Choose the MacBook Air 13 if…
- You edit photos or video, or run other heavy apps.
- You prefer macOS.
It's a trade-off: the MacBook Air 13 is faster, while the XPS 13 is lighter.
It's a trade-off: the MacBook Air 13 is faster, while the XPS 13 is lighter.
It's a trade-off: the MacBook Air 13 is faster, while the XPS 13 is lighter.
It's a trade-off: the MacBook Air 13 is faster, while the XPS 13 is lighter.
It's a trade-off: the MacBook Air 13 is faster, while the XPS 13 is lighter.
The XPS 13 is lighter; otherwise the two are much alike.
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This comparison starts with each model's base configuration. Pick the ones you're considering and the whole page compares exactly those.
| Spec | MacBook Air 13 | XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 | |
| Memory | 16 GB | |
| Storage | 512 GB |
Dashed options are sold in another configuration. Picking one switches the other specs to match.
Performance
MacBook Air 13 wins
A higher-class chip and more processor cores: quicker with big projects and many apps open.
Display
Evenly matched
The screens are much the same to look at.
Battery life
Evenly matched
Battery life is about level.
Portability
XPS 13 wins
It is the lighter one to carry around.
Performance
MacBook Air 13 wins
A higher-class chip and more processor cores: quicker with big projects and many apps open.
Display
Evenly matched
The screens are much the same to look at.
Battery life
Evenly matched
Battery life is about level.
Portability
XPS 13 wins
It is the lighter one to carry around.
Performance
MacBook Air 13 wins
A higher-class chip and more processor cores: quicker with big projects and many apps open.
Display
Evenly matched
The screens are much the same to look at.
Battery life
Evenly matched
Battery life is about level.
Portability
XPS 13 wins
It is the lighter one to carry around.
Performance
MacBook Air 13 wins
A higher-class chip and more processor cores: quicker with big projects and many apps open.
Display
Evenly matched
The screens are much the same to look at.
Battery life
Evenly matched
Battery life is about level.
Portability
XPS 13 wins
It is the lighter one to carry around.
Performance
MacBook Air 13 wins
More processor cores: quicker with big projects and many apps open.
Display
Evenly matched
The screens are much the same to look at.
Battery life
Evenly matched
Battery life is about level.
Portability
XPS 13 wins
It is the lighter one to carry around.
Performance
Evenly matched
Both have the power for editing and other demanding work.
Display
Evenly matched
The screens are much the same to look at.
Battery life
Evenly matched
Battery life is about level.
Portability
XPS 13 wins
It is the lighter one to carry around.
| Specification | MacBook Air 13 | XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| The MacBook Air 13 is the faster laptop, with a higher-class chip and more processor cores. It is the better pick for editing and other heavy work; the XPS 13 still handles everyday work with ease. | ||
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core 5 320 |
| CPU cores | 10 | 6 |
| Core types | 4 performance + 6 efficiency | 2 performance + 4 low-power efficiency |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | Intel 18A |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | — |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Intel Graphics |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB |
| Threads | — | 6 |
| Base clock | — | 1.5 GHz |
| Max boost clock | — | 4.6 GHz |
| Cache | — | 6 MB |
| Processor base power | — | 15 W |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5x-7467 |
| Storage type | — | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | M.2 2230 SSD Gen4x4 |
| Screen | ||
| The screens are closely matched for everyday viewing. | ||
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13.4" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Panel | IPS | — |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Color range | Wide color (P3) | — |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Battery and size | ||
| The XPS 13 is lighter to carry. | ||
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 52 Wh |
| Charger | 40 W | — |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in) | 296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 in) |
| Color | Silver | Sky |
| Colors available | Silver | Sky |
| Materials | — | CNC aluminum |
| Ports and wireless | ||
| Both cover the same everyday connections. | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE213 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Features | ||
| Webcam | 1080p | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys | English (US) backlit keyboard |
| Login | Fingerprint | — |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | — |
| Speakers | Four-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos support for Spatial Audio | — |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | — |
| Software and model | ||
| Pick by the apps you use: the MacBook Air 13 runs macOS, the XPS 13 Windows. | ||
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Released | 2026 | — |
| Specification | MacBook Air 13 | XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| The MacBook Air 13 is the faster laptop, with a higher-class chip and more processor cores. It is the better pick for editing and other heavy work; the XPS 13 still handles everyday work with ease. | ||
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core 5 320 |
| CPU cores | 10 | 6 |
| Core types | 4 performance + 6 efficiency | 2 performance + 4 low-power efficiency |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | Intel 18A |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | — |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Intel Graphics |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB |
