MacBook Air M5 vs Dell XPS 13: Which to Buy?
The $1,099 MacBook Air M5 against the $699 Dell XPS 13 (2026), compared on battery, display and performance results from Tom's Guide and CNN Underscored.
The Quick Verdict
Choosing between the Apple MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) and the Dell XPS 13 (2026) comes down to your personal priorities:
macOS users who want long battery life, 16GB of memory as standard and more ports
Windows users on a budget who want a light aluminum laptop with a sharp 120Hz touchscreen
Head-to-Head Spec Matrix & Lab Scores
Specifications and published measurements, credited below
| Hardware Feature |  Apple MacBook Air M5 (13-inch)From $1,099 (16GB / 512GB) |  Dell XPS 13 (2026)From $699 |
|---|---|---|
Price & ValueWinner: Dell XPS 13 (2026) | ||
| Starting price | $1,099 (16GB / 512GB) | $699 (8GB / 512GB as reviewed) |
PortabilityWinner: Dell XPS 13 (2026) | ||
| Weight | 2.7 lb (1.23 kg) | 2.2 lb |
DisplayWinner: Dell XPS 13 (2026) | ||
| Screen | 13.6" 2560 x 1664, 500 nits (rated) | 13.4" 2.5K touch, 30Hz to 120Hz |
| Measured brightness (Tom's Guide) | Not tested by Tom's Guide | 398 nits SDR / 420 nits HDR |
BatteryWinner: Tie | ||
| Measured battery life | 16h 38m (CNN Underscored, 4K video loop) | 14h 26m (Tom's Guide, web surfing at 150 nits) |
PerformanceWinner: Apple MacBook Air M5 | ||
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 4,184 (CNN Underscored) | 2,684 (Tom's Guide) |
Memory & StorageWinner: Apple MacBook Air M5 | ||
| Base configuration | 16GB / 512GB | 8GB / 512GB (up to 32GB / 1TB) |
ConnectivityWinner: Apple MacBook Air M5 | ||
| Ports | MagSafe 3, 2x Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm headphone jack | 2x USB-C |
Quick Verdict
The MacBook Air M5 ($1,099) is the better laptop. It has twice the base memory, a much faster chip, more ports, and it lasted 16 hours 38 minutes in CNN Underscored's video test.
The Dell XPS 13 (2026) ($699) is the better deal. Tom's Guide calls it the best budget Windows laptop right now. It weighs 2.2 pounds, has a 120Hz touchscreen and lasted 14 hours 26 minutes in that outlet's battery test.
If you're considering current Intel Lunar Lake alternatives, read our head-to-head on the Asus Zenbook S 14 vs. MacBook Air M3, or browse our guides to the best laptops for college students and the best laptops for engineering students.
1. Price and Configurations
| Apple MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) | Dell XPS 13 (2026) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1,099 | $699 | CNN Underscored / Tom's Guide |
| Base memory | 16GB (up to 32GB) | 8GB as reviewed (up to 32GB) | Apple specs / Tom's Guide |
| Base storage | 512GB (up to 4TB) | 512GB as reviewed (up to 1TB) | Apple specs / Tom's Guide |
| Processor | Apple M5, 10-core CPU and GPU | Intel Core 5 320 ("Wildcat Lake") | CNN Underscored / Tom's Guide |
| Weight | 2.7 lb (1.23 kg) | 2.2 lb | Apple specs / Tom's Guide |
The $400 gap is the main reason to consider the Dell. The catch is memory. The $699 XPS 13 that Tom's Guide reviewed had 8GB of RAM, while every MacBook Air M5 starts at 16GB. If you keep many browser tabs or creative apps open, 8GB will feel tight sooner.
2. Display
| Apple MacBook Air M5 | Dell XPS 13 (2026) | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size and resolution | 13.6", 2560 x 1664 (224 ppi) | 13.4", 2.5K | Apple specs / Tom's Guide |
| Refresh rate | Not listed by Apple | 30Hz to 120Hz | Tom's Guide |
| Touch | No | Yes | Tom's Guide |
| Brightness | 500 nits (rated) | 398 nits SDR / 420 nits HDR (measured) | Apple specs / Tom's Guide |
| Color | P3 wide color (rated) | 105% sRGB, 74.7% DCI-P3, Delta-E 0.23 (measured) | Apple specs / Tom's Guide |
The XPS 13 has the more flexible screen, with touch and a 120Hz refresh rate. Tom's Guide calls it unusually sharp and vivid for a $699 laptop. Apple rates the Air's display at 500 nits. That's a rated figure, not a lab measurement, so we don't compare it directly with the Dell's measured 398 nits.
3. Battery Life
| Apple MacBook Air M5 | Dell XPS 13 (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Measured | 16h 38m, 4K video loop (CNN Underscored) | 14h 26m, web surfing at 150 nits (Tom's Guide) |
| Manufacturer claim | Up to 18h video, 15h wireless web (Apple) | 17 hours (as cited by Tom's Guide) |
CNN Underscored found the M5 Air lasted 14% longer than the MacBook Air M4 in the same test. Tom's Guide's XPS 13 result falls short of Dell's 17-hour claim, but Tom's Guide still calls it no joke for a Windows laptop. The tests are different, so neither result proves one laptop outlasts the other. Both will get through a long workday.
4. Performance
| Geekbench 6 | Apple MacBook Air M5 | Dell XPS 13 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Single-core | 4,184 (CNN Underscored) | 2,684 (Tom's Guide) |
| Multi-core | Not published by CNN Underscored | 7,952 (Tom's Guide) |
The M5 is well ahead on single-core speed, which is what makes a laptop feel quick in everyday apps. Even so, Tom's Guide says the XPS 13 handled its everyday workflow without issue and took 10 minutes 38 seconds to transcode a video in HandBrake.
