Dell XPS 13 Plus VS MacBook Air M2
August 09, 2022 By Saloni Behl
(Image Credit Google)
Suppose both laptops, Dell XPS 13 Plus VS MacBook Air M2, come from the tech giant brands. In that case, both are sleek and 13- inch ultraportables with large screens, great speakers, and most interestingly, the exact cost; well, it can be challenging to choose one from them. M2 MacBook Air is the news for obvious reasons.
Substantially, it is a big question whether to pick Windows 11 or macOS Ventura as both are versatile operating systems accompanied by powerful laptops. We can guide you to choose one based on others features which will help you make a perfect choice that suits your needs.
First, take a brief look at the specifications of the Dell XPS 13 plus and the MacBook Air M2, which are illustrated below:
Specs |
MacBook Air M2 |
Dell XPS 13 Plus |
Price |
Starts from $1,199 |
Starts from $1,399 |
Display |
13.6 inches |
13.4 inches |
CPU |
8-core M2 CPU |
12th gen Intel Core i5, Core i7 |
RAM |
8 GB to 24 GB |
8 GB to 32 GB |
Storage |
256 GB to 2 TB SSD |
256 GB to 2 TB SSD |
Ports |
2 Thunderbolt/ USB-4, mic |
2 Thunderbolt 4/ USB-4 |
Size |
11.97x8.46x0.44 inches |
11.6x7.8x0.6 inches |
Weight |
2.7 pounds |
2.73 pounds |
Let's compare Dell XPS 13 Plus and MacBook Air M2 based on their specifications:
Based on Design
Most notably, the Dell XPS 13 Plus excavates the function row for a row of capacitive keys that can lie between function keys or shortcuts compared to the MacBook Pro Touch Bar.
When closed, the XPS 13 Plus is ultraportable at 11.63 x 7.84 x 0.6 inches and 2.71 or 2.77 pounds. That means the XPS 13 Plus is slightly lighter than the MacBook Air M2, which weighs 2.7 pounds and measures 11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches.
Based on Display
OLED panels typically have brighter brights, darker darks, and better contrasts than LED or LCD panels, found in the XPS 13 Plus' 3.5K OLED touchscreen, which accurately reproduces colors.
However, the MacBook Air M2 gets a bit brighter than the XPS 13 Plus, achieving an average brightness of 489 nits. Meanwhile, in the lab testing, Dell's ultraportable looks a bit dull by comparison, averaging 366 nits of brightness.
Based on Ports
The Dell XPS 13 Plus is disappointing if you are looking for more ports in your new laptop as it has just a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports for this laptop, mainly when one of those two ports is occupied by the charging cable. On the contrary, Apple did slightly better with the MacBook Air M2, equipping it with a similar pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port.
So basically, if ports matter to you, Apple's MacBook Air M2 is the better choice. M2 MAC CHIP CAN EXCEPTIONALLY SPEED UP THE WEB BROWSING SPEED
Based on Performance
The XPS 13 uses Intel 12th-gen CPUs, specifically the Core i5-1230U and Core i7-1250U. Both are 9-watt, 10-core (two Performance and eight Efficient), 12-thread processors, with the Core i5 running at a max Turbo frequency of 4.40GHz and the Core i7 ramping up to 4.70GHz. However, the MacBook Air M2 employs Apple's eight-core CPU with up to a 10-core GPU M2, which the company declared is up to 18% faster than the M1 in CPU processes and up to 35% faster in its GPU.
Undoubtedly, the MacBook Air M2 should perform better than the new Dell XPS 13.
Based on Gaming
The Dell XPS 13 Plus and MacBook Air M2 proved good compared to gaming. However, the MacBook has a favor which, to some extent, Dell XPS 13 Plus lacks. The Macbook Air M2 has access to all the games in Apple's App Store, allowing you to play those games on the bigger screen.
Based on heat
The XPS 13 Plus' fan cooling system doesn't generate a lot of noise. Of course, you'll hear it, but you shouldn't be too put out by it. Apple's MacBook Air M2 is quieter since it relies on passive cooling (that is, no fans or moving parts) and performance throttling to keep the laptop cool under pressure.
That means the MacBook Air M2 should feel slightly more comfortable in your lap during extended work sessions.
Based on Webcam
The MacBook Air M2 also has a Full HD webcam than the XPS 13's 720p variety. In addition, it uses Apple's Touch ID fingerprint reader for passwordless login, while the XPS 13 supports a fingerprint reader and an infrared camera for facial recognition.
Based on Battery life
Dell's XPS laptops have had a hard time lasting much longer than 8 hours in our in-house battery test, while MacBook Air M2 lasted over 14 hours and 6 minutes in the battery test performed by the Tomsguide. Patently Apple, an Apple-centric blog, recently reported that Dell published a patent that indicates the company is exploring the reverse wireless charging technology.
So, it is double the battery life of the XPS 13 Plus OLED; hence Apple MacBook Air M2 is preferably a good choice.
Based on Connectivity
As both laptops sport two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, their connectivity attributes are almost identical. The difference is that the MacBook Air M2 maintains a 3.5mm audio jack while the XPS 13 omits it. That's a disappointment and gives Apple a chance to prove its superiority.
However, the XPS 13 has more up-to-date wireless connectivity with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 versus Wi-Fi 6 and 5.0.
Based on Portability
The XPS 13 is slightly slender than the MacBook Air M2 and more than half an inch lightweight. There is an imperceptible difference in their weights, but both laptops can conviniently fit in your backpack.
Bottom line: Choosing between the Dell XPS 13 Plus vs. Apple's MacBook Air M2 is tricky because, as you can see, they're nearly identical 13-inch ultraportables with excellent Performance and comparable prices. But if you know what you need your laptop for, the choice becomes a lot easier.
By Saloni Behl
I always had a crush on technology that\'s why I love reviewing the latest tech for the readers.