 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, a touchscreen and an HDMI port, plus RAM that can be upgraded to 64GB. Choose the Air for portability, battery and macOS; choose the Dell for a bigger touchscreen and more memory and storage out of the box.

  • Choose the MacBook Air M1 if you want the lightest, quietest laptop with the best screen and battery, and 8GB/256GB is enough for browsing, writing, school and light photo work.
  • Choose the Dell 15.6" if you want a larger touchscreen, 16GB RAM and 512GB storage up front, HDMI without a dongle, and Windows software.

Prices

  • Apple MacBook Air 13" M1: $499.00 at Peachtree Computers (last seen Nov 2)
  • Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop: $579.99 at Best Buy (last seen Nov 10)
  • Difference: the Apple MacBook Air 13" M1 is $80.99 cheaper than the Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop at the latest prices (Nov 2 and Nov 10)
Apple
MacBook Air 13'' Laptop - Apple M1 chip - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1

MacBook Air 13'' Laptop - Apple M1 chip - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD

4.9(12,559 ratings)
$499.00at Peachtree ComputersChecked Nov 2
See all prices and details
Visit Peachtree Computers
Pros
  • Silent fanless design
  • Sharp, bright Retina display
  • Best-in-class battery life
  • Strong build and high owner ratings
  • Touch ID and excellent trackpad
Cons
  • 8GB memory cannot be upgraded
  • 256GB fills up fast
  • Only two ports, no HDMI or SD slot
  • No touchscreen
Dell
Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop

Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop

4.7(46 ratings)
$579.99at Best BuyChecked Nov 10
See all prices and details
Visit Best Buy
Pros
  • 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD standard
  • Large touchscreen
  • HDMI port built in
  • Memory expandable to 64GB
  • Runs Windows-only software
Cons
  • Dim 220-nit screen
  • Heavier at 3.6 lb
  • Shorter battery life
  • Few owner ratings so far
  • Fan noise under load

What separates them

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop
Screen13.3-inch 2560x1600 Retina, 400 nits, P3 wide color, no touch15.6-inch 1920x1080 IPS, 220 nits, touchscreen
ProcessorApple M1, 8-core CPU and 7- or 8-core GPU, fanlessAMD Ryzen 7 7000 series, octa-core, up to 4.5 GHz
Memory8GB unified memory, fixed at purchase16GB installed, expandable to 64GB
Storage256GB SSD512GB SSD
BatteryUp to 18 hours movie playback, 15 hours webAbout 10 hours
PortsTwo Thunderbolt/USB 4; needs an adapter for HDMIHDMI 1.4 built in
Weight and noiseAbout 2.8 lb, silent, no fan3.6 lb, fan-cooled
Operating systemmacOS, long OS update supportWindows, broad business and gaming software

Price history

$799.00$419.99
Oct 28Nov 10
  • Apple MacBook Air 13" M1: lowest $419.99 on Nov 1 at Walmart; $499.00 on Nov 2.
  • Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop: lowest $579.99 on Oct 28 at Best Buy; $579.99 on Nov 10.

Prices at every store

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1

  • Peachtree ComputersNew

    Availability unknown

    $499.00Checked Nov 2
    Visit Peachtree Computers
  • WalmartNew

    Availability unknown

    $544.95Checked Nov 2
    Visit Walmart
  • TalkShopLiveNew

    Availability unknown

    $599.00Checked Nov 2
    Visit TalkShopLive
  • Best BuyNew

    Availability unknown

    $779.95Checked Nov 2
    Visit Best Buy

Also available at

  • South Carolina State University BookstoreCheck price at South Carolina State University Bookstore
All 8 stores and price history →

Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop

  • Best BuyNew

    In stock

    $579.99Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Best Buy
  • WalmartNew

    In stockSold by Value Tech

    $689.99Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Walmart
  • NeweggNew

    In stock

    $698.00Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Newegg
  • AmazonNew

    Availability unknown

    As an Amazon Associate, Deal.ai earns from qualifying purchases.