| Threads | — | 6 |
| Base clock | — | 1.5 GHz |
| Max boost clock | — | 4.6 GHz |
| Cache | — | 6 MB |
| Processor base power | — | 15 W |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5x-7467 |
| Storage type | — | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | M.2 2230 SSD Gen4x4 |
| Screen | ||
| The screens are closely matched for everyday viewing. | ||
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13.4" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Panel | IPS | — |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Color range | Wide color (P3) | — |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Battery and size | ||
| The XPS 13 is lighter to carry. | ||
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 52 Wh |
| Charger | 40 W | — |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in) | 296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 in) |
| Color | Silver | Sky |
| Colors available | Silver | Sky |
| Materials | — | CNC aluminum |
| Ports and wireless | ||
| Both cover the same everyday connections. | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE213 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Features | ||
| Webcam | 1080p | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys | English (US) backlit keyboard |
| Login | Fingerprint | — |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | — |
| Speakers | Four-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos support for Spatial Audio | — |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | — |
| Software and model | ||
| Pick by the apps you use: the MacBook Air 13 runs macOS, the XPS 13 Windows. | ||
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Released | 2026 | — |
| Specification | MacBook Air 13 | XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| The MacBook Air 13 is the faster laptop, with a higher-class chip and more processor cores. It is the better pick for editing and other heavy work; the XPS 13 still handles everyday work with ease. | ||
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core 5 320 |
| CPU cores | 10 | 6 |
| Core types | 4 performance + 6 efficiency | 2 performance + 4 low-power efficiency |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | Intel 18A |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | — |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Intel Graphics |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 8 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Threads | — | 6 |
| Base clock | — | 1.5 GHz |
| Max boost clock | — | 4.6 GHz |
| Cache | — | 6 MB |
| Processor base power | — | 15 W |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5x-7467 |
| Storage type | — | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | Gen4x4 |
| Screen | ||
| The screens are closely matched for everyday viewing. | ||
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13.4" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Panel | IPS | — |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Color range | Wide color (P3) | — |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Battery and size | ||
| The XPS 13 is lighter to carry. | ||
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 52 Wh |
| Charger | 40 W | — |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in) | 296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 in) |
| Color | Silver | Storm |
| Colors available | Silver | Storm |
| Materials | — | CNC aluminum |
| Ports and wireless | ||
| Both cover the same everyday connections. | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE213 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Features | ||
| Webcam | 1080p | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys | English (US), backlit |
| Login | Fingerprint | — |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | — |
| Speakers | Four-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos support for Spatial Audio | — |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | — |
| Software and model | ||
| Pick by the apps you use: the MacBook Air 13 runs macOS, the XPS 13 Windows. | ||
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Released | 2026 | — |
| Specification | MacBook Air 13 | XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| The MacBook Air 13 is the faster laptop, with a higher-class chip and more processor cores. It is the better pick for editing and other heavy work; the XPS 13 still handles everyday work with ease. | ||
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core 5 320 |
| CPU cores | 10 | 6 |
| Core types | 4 performance + 6 efficiency | 2 performance + 4 low-power efficiency |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | Intel 18A |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | — |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Intel Graphics |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Threads | — | 6 |
| Base clock | — | 1.5 GHz |
| Max boost clock | — | 4.6 GHz |
| Cache | — | 6 MB |
| Processor base power | — | 15 W |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5x-7467 |
| Storage type | — | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | Gen4x4 |
| Screen | ||
| The screens are closely matched for everyday viewing. | ||
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13.4" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Panel | IPS | — |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Color range | Wide color (P3) | — |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Battery and size | ||
| The XPS 13 is lighter to carry. | ||
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 52 Wh |
| Charger | 40 W | — |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in) | 296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 in) |
| Color | Silver | Storm |
| Colors available | Silver | Storm |
| Materials | — | CNC aluminum |
