Dell XPS 13 (2026) vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 12 published reviews

Dell

XPS 13 (2026)

The Dell XPS 13 (2026) is a premium-feeling ultraportable with a 120Hz touch display, excellent battery life, and strong value, but limited ports and base 8GB RAM are compromises.

Best for: Students, travelers, everyday productivity
Skip it if: Gaming, heavy video editing, many ports needed

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Dell XPS 13 (2026)

Apple

MacBook Air 13 (M5)

The M5 MacBook Air 13 delivers strong performance, exceptional battery life, and a premium portable design, but lacks a high-refresh display and has limited ports.

Best for: Everyday productivity, creative tasks, and portable macOS use
Skip it if: Need high-refresh screen, many ports, or sustained heavy loads

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)

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Specs side by side

Spec	Dell XPS 13 (2026)	Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)
Screen	13.4″	13.6″
Memory	8 GB	16 GB
System	Windows	macOS
Processor	Intel Core 5 320	Apple M5
Refresh rate	120 Hz	–
Touchscreen	Yes	No
Storage	512 GB	512 GB
Graphics	Integrated	Integrated
OLED	No	No
2-in-1	No	No

Rows where the two differ come first.

Where only one fits

use: MacBook Air 13 (M5)WorkPhoto and video
system: XPS 13 (2026)Windows; MacBook Air 13 (M5)Mac
must-haves: XPS 13 (2026)Touchscreen120 Hz+ screen; MacBook Air 13 (M5)16 GB+ memory

What reviewers like, and what they don't

Dell XPS 13 (2026)

Ultra-light 1kg aluminum chassis 1 2 5 7
Sharp 120Hz 2.5K touchscreen 1 2 5 7
Nearly 20-hour video battery life 2 5 8
Premium build with glass trackpad 1 2 5 7
Strong value versus MacBook Neo 2 3 4 6
Only two USB-C ports, no headphone jack 2 5 7 8
Base 8GB RAM limits longevity 2 4 5 8
Modest graphics for gaming or heavy editing 2 5 7
Fixed memory not upgradeable 2 7

Apple MacBook Air 13 (M5)

Strong overall performance with M5 chip 1 2 3 4
Excellent battery life lasting 14-18 hours 1 2 3 4
Comfortable keyboard and responsive trackpad 1 2 3
Lightweight portable design at 1.23 kg 1 2
Silent fanless operation for quiet use 1 3 4
No high-refresh-rate display (60Hz only) 2 3 4
Higher price than previous generations 1 2 3
Limited ports with only USB-C 2 3
Thermal throttling under sustained heavy loads 1 3

Ranked in our guides

Guide	XPS 13 (2026)	MacBook Air 13 (M5)
Best laptops for college students	#1	–
Best laptops for video editing	–	#7

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 12 published reviews, read on October 24, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.