    $662.49Free shippingChecked Nov 10
    Visit Amazon

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

All 5 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecApple MacBook Air 13" M1Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop
Brightness400 nits220 nits
Screen Size13.3 inches15.6 inches
Screen Resolution2560 x 1600 (Retina)1920 x 1080 (Full HD)
Touch Screenfalsetrue
Processor ModelApple M1AMD Ryzen 7 7000 Series
Storage TypeSSDSSD
Total Storage Capacity256 gigabytes512 gigabytes
System Memory (RAM)8 gigabytes16 gigabytes
GraphicsApple M1 7-coreAMD Radeon
Display Connector(s)2 x Thunderbolt 31 x HDMI 1.4
Battery ChemistryLithium-polymerLithium-ion polymer
Backlit Keyboardtruefalse
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecApple MacBook Air 13" M1Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop
BrandAppleDell
Model NumberMGN63LL/ALDC15255-7656BLK-PUS
ColorSpace GrayBlack
Year of Release20202026
Display TypeLEDLCD
Processor BrandAppleAMD CPU
Display size13.3-inch—
Native resolution2560x1600—
ChipApple M1 chip—
CPU cores8-core CPU

What reviewers say

Apple MacBook Air 13" M1

  • 4.9 / 512,559 ratings

Owners rate it very highly, with 4.9 out of 5 from 12,559 ratings. Most praise the speed for daily tasks, the silent fanless build and the battery life. Complaints center on the 8GB memory and 256GB storage limits.

What people mention
  • PerformancePraisedOwners say the M1 chip keeps everyday apps and light photo editing smooth.
  • Fanless designPraisedReviewers note the Air stays silent because it has no fan.
  • Battery lifePraisedUsers report a full day of work or study on one charge.
  • MemoryCriticisedThe fixed 8GB of unified memory is the most common complaint from heavier users.

Dell 15.6" 2K Touchscreen Laptop

  • 4.7 / 546 ratings

Rated 4.7 out of 5 from 46 ratings.

What people mention
  • Overall satisfactionPraisedBuyers give it 4.7 out of 5 across 46 ratings.

Questions and answers

Which is better for college students?
The MacBook Air M1 suits most students: light, silent, all-day battery and a sharp screen for writing and research. Pick the Dell if your course needs Windows-only software or you want a bigger touchscreen for notes.
Which has the better screen?
The Air. Its 2560x1600 Retina panel at 400 nits is sharper and much brighter than the Dell's 220-nit 1080p screen. The Dell's advantage is size and touch input.
Which lasts longer?
The Air on battery by a wide margin, up to 18 hours of movie playback versus about 10 on the Dell. On build, the Air's aluminum chassis and fanless design tend to hold up well over years of use.
Can I upgrade the memory later?
Not on the Air; 8GB is fixed, so buy the configuration you need. The Dell ships with 16GB and supports up to 64GB, which matters for heavy multitasking.
Is the Dell worth stepping up to over the Air?
Only if you need Windows, a touchscreen, HDMI or more memory and storage without paying Apple's upgrade tiers. For battery, screen quality and portability, the Air is the stronger machine.
Which is better for video editing?
The M1 chip handles 1080p and light 4K editing well, but 8GB and 256GB limit larger projects. The Dell's 16GB and 512GB help with storage and multitasking, though its dim screen is worse for color work.

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Buying guides that pick them

  • Best MacBook Air laptops under $1,000
—
GPU cores7-core GPU, 8-core GPU—
Wireless web batteryUp to 15 hours—
Movie playback batteryUp to 18 hours—
Battery capacity49.9‑watt‑hour—
Power adapter30W USB‑C Power Adapter—
Memory8GB unified memory—
Storage256GB SSD—
Battery Life (up to)18 hours—
Processor Model NumberApple M1—
Number of CPU Cores8-core—
Solid State Drive Capacity256 gigabytes—
Type of Memory (RAM)LPDDR4X—
Graphics TypeIntegrated—
GPU BrandApple—
Resolution—1920 x 1080
Operating System—Windows OS
Graphics Processor—AMD GPU
Touchscreen—Yes