Let’s see Dell XPS 15 vs. MacBook Air M1. Which Is Best? You have to be unsure of yourself when making purchases. When you pay to get a product, especially a laptop, it is only reasonable for you to want to receive the best and most appropriate one.
You have to be indecisive when making purchases. It is extremely natural for us to be indecisive when we pay for something we want to buy. In particular, we want to purchase the greatest and most appropriate laptop, right?
And even for specialists, choosing the best equipment from the market’s hundreds of similarly sparkling options can be challenging. You need clarification, especially if you plan to select one of the two.
The availability of more and more tools and resources has ensured that vital information is constantly accessible. A good illustration compares the MacBook Air M1 and the Dell XPS 15 laptop.
There are several high-quality laptops available in the local and international markets. So, you should read this article if you’ve been looking for a good laptop. Apple’s MacBook Air, which offers outstanding performance thanks to its M1 Processor, is one of the hottest new models.
The details of the Dell XPS 15 and the MacBook Air M1 are provided in this review post. It will review each CPU, RAM, storage, battery, display, and other features to help you decide which one to buy. The following characteristics distinguish the MacBook Air M1 from the Dell XPS 15;
Dell XPS 15
The latest Dell XPS 15 model with OLED technology is the latest in a long series of premium laptops and displays the most advanced desktop replacement technologies.
This notebook offers exceptional productivity with visuals to match. It is equipped with Intel’s newest 12th-generation processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX graphics, and a stunning OLED touch screen.
It’s not just one of the most significant workplace PCs available; it’s also a fantastic choice for media production and video editing. As the Editors’ Choice winner among high-end content creation laptops, the XPS 15 wins again.
With the addition of new Intel Alder Lake processors and RTX GPUs to the iconic XPS laptop design, one of the best laptops ever created became even better. It is a productivity machine that can also play some light games.
It’s arguably the ideal computer for most Windows users, but if you demand the finest, be prepared to pay a premium. The fastest 15-inch laptop available is different from this one.
Nonetheless, you get a sizable laptop with enough horsepower to satisfy all but the most discerning users and a chassis that makes it appear much smaller than it is. The XPS 15 continues to reign supreme among 15-inch laptops.
Key Specifications
- 16 GB RAM
- 512GB SSD Storage
- Discrete Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650: GPU
- CPU: 5 GHz apple_ci7
- Battery life: 12 hours
- Display size: 15.6 inches
- Gen 11
- Screen resolution: 3840*2400 Pixels
Key Attributes
Design
With updated hardware and timeless XPS design, the Dell XPS 15 is returning to uphold its reputation as the best 15-inch laptop available. Given the intensity of the competition this year, that is no small accomplishment.
The XPS 15 performs better than nearly every other laptop in this price range on the market, which you can attribute to upgraded internals like Intel Alder Lake processors and quicker RAM. Those offended by the Dell XPS 13 Plus’s new look won’t need to worry about anything in this case.
One of the most beautiful laptops on the market, the XPS 15 maintains the same exceptional design as its forerunners, right down to the carbon fiber keyboard deck. Years of design changes have resulted in a simplified and uniform look, which benefits the XPS 15.
The angles are perfect, and my review unit’s silver chassis and black carbon fiber keyboard deck are tasteful without being flashy. Moreover, a frost chassis with a stunning white woven fibre keyboard deck is available.
In both scenarios, the keyboard deck is warm and comfortable compared to bare metal. The design is flawless in more ways than one. Sturdy construction prevents the lid, keyboard deck, or chassis bottom from bending, flexing, or twisting.
Performance
Performance-wise, the XPS 15 is more than competent in handling even the trickiest daily activities. The laptop performs reasonably well under specific, more demanding creative demands. It also achieves some respectable gaming performance numbers for a huge Ultrabook.
It’s significant since the XPS 15’s reputation as a versatile laptop is backed up by its capabilities. It is that, but a better description would be a productivity powerhouse with a ton of excess power available for various uses.
And even with all that power, the XPS 15’s battery life is the biggest surprise. At the same time, many previously durable laptops suffered after Alder Lake; the XPS 15 effortlessly exceeds the average eight-hour workday. The XPS 15 successfully bucked that trend, demonstrating that it was possible, and as a result, staked a claim as the best laptop produced this year.
Connectivity
The only available connections are:
- Three Thunderbolt 4 compatible USB-C ports.
- A 3.5mm audio connector.
- A full-size SD card reader.