| Ports and wireless | ||
| Both cover the same everyday connections. | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE213 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Features | ||
| Webcam | 1080p | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys | English (US) backlit keyboard |
| Login | Fingerprint | — |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | — |
| Speakers | Four-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos support for Spatial Audio | — |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | — |
| Software and model | ||
| Pick by the apps you use: the MacBook Air 13 runs macOS, the XPS 13 Windows. | ||
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Released | 2026 | — |
| Specification | MacBook Air 13 | XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| The MacBook Air 13 is the faster laptop, with more processor cores. The XPS 13 is not far behind, so either copes with heavy work. | ||
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 355 |
| CPU cores | 10 | 8 |
| Core types | 4 performance + 6 efficiency | 4 performance + 4 low-power efficiency |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | Intel 18A |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | — |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Intel Graphics |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB |
| Threads | — | 8 |
| Base clock | — | 2.3 GHz |
| Max boost clock | — | 4.7 GHz |
| Cache | — | 12 MB |
| Processor base power | — | 25 W |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5x-7467 |
| Storage type | — | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | Gen4x4 |
| Screen | ||
| The screens are closely matched for everyday viewing. | ||
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13.4" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Panel | IPS | — |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Color range | Wide color (P3) | — |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Battery and size | ||
| The XPS 13 is lighter to carry. | ||
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 52 Wh |
| Charger | 40 W | — |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in) | 296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 in) |
| Color | Silver | Sky |
| Colors available | Silver | Sky |
| Materials | — | CNC aluminum |
| Ports and wireless | ||
| Both cover the same everyday connections. | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE211 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Features | ||
| Webcam | 1080p | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys | English (US) backlit keyboard |
| Login | Fingerprint | — |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | — |
| Speakers | Four-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos support for Spatial Audio | — |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | — |
| Software and model | ||
| Pick by the apps you use: the MacBook Air 13 runs macOS, the XPS 13 Windows. | ||
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Released | 2026 | — |
| Specification | MacBook Air 13 | XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| There is little between them for speed: both handle demanding work like photo and video editing. | ||
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 355 |
| CPU cores | 10 | 8 |
| Core types | 4 performance + 6 efficiency | 4 performance + 4 low-power efficiency |
| Manufacturing process | 3nm | Intel 18A |
| Memory bandwidth | 153 GB/s | — |
| Graphics | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Intel Graphics |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 32 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB | 1 TB |
| Threads | — | 8 |
| Base clock | — | 2.3 GHz |
| Max boost clock | — | 4.7 GHz |
| Cache | — | 12 MB |
| Processor base power | — | 25 W |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5x-7467 |
| Storage type | — | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | Gen4x4 |
| Screen | ||
| The screens are closely matched for everyday viewing. | ||
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13.4" |
| Resolution | 2.5K (2560 x 1664) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Panel | IPS | — |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 500 nits |
| Color range | Wide color (P3) | — |
| Refresh rate | — | 120 Hz |
| Variable refresh (VRR) | — | Yes |
| Battery and size | ||
| The XPS 13 is lighter to carry. | ||
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 53.8 Wh | 52 Wh |
| Charger | 40 W | — |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.23 kg (2.7 lb) | 1 kg (2.2 lb) |
| Dimensions | 304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 in) | 296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 in) |
| Color | Silver | Sky |
| Colors available | Silver | Sky |
| Materials | — | CNC aluminum |
| Ports and wireless | ||
| Both cover the same everyday connections. | ||
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm headphone jack | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s) | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE211 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 6.0 |
| Features | ||
| Webcam | 1080p | — |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | Backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 (ANSI) or 79 (ISO) keys including 12 full-height function keys | English (US) backlit keyboard |
| Login | Fingerprint | — |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad | — |
| Speakers | Four-speaker sound system with Dolby Atmos support for Spatial Audio | — |
| Microphones | Three-mic array with directional beamforming | — |
| Software and model | ||
| Pick by the apps you use: the MacBook Air 13 runs macOS, the XPS 13 Windows. | ||
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Released | 2026 | — |