Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs Dell XPS 16 (9640)
Apple's MacBook Air 15" M3 delivers exceptional value at $1299, pairing the efficient M3 chip with a sharper 2880x1864 display and impressive 18-hour battery life in a svelte 1.51kg chassis. Dell's XPS 16 ($1899) counters with a larger 16.3" screen, doubled RAM (16GB vs 8GB), double the storage (512GB), and Intel's more powerful Core Ultra 7, though it weighs considerably more at 2.13kg and offers shorter battery endurance. For everyday productivity, content creation, and portability, the MacBook Air's efficiency, lightweight design, and superior display quality make it the stronger choice. The XPS 16 suits users needing raw multitasking power and expandable storage, but at a $600 premium with noticeable weight penalties. MacBook Air wins for most buyers seeking balance.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | Dell XPS 16 (9640) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 2.13 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC aluminum and carbon fiber |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 358.1 x 240.1 x 18.7 mm |
| Ports | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 3 |
| SD card | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours wireless web | Up to 13 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 99.5 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 16.3 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS LED | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3
Pros
- Large 15-inch display in a thin, light chassis
- Silent fanless design
- Strong M3 performance for everyday workloads
- All-day 18-hour battery life
- Six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports
- 8 GB base RAM is tight for power users
- No ProMotion or HDR display
- 256 GB base SSD has slower single-chip speeds
- No HDMI or SD card slot
Dell XPS 16 (9640)
Pros
- Premium CNC aluminum chassis with edge-to-edge keyboard
- Optional 4K OLED touch display available
- Powerful Core Ultra and RTX 4050-4070 GPU options
- Large 99.5 Wh battery
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports
Cons
- No USB-A, HDMI, or SD card slot
- Capacitive touch function row is divisive
- Invisible haptic trackpad takes adjustment
- Heavy and runs hot under load
- Mediocre battery life with discrete GPU
Related Comparisons
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