Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 vs Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024)
Both laptops deliver solid performance at $1299, but serve different needs effectively. Apple's MacBook Air M4 15" excels with its larger 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display (2880 x 1864), exceptional 18-hour battery life, and M4's refined efficiency for creative work. Dell's XPS 13 Plus 2024 counters with superior portability at 1.24kg versus 1.51kg, a more powerful 16-core Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, and double the base storage (512GB vs 256GB). However, Dell's design omits traditional USB-C ports entirely, relying solely on Thunderbolt connectivity, which creates practical limitations. The XPS struggles with only 12 hours of battery life. MacBook Air's ecosystem integration, superior screen real estate, and battery endurance make it better for professionals prioritizing longevity and display quality, while the XPS 13 Plus appeals to ultraportable seekers with processing power, though its port constraints warrant consideration.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 | Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.51 kg) | 1.24 kg |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 13.4 x 9.35 x 0.45 inches | 295.3 x 199.0 x 15.3 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 0 | |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 0 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 2 | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours | Up to 12 hours mixed use |
| Capacity | 66.5 Wh | 55 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 15.3 inches | 13.4 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina IPS | InfinityEdge IPS non-touch |
| Resolution | 2880 x 1864 | 1920 x 1200 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 60Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB (configurable to 2 TB) | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB LPDDR5x |
| Cores | 10-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 16-core (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M4 | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Air 15" M4
Pros
- M4 chip delivers massive performance leap over M3 with hardware-accelerated ray tracing
- 16 GB RAM standard — no more $200 upgrade from 8 GB
- 18-hour battery life is genuinely all-day
- Fanless design is completely silent under all workloads
- Gorgeous 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display for content consumption
Cons
- Still limited to 60Hz display — no ProMotion
- Only two Thunderbolt ports — both on the left side
- Base 256 GB storage is tight for a $1,299 laptop
- No HDMI or SD card slot — dongles still required
Dell XPS 13 Plus (2024)
Pros
- Remarkably thin and light at 1.24 kg
- Striking futuristic design with zero-lattice keyboard
- Strong Intel Core Ultra performance
- Excellent build quality with premium aluminum finish
- Optional 4K OLED upgrade available
Cons
- Only two Thunderbolt ports — no USB-A, HDMI, or SD card
- Capacitive function row lacks tactile feedback
- Soldered RAM and SSD cannot be upgraded
- Battery life is merely average for an ultrabook
- Haptic touchpad has invisible borders
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