Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) vs Dell XPS 13 (9350)
Laptops comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
The MacBook Air M4 and Dell XPS 13 are the two default premium 13-inch laptops. Apple wins on price, silence and simplicity; Dell wins on refresh rate and a Windows ecosystem with the Core Ultra 200V's excellent battery life. Both are fanless-quiet in everyday use and both start with 16 GB of memory.
Quick verdict
Choose the MacBook Air if you want the best value, longest support and macOS. Choose the XPS 13 if you need Windows, a 120 Hz screen, or prefer Dell's edge-to-edge keyboard design.
VersusAnything Score
Scores are calculated from measurable specifications normalised within the laptops category and weighted by the factors above. Text-only rows (such as chipset or operating system) are explained but not scored. How the score works.
Side-by-side overview
Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)
The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is Apple's thinnest and most popular laptop, now starting with 16 GB of memory and a 12 MP Center Stage camera.
Best for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop
Dell XPS 13 (9350)
The Dell XPS 13 9350 brings Intel's Core Ultra 200V series to Dell's minimalist zero-lattice keyboard design with excellent battery life.
Best for Windows users who want MacBook-like battery life in a premium compact body
Key differences
- Screen size: MacBook Air M4 13.6" vs Dell XPS 13 13.4" — a preference, not a scored win
- Resolution: MacBook Air M4 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) vs Dell XPS 13 1920 x 1200 (IPS, non-touch) — a preference, not a scored win
- Processor: MacBook Air M4 Apple M4 (10-core) vs Dell XPS 13 Intel Core Ultra 7 256V — a preference, not a scored win
- Graphics: MacBook Air M4 Integrated 8-core (M4) vs Dell XPS 13 Intel Arc 140V (integrated) — a preference, not a scored win
- Ports: MacBook Air M4 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm vs Dell XPS 13 2x Thunderbolt 4 — a preference, not a scored win
Specification comparison table
| Specification | MacBook Air M4 | Dell XPS 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 13.6" | 13.4" |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) | 1920 x 1200 (IPS, non-touch) |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Weight | 1.24 kg | 1.19 kg |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Base SSD | 256 GB | 512 GB |
| Graphics | Integrated 8-core (M4) | Intel Arc 140V (integrated) |
| Rated battery life | 18 h | 20 h |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm | 2x Thunderbolt 4 |
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Launch price (USD) | $999 | $1,399 |
Display: MacBook Air M4 vs Dell XPS 13 Score: MacBook Air M4 12 · Dell XPS 13 59
The two differ on screen size (13.6" against 13.4"), and a bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag. For resolution, MacBook Air M4 uses 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina (IPS) whereas Dell XPS 13 goes with 1920 x 1200 (IPS, non-touch). This is a preference rather than a scored win: resolution and panel type decide how sharp text looks and how good the colours are for creative work.
Dell XPS 13 leads on refresh rate with 120 Hz versus 60 Hz, a margin of 60 Hz. In practice a higher refresh rate makes scrolling and cursor movement feel smoother.
Portability: MacBook Air M4 vs Dell XPS 13 Score: MacBook Air M4 71 · Dell XPS 13 94
Dell XPS 13 is better on weight at 1.19 kg against 1.24 kg, a 0.05 kg difference; lower is better because every hundred grams matters if the laptop lives in a backpack.
Performance: MacBook Air M4 vs Dell XPS 13 Score: MacBook Air M4 27 · Dell XPS 13 38
The two differ on processor (Apple M4 (10-core) against Intel Core Ultra 7 256V), and the processor sets single-core snappiness and multi-core rendering speed. Both list 16 GB for RAM, so nothing separates them here.
Dell XPS 13 offers 512 GB of base SSD while MacBook Air M4 stops at 256 GB; the 256 GB gap matters because a larger base SSD saves you from paying for an upgrade or carrying an external drive. For graphics, MacBook Air M4 uses Integrated 8-core (M4) whereas Dell XPS 13 goes with Intel Arc 140V (integrated). This is a preference rather than a scored win: graphics decide whether the laptop can handle gaming and GPU-accelerated video editing.
Battery: MacBook Air M4 vs Dell XPS 13 Score: MacBook Air M4 50 · Dell XPS 13 65
Dell XPS 13 offers 20 h of rated battery life while MacBook Air M4 stops at 18 h; the 2 h gap matters because the manufacturer's rating is optimistic, but it is still useful for relative comparison.
Ports: MacBook Air M4 vs Dell XPS 13
MacBook Air M4: 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm. Dell XPS 13: 2x Thunderbolt 4. Neither is scored, but port selection decides how many dongles you carry.
Value: MacBook Air M4 vs Dell XPS 13 Score: MacBook Air M4 100 · Dell XPS 13 62
MacBook Air M4: macOS. Dell XPS 13: Windows 11. Neither is scored, but the OS determines software compatibility and how the laptop fits with your phone.
MacBook Air M4 is better on launch price (USD) at $999 against $1,399, a $400 difference; lower is better because launch price is the cleanest baseline for value.
Pros and cons
MacBook Air M4
Pros
- Fanless and silent
- 16 GB memory standard
- Up to 18 hours of battery
- Better launch price (USD) ($999)
Cons
- Weaker refresh rate (60 Hz)
- Weaker weight (1.24 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (256 GB)
- Weaker rated battery life (18 h)
Dell XPS 13
Pros
- Core Ultra 200V efficiency
- Edge-to-edge keyboard design
- Very light at 1.19 kg
- Better launch price (USD) ($1,399)
Cons
- Weaker refresh rate (120 Hz)
- Weaker weight (1.19 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (512 GB)
- Weaker rated battery life (20 h)
Which one should you buy?
Choose Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) for…
Students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop. It stands out for fanless and silent, 16 gb memory standard, up to 18 hours of battery.
Choose Dell XPS 13 (9350) for…
Windows users who want MacBook-like battery life in a premium compact body. It stands out for core ultra 200v efficiency, edge-to-edge keyboard design, very light at 1.19 kg.
Final verdict
Choose the MacBook Air if you want the best value, longest support and macOS. Choose the XPS 13 if you need Windows, a 120 Hz screen, or prefer Dell's edge-to-edge keyboard design. The VersusAnything Score is a transparent starting point, not a command; weight the rows you care about and the right answer for you may differ.
Compare with another laptop
Frequently asked questions
Is MacBook Air M4 better than Dell XPS 13?
On the VersusAnything Score, Dell XPS 13 finishes ahead 61 to 52. That makes Dell XPS 13 the better overall pick for Windows users who want MacBook-like battery life in a premium compact body, while MacBook Air M4 is still the right choice for students and office users who want a silent, long-lasting laptop.
What is the biggest difference between MacBook Air M4 and Dell XPS 13?
The largest gap is screen size: MacBook Air M4 lists 13.6" while Dell XPS 13 lists 13.4". A bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag.
Which is cheaper, MacBook Air M4 or Dell XPS 13?
MacBook Air M4 is cheaper on launch price (USD): $999 against $1,399 for Dell XPS 13. Street prices vary by country and retailer, so check current offers.
Who should choose Dell XPS 13 over MacBook Air M4?
Dell XPS 13 is the better fit for Windows users who want MacBook-like battery life in a premium compact body. Its strongest points are core ultra 200v efficiency, edge-to-edge keyboard design, very light at 1.19 kg.
Sources
- MacBook Air M4: Apple product page (manufacturer)
- Dell XPS 13: Dell product page (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.