5. Ports
- MacBook Air M5: MagSafe 3 charging, two Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack (Apple specs).
- Dell XPS 13 (2026): two USB-C ports, Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0 (Tom's Guide).
On the XPS 13, the charger takes up one of the two USB-C ports. The Air's separate MagSafe port leaves both Thunderbolt ports free.
Which Should You Buy?
Buy the MacBook Air M5 ($1,099) if you:
- Want 16GB of memory without paying for an upgrade.
- Need MagSafe, two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack.
- Want the faster chip for photo editing, coding or heavy multitasking.
Buy the Dell XPS 13 (2026) ($699) if you:
- Want to spend under $800 without getting a cheap-feeling laptop.
- Want a touchscreen and a 120Hz display.
- Want the lighter laptop at 2.2 pounds.
- Use Windows software.
For more Windows options, see Tom's Guide's best Windows laptops, which ranks the XPS 13 (2026) as its best-value pick.
Sources
- CNN Underscored: MacBook Air M5 review: 16h 38m on a 4K video loop (14% longer than the M4), Geekbench 6 single-core 4,184, from $1,099.
- Tom's Guide: Dell XPS 13 (2026) review: $699, 14h 26m battery, 398 / 420 nits, Delta-E 0.23, Geekbench 6 2,684 / 7,952, 2.2 lb, two USB-C ports.
- Tom's Guide: Best Windows laptops: XPS 13 (2026) ranked as the best-value pick.
- Apple: MacBook Air technical specifications: 16GB / 512GB base, 2.7 lb, 500 nits, up to 18h video / 15h web, ports.
- Apple: MacBook Air: product page and battery-life claim.
*Published: 23 September 2026 · Last updated: 23 September 2026*
*TechSilico does not test hardware. Every measurement above comes from the outlet linked next to it.*
Independent Testing Lab Benchmarks & Measurements
Benchmark measurements and evaluations cross-referenced from named independent testing laboratories:
It took 16 hours and 38 minutes for our 4K looping video battery life test to drain this MacBook Air M5.
The Dell XPS 13 lasted an impressive 14 hours and 26 minutes.
Dell XPS 13 (2026): Excellent value with strong performance
Up to 18 hours video streaming. Up to 15 hours wireless web.
Up to 18 hours of battery life.
Pros & Cons Consensus
Apple MacBook Air M5 (13-inch)
- Lasted 16 hours 38 minutes in CNN Underscored's 4K video loop test, 14% longer than the M4 model
- 16GB of unified memory and a 512GB SSD in the base model
- Scored 4,184 in Geekbench 6 single-core in CNN Underscored's testing
- MagSafe 3, two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack
- Apple rates it at up to 18 hours of video streaming and 15 hours of wireless web
- Costs $400 more than the base Dell XPS 13
- Heavier, at 2.7 pounds (1.23 kg)
Dell XPS 13 (2026)
- Starts at $699, and Tom's Guide calls it the best budget Windows laptop right now
- Lasted 14 hours 26 minutes in Tom's Guide's web-surfing battery test
- 13.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen with a 30Hz to 120Hz variable refresh rate
- Weighs 2.2 pounds
- Tom's Guide measured a Delta-E of 0.23, which means very accurate color
- The $699 model Tom's Guide reviewed has only 8GB of RAM
- Only two USB-C ports, and Tom's Guide found the webcam poor
Apple MacBook Air M5
The MacBook Air M5 is the better laptop, and the Dell XPS 13 is the better deal at $699.
The MacBook Air M5 is faster, has twice the base memory and more ports, and lasted 16 hours 38 minutes in CNN Underscored's video test. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) costs $400 less, weighs half a pound less, and has a 120Hz touchscreen. It also lasted 14 hours 26 minutes in Tom's Guide's test. If you can afford the Air, it's the better machine. If you can't, the XPS 13 gives up surprisingly little.
Choose Apple MacBook Air M5 (13-inch) If:
- You want 16GB of memory without paying for an upgrade
- You need more ports, MagSafe charging and a headphone jack
- You want the faster chip for photo editing or coding
Choose Dell XPS 13 (2026) If:
- Your budget is under $800
- You want a touchscreen and a 120Hz display
- You carry your laptop all day and want the lighter one
- You use Windows software
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MacBook Air M5 worth $400 more than the Dell XPS 13?
It is if you need 16GB of memory, more ports or the faster chip. The Air starts at $1,099 with 16GB and 512GB. The XPS 13 starts at $699, and the model Tom's Guide reviewed had 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. On a tight budget, Tom's Guide calls the XPS 13 the best budget Windows laptop right now.
Which laptop has better battery life?
Both last well beyond a workday. CNN Underscored measured 16 hours 38 minutes on the MacBook Air M5 in a 4K video loop. Tom's Guide measured 14 hours 26 minutes on the Dell XPS 13 in a web-surfing test at 150 nits. The tests are different, so the gap between those figures isn't a direct comparison.
Does the Dell XPS 13 (2026) have a headphone jack?
No. Tom's Guide notes that the XPS 13 (2026) has just two USB-C ports and no headphone jack. The MacBook Air M5 has a 3.5mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 and two Thunderbolt 4 ports, according to Apple.
How fast is the Dell XPS 13 compared with the MacBook Air M5?
The M5 is faster. In Geekbench 6, Tom's Guide recorded 2,684 single-core and 7,952 multi-core on the XPS 13's Intel Core 5 320. CNN Underscored recorded 4,184 single-core on the MacBook Air M5.
Which laptop is lighter?
The Dell XPS 13 weighs 2.2 pounds, according to Tom's Guide. Apple lists the 13-inch MacBook Air M5 at 2.7 pounds (1.23 kg).
