For years, the MacBook Air has been the default answer to the question “what laptop should I buy?” It is light, silent, fast and lasts forever on a charge. But in 2026 Dell brought back its famous XPS brand with a fully redesigned XPS 14 running Intel’s new Panther Lake chips, and reviewers loved it. Tom’s Guide titled its review “Call it a comeback.”
So which one should a student, freelancer or office professional actually buy? We compared the MacBook Air M5 and the Dell XPS 14 (2026) across everything that matters day to day.
Quick verdict
MacBook Air M5 is the better value and the better laptop for most people. It usually costs less, it is completely silent because it has no fan, and it now comes with 512GB of storage as standard.
Dell XPS 14 is the better choice if you need Windows, want a gorgeous OLED screen, need stronger integrated graphics for light gaming, or rely on software that only runs on Windows.
Specs comparison
| Spec | MacBook Air M5 (13 inch) | Dell XPS 14 (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5, 10 core CPU | Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake), up to Core Ultra X7 358H |
| Graphics | 8 core GPU (base), 10 core GPU (upgraded) | Intel integrated, up to Arc B390 |
| Memory | 16GB base, up to 32GB | 16GB base, up to 64GB |
| Storage | 512GB base | 512GB base |
| Display | 13.6 inch Liquid Retina, 2560 x 1664, 60Hz | 14 inch 2K LCD or 2.8K Tandem OLED, up to 120Hz |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs (1.23 kg) | 3 lbs |
| Cooling | Fanless | Fan cooled |
| Wireless | WiFi 7 | WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6 |
| Starting price | $1,299 (launched at $1,099) | Around $1,599 at launch |
Design and build
The MacBook Air M5 looks exactly like the M4 and M3 models before it. That is not a bad thing. It is a thin aluminium wedge that weighs just 2.7 pounds, and it comes in Sky Blue, Starlight, Silver and Midnight. It still feels like the benchmark for premium build quality at this price.
The XPS 14 is a complete redesign and a welcome one. Dell dropped some of the more controversial choices from the old XPS Plus models, most importantly the touch sensitive function row, which is now a row of real physical keys. The touchpad also has subtle etched borders, which makes it easier to use without looking. The keyboard itself still uses Dell’s zero lattice design with no gaps between keys, and Tom’s Hardware said its shallow travel made them more error prone, so heavy typists should try it in person first. At 3 pounds it is a little heavier than the Air, but it packs a bigger 14 inch screen into a body that feels close to a 13 inch laptop.
One small complaint from reviewers: the XPS 14 has no microSD card slot and no webcam privacy shutter.
Display
This is where Dell has a real advantage. The XPS 14 offers an optional 2.8K Tandem OLED panel, the same type of technology Apple uses in the iPad Pro M5. It has perfect blacks, rich colors and high refresh rate motion, and the two layer design helps it resist burn in. Reviewers at Gizbot gave it a perfect score for the display.
The MacBook Air’s 13.6 inch Liquid Retina screen is sharp, color accurate and bright at 500 nits, but it is still a 60Hz LCD. Scrolling feels less smooth than on a 120Hz panel, and it cannot match OLED contrast when watching movies.
Winner: Dell XPS 14 (with the OLED option).
Performance
The M5 chip is fast. Apple says the GPU is up to around 30% faster than the M4, and storage speeds also got a big jump. Tom’s Hardware found that a laptop with Intel’s top Core Ultra X9 388H scored higher in multi core tests, but noted that the Asus laptop it came in cost almost twice as much as the MacBook Air.
Because the Air has no fan, it will slow down a little during very long heavy tasks, like exporting a long 4K video. For browsing, documents, coding, photo editing and even light video editing, you will never notice.
The XPS 14’s Panther Lake chip is a big step forward for Intel. Tom’s Guide said it showed that Panther Lake can hold its own during sustained heavy lifting, and its Arc B390 integrated graphics are strong enough that PCMag said they rival some discrete GPUs. That makes the XPS 14 the better choice if you want to play some PC games at modest settings. The tradeoff is that its fans spin up fairly quickly under load, though reviewers said they are not loud.
Winner: Tie. The Mac is more efficient, the Dell is better for gaming and Windows apps.
Battery life
This used to be an easy win for Apple. Not anymore. Apple rates the MacBook Air M5 for up to 18 hours, and in real use it easily lasts a full work or school day and more.