The lack of legacy connectors on the device is regrettable and one of the disadvantages of having a tiny chassis, although Dell does offer a USB-C to USB-A and HDMI converter.
Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 provide solid wireless connectivity. The XPS series laptops are known for their characteristic carbon fiber palm rests, which make typing on them a pleasure. Two of the laptop’s speakers flank the keyboard on either side, and the carbon fiber extends above the keyboard to complete the design.
Display
For the XPS 15 9520, Dell offers three 15.6-inch panels with a practical 16:10 aspect ratio. Choices include 3.5K touch-enabled OLED, UHD+ touch-enabled IPS, and Full HD+ non-touch IPS. My colourimeter indicated that the OLED display was in excellent condition.
The display is visible in everything but direct sunlight since it was pretty bright—391 nits, considerably beyond our threshold of 300 nits. The extreme contrast ratio produced a white background and inky black letters.
The colours are extremely accurate, with a Delta of 0.42 and wide at 100% of sRGB and 96% of AdobeRGB. The display’s Infinity Edge technology, which is Dell’s term for extremely thin bezels, achieves a 92% screen-to-body ratio, which is quite respectable.
Although the OLED display on our review unit is stunning, your display will still look fantastic even if you have a non-OLED unit with a brightness of up to 500 nits.
Battery Life
The XPS 15 leads you to believe that driver updates or integration rather than Alder Lake itself may have caused the issue. The XPS 15 is one of the few Alder Lake laptops that can comfortably complete a full workday on a charge, lasting 12:01 on average. It takes these battery concerns in stride.
You desire the most attractive Windows laptop available. The benchmark for fashionable Windows laptops is the Dell XPS 15. The 86-watt-hour battery capacity of the XPS 15 9520 is enough to run premium components and an OLED display with a high resolution.
Although some 15-inch laptops have bigger batteries, the XPS 9510 performs admirably with the same battery size and display.
Pricing
Dell XPS 15 starting cost is $1,849.
MacBook Air M1
Your preconceived notion of what the Apple MacBook Air is destroys a MacBook Air with an M1. Indeed, it still has the same recognizable wedge design. Still, thanks to Apple Silicon, it is far more capable and powerful than ever before, demolishing Intel’s CPUs and becoming one of the greatest 13-inch laptops available.
Hence, a new era for the MacBook Air began, one with professional-grade power that competes with and frequently outperforms Windows PCs built on Intel. The M2-powered model may have replaced the Apple MacBook Air M1, but because of the superior performance of the Apple Silicon CPU, it continues to offer good value at its current price range.
The MacBook Air M1 is still an excellent choice for people on a tight budget because Apple kept the price of the first model at $999 while raising the cost of the second model to $1199. With the MacBook Air M1 still outperforming the Microsoft Surface Laptop 5 and Dell XPS 13 Plus in 2022, finding a better value option at this pricing is challenging.
As a result, it continues to be among the best laptops available. This model has a 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, an 8-core CPU, and a 7-core GPU. The model has 512GB of SSD storage, slightly more stacked.
Key Specifications
- 8GB unified RAM
- 256GB SSD storage space
- Apple integrated Graphics GPU
- Apple M1 chip up to 3.2 GHz CPU
- Battery life: 11 hours 10 minutes
- Display size: 13.5 inches
- Gen 11
- Ports: 2* USB Type-C ports
- Backlit keyboard
- Weight:2.2 Pounds
- Screen resolution: 1920*1080 Pixels
Key Attributes
Design
The main distinction between the 2020 MacBook Air and its replacement is the design, other than the processor upgrade. Apple gave the latter a makeover, ditching the traditional wedge chassis in favour of a boxier design.
As a result, the M1 model now appears quite dated. Comparable 13-inch devices are smaller than this machine. Yet, the MacBook Air M1 is still attractive in many ways. It is fragile and light, providing excellent portability and superior Apple build quality.
This slim device has two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 connections on one side for charging and data transfer. Additional ports would have been appreciated, and it would have been even better if they weren’t all crowded up against one wall.
This may cause problems if you want to connect several dongles and adapters. There is also a 3.5mm headphone jack. The MacBook Air’s lid features the recognizable bitten-fruit emblem in shiny chrome in the centre, surrounded by unfilled metal slots.
Users love the minimalist design that Apple has used to its great advantage. When you open the laptop, you’ll see a tidy keyboard deck with a sizable trackpad underneath it. Speaker grills flank each end of the keyboard, and practically undetectable hinges secure the deck to the lid.
Performance
One feature that stands out about this MacBook Air is the M1 chipset, which replaces the standard Intel Core i3 or i5 inside. This may seem unimportant if you have yet to consider your laptop’s power source.
This is one of Apple’s most significant product changes since switching from PowerPC to x86-based Intel CPUs in 2006. Apple incorporates components it created using the ARM architecture rather than Intel’s chips.
The A14 chip from Apple and the Snapdragon chipset from Qualcomm are two examples of chipsets built on this similar chip design. Apple has more influence over technological advancements because it creates its chipsets and uses the ARM architecture.
It does not need to wait for Intel to provide the desired improvements because it can customize the M1 to work best with its machines.
Connectivity
Like its Intel-based predecessor, the M1 MacBook Air sports two Thunderbolt 3 USB 4 ports and a headphone jack on the side. The XPS 13 distributes its two USB-C ports between its left and right sides, simplifying connecting devices on your right. The ports are both on the left side of the device.
It provides merely more ports than other laptops. Unlike the MacBook Air, the XPS 13 has a microSD reader. Is the old MagSafe charging on the MacBook Air making you mad? Fear not; the MacBook Air 2021 is rumoured to include a more practical charging standard.
Display
Adding P3 colour gamut support to the MacBook Air with Apple Silicon is a significant improvement. Why does that matter? This time, the MacBook Air with M1 has a more vivid 13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600 Retina display.
The screen is incredibly realistic, and as Bond sloppily avoided a hail of gunfire, tiny orange dots whizzed across the screen. The 13-inch 2560 x 1600 screen’s display has improved because it now supports the P3 wide colour gamut, making it slightly more colourful.
Unfortunately, it is hardly a significant improvement. For most usage situations, it continues to be bright and sharp.
Battery Life
Apple promised that its M1 chip would allow for all-day battery life, and it has achieved that goal. The ZenBook 13 and XPS 13 are outlasted by the new MacBook Air, which has a remarkable 14 hours and 41 minutes of battery life.
It would still be worthwhile even if the switch to the M1 chip brought only minor gains to battery life. This Apple Silicon eliminates battery life worries in the same manner that performance-related worries are.
The MacBook Air M1 outperforms all prior MacBook models. The additional power in this laptop is entirely due to the 5nm chip’s improved performance; the cell itself is identical to that in the previous generation.
Pricing
The price of the MacBook Air M1 starts from $999.
Dell XPS 15 Vs MacBook Air M1: Comparison Table
Specifications Dell XPS 15 MacBook Air M1
Display 15.6 inches 13.5 inches
Screen resolution 3840*2400Pixels 1920*1080Pixels
CPU 5 GHz apple_ci7
Apple M1 Chip up to 3.2 GHz
RAM 16 GB DDR4 8 GB
Weight 4.0lbs. 2.2lbs.
SSD 512GB 256GB
Battery life 11 hours 23 minutes 11 hours 10 minutes
Cost $1449 $999
Keyboard No Backlit
Gen 11 Gen 11
RAM Type DDR4 Unified RAM
Dell XPS 15 Vs MacBook Air M1 Which Is Best: Conclusion
The Dell XPS 15 is a superb laptop in terms of design, screen size, and graphics, but the MacBook Air M1 is faster and more responsive with better battery life, ports, and a keyboard when considering the needs of the modern world.
You absolutely must get this excellent portable device. Reading my insightful review will clarify your decision between the two laptops, making decision-making more straightforward.
At this price, it would help if you chose the MacBook Air M1 instead of the Dell XPS 15. But if you want to play demanding games and the MacBook M1 is unavailable, you should opt for a laptop other than the Dell XPS 15.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a MacBook Air better than a Dell laptop?
Of course, Yes! The MacBook Air is substantially faster, has more ports, including a headphone jack, a crisper display in the base configuration, a better webcam, and is thinner.
Is Mac better than XPS?
In addition to having a larger battery than the Dell (55 watt-hours), the MacBook has a CPU that can use less power when not operating at full speed. Due to this, its battery life is substantially longer and can last for many days, as opposed to the XPS 13. Plus, it will need to be charged to operate for an entire day.
Should I buy a MacBook Pro or a Dell XPS 15?
The MacBook Pro is preferable in the standard setup, but the Dell XPS 13 offers an even better display if you spend more.
Which laptop is better than a MacBook?
According to our suggestion, the Dell XPS 17 9720 is the best alternative to the MacBook.
Which brand is best for a laptop in 2024?
The MacBook Air is the best quality and price laptop overall.