Dell made a huge improvement here. In Tom’s Guide’s web surfing test, an XPS 14 with the Core Ultra 7 355 and the 1200p LCD screen lasted 21 hours and 20 minutes, while the OLED model with the Core Ultra X7 lasted close to 12 and a half hours. Hardware Canucks also found the Core Ultra 7 XPS 14 lasted 20 hours 21 minutes in a 4K YouTube playback test, against 14 hours 2 minutes for a 15 inch MacBook Air M5. The Mac took the lead in their gaming stress test though, running over 4 hours against about 2 and a half for the Dell. So if battery life is your top priority on the Dell, the LCD version is the smarter pick.
Winner: Close. The LCD XPS 14 can actually outlast the Air, but the Air is more consistent across configurations and under heavy load.
Ports and connectivity
The MacBook Air has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack and a MagSafe charging port, so you do not lose a USB port while charging. It also gets WiFi 7 this year through Apple’s own N1 chip.
The XPS 14 has three Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack, plus WiFi 7 and Bluetooth 6. There is no HDMI or SD slot, so you may need a dongle for older accessories.
Software: macOS vs Windows
This is often the real deciding factor. If you use an iPhone, macOS makes life easy with AirDrop, iMessage, shared clipboard and Continuity features. If your work or school uses Windows only software, engineering tools, certain finance apps or PC games, the XPS 14 is the safer bet.
Price and value
The MacBook Air M5 launched in March 2026 at $1,099 with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, $100 more than the M4 model but with double the base storage. Then in June, Apple raised the 13 inch price to $1,299 because of the global memory shortage, as reported by 9to5Mac. The good news is that retailers like Amazon have run deals bringing it back down to $1,099, so it is worth waiting for a sale.
The XPS 14 started at around $1,599 on Dell’s website at launch (an entry Core Ultra 5 model has since been listed from about $1,349), and the well equipped OLED model with the Core Ultra X7, 32GB of memory and 1TB of storage costs around $2,199. Gizmodo summed it up by saying Dell almost made a MacBook, but with a depressing price.
Winner: MacBook Air M5, though the gap is smaller than it was at launch.
Who should buy which?
Buy the MacBook Air M5 if you are a student, writer, developer or office worker who wants the best overall laptop for the money, silent operation and great battery life. It is still the easiest laptop recommendation in the world.
Buy the Dell XPS 14 if you need Windows, want a stunning OLED display, want to play some games, or simply prefer a bigger screen in a compact body and do not mind paying more for it.
What People Are Saying
Beyond professional reviews, we looked at what owners are discussing on MacRumors forums and owner blogs, along with enthusiast testing. These are opinions and early impressions from real users, not lab tests, so treat them as extra context rather than hard facts.
MacBook Air M5 owners are happy, but older Macs are still fine
In a MacRumors thread of happy M5 Air owners, one member said their 24GB model felt noticeably snappier than their previous M2 Air, and another who moved from a 16 inch M1 Pro said they did not miss the fans and extra ports. (Source)
In another thread, several M1 owners said their current machine still has a few good years left and they would only upgrade if something specific was holding them back. (Source)
The XPS 14 keyboard still divides longtime fans
The XPS 14’s design changes are popular, especially the return of physical function keys. The zero lattice keyboard is the sticking point. A 14 year XPS owner wrote that the gapless layout fights the way he actually types, even though he loved the rest of the laptop. (Source)
Battery life debates are about configuration
Hardware Canucks’ result of over 43 hours of light web browsing on the Core Ultra 7 XPS 14, using its variable refresh rate down to 1Hz, got a lot of attention. In the same tests, the MacBook Air M5 still lasted much longer while gaming, which is why buyers say it depends on how you use your laptop. (Source)
The common advice
If you are already in the Apple world or want a silent laptop that just works, forum users point to the MacBook Air M5, ideally bought on sale. If you need Windows, want an OLED screen or care about light gaming, the XPS 14 is the pick, but try the keyboard before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Is the MacBook Air M5 better than the Dell XPS 14?
For most people, yes, mainly because it usually costs less, especially on sale, and has no fan. The XPS 14 has a better screen option and stronger graphics.
Which has better battery life?
An LCD XPS 14 with the Core Ultra 7 355 lasted over 21 hours in Tom’s Guide testing, which is excellent, though the OLED model lasts far less. The MacBook Air M5 is rated for up to 18 hours and is very consistent.
Can the Dell XPS 14 play games?
Yes, light to moderate gaming. Its Intel Arc B390 graphics are among the strongest integrated graphics available in 2026.
How much does the MacBook Air M5 cost?
It launched at $1,099, but Apple raised the 13 inch model with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage to $1,299 in June 2026. Retail deals often bring it closer to the original price.
