Head to head

Dell XPS 16 (2024) vs MacBook Air 13" (M3)

Dell XPS 16 (2024) leads 5 to 4 on the 9 rankable specs, but MacBook Air 13" (M3) costs $1,100 less.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Panel: Dell XPS 16 lists OLED touch (Dell sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Air 13" (M3) lists Liquid Retina IPS LED (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Processor: Dell XPS 16 lists Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (Dell sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Air 13" (M3) lists Apple M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Memory: Dell XPS 16 lists 32GB LPDDR5x (Dell sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Air 13" (M3) lists 16 GB unified memory (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Claimed battery life: Dell XPS 16 lists ~8–12 hours mixed use (other published figure, not on maker sheet); MacBook Air 13" (M3) lists Up to 18 hours Apple TV app / 15 hours wireless web (other published figure, not on maker sheet).
Size: Dell XPS 16 lists 16.3 inches (Dell sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Air 13" (M3) lists 13.6 inches (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

Dell XPS 16 (2024)

$2,1995 spec wins

Swap

Compare a different laptop

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition$999 MacBook Air 15" (M3)$1,299 Dell XPS 13 (2024)$1,299 Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (15")$1,499 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)$1,599 MacBook Pro 14" (M4)$1,599 HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)$1,699 Dell XPS 14 (2024)$1,699 Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16$1,799 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12$1,849 Framework Laptop 16$1,999 MacBook Pro 14" (M4 Pro)$1,999 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition$1,999 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)$2,299 MacBook Pro 16" (2024)$2,499 Razer Blade 16 (2024)$2,999 MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)$3,499

MacBook Air 13" (M3)

$1,0994 spec wins

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Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your laptop.

Your devices

Select your ecosystem to flag non-functional features or platform lock-in.

Straight answer

Overall: 5 to 4

Buy the Dell XPS 16.

Leads 5 of 9 rankable overall specs; MacBook Air 13" (M3) takes 4.
Memory: 32GB LPDDR5x vs 16 GB unified memory
Size: 16.3 inches vs 13.6 inches
MacBook Air 13" (M3) is $1,100 cheaper. Pay the difference only if memory matters to you.

Check first: the Dell XPS 16 weighs over 4 lb (1.8 kg). Tick them under deal-breakers if that rules it out.

5 Dell XPS 169 rankable of 29 specsMacBook Air 13" (M3) 4

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

No touchscreenrow
No pen or touch input for marking up PDFs or sketching.
Clear:Dell XPS 16 · YesTrips:MacBook Air 13" (M3) · No
RAM cannot be upgradedrow
The memory you buy today is the memory you keep.
Trips:Dell XPS 16 · No (soldered)Trips:MacBook Air 13" (M3) · No (soldered unified memory)
No HDMI portrow
Projectors and meeting-room TVs need a dongle.
Trips:Dell XPS 16 · No native HDMITrips:MacBook Air 13" (M3) · No (via adapter)
macOS, not Windowsrow
Windows-only software such as some CAD, games and corporate VPN clients needs a workaround.
Clear:Dell XPS 16 · Windows 11Trips:MacBook Air 13" (M3) · macOS Sequoia
Over 4 lb (1.8 kg)row
Heavy in a backpack on a daily commute.
Trips:Dell XPS 16 · 4.5 lbClear:MacBook Air 13" (M3) · 2.7 lb
60 Hz displayrow
Scrolling and games look less smooth than on a 120 Hz panel.
Trips:Dell XPS 16 · 60 Hz (OLED config)Trips:MacBook Air 13" (M3) · 60 Hz

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

4 of 4 differ

Panel≠

Dell

OLED touch

Apple

Liquid Retina IPS LED

Processor≠

Dell

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

Apple

Apple M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)

Memory

Dell

32GB LPDDR5x

Apple

16 GB unified memory

Claimed battery life

Dell

~8–12 hours mixed use

Apple

Up to 18 hours Apple TV app / 15 hours wireless web

True 3-Year Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Upfront price + 3 years of consumables, fees & essential add-ons

Dell XPS 16

Upfront list price$2,199

3-Year Estimated Total$2,199

MacBook Air 13" (M3)

Upfront list price$1,099

Essential add-ons (USB-C to HDMI/USB-A adapter)+$25

3-Year Estimated Total$1,124

Commuter Portability & Lap Comfort Check

Real-world travel weight including chargers, bag fit, and lap thermals.

Ergonomic & Spatial Check

Backpack Sleeve Compatibility

Dell

Requires dedicated 16" laptop bag compartment

Apple

Ultra-thin 0.44 in profile; slips into any bag sleeve

Lap Ergonomics & Vent Placement

Bottom intake vents can choke and heat up your lap when used on beds or couches.

Dell

Vapor chamber exhausts rear; heavy GPU workload warms lap

Apple

Fanless zero-noise design; stays comfortably cool on lap

Total Travel Weight (Chassis + Charger)

Always factor in the power adapter when calculating commuter bag weight.

Dell

4.70 lb laptop + 130W brick = ~5.8 lb total carry

Apple

2.70 lb laptop + 35W dual charger = ~3.2 lb total carry

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

Dell: What to watch for

Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

Apple: What to watch for

Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

Dell XPS 16$2,1995 wins

MacBook Air 13" (M3)$1,0994 wins

Display Performance Build & input Ports Battery Software

29 of 29 attributes differ. Identical rows are dimmed.

Display

leads 3-0

Display specifications. Middle column is Dell XPS 16 (2024), right column is MacBook Air 13" (M3).
Size	16.3 inches (wins this row: higher)	13.6 inches
Panel	OLED touch	Liquid Retina IPS LED
Resolution	3840 × 2400 (3.2K) (wins this row: higher)	2560 × 1664 (224 ppi)
Refresh rate	60 Hz (OLED config)	60 Hz
BrightnessNot on the official sheet	~400–500 nits typical OLED	500 nits
Color	DCI-P3, touch + pen support	P3 wide color
Touchscreen	Yes (wins this row: has it)	No

Performance

leads 2-0

Performance specifications. Middle column is Dell XPS 16 (2024), right column is MacBook Air 13" (M3).
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 9 185H	Apple M3 (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics	Intel Arc + optional NVIDIA RTX	Integrated 10-core Apple GPU
Memory	32GB LPDDR5x (wins this row: higher)	16 GB unified memory
RAM upgradable	No (soldered)	No (soldered unified memory)
Storage	1TB SSD	512 GB SSD
Storage upgradable	Yes (replaceable SSD) (wins this row: has it)	No (soldered SSD)

Build & input

leads 2-0

Build & input specifications. Middle column is Dell XPS 16 (2024), right column is MacBook Air 13" (M3).
Weight	4.5 lb (2.04 kg)	2.7 lb (1.24 kg) (wins this row: lower)
Thickness	18.5 mm	11.3 mm (0.44 inches) (wins this row: lower)
Materials	Aluminum + carbon fiber	100% recycled aluminum unibody
Keyboard	Backlit chiclet	Magic Keyboard with Touch ID
Trackpad	Large haptic/precision glass	Force Touch trackpad
Webcam	FHD IR (Windows Hello)	1080p FaceTime HD camera
Speakers	Quad speakers, Dolby Atmos	Four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio

Ports

leads 1-0

Ports specifications. Middle column is Dell XPS 16 (2024), right column is MacBook Air 13" (M3).
Thunderbolt / USB-C	2× Thunderbolt 4 + USB-C	2× Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
HDMI	No native HDMI (dongle)	No (via adapter)
SD card	microSD	No
MagSafe	No	Yes (MagSafe 3) (wins this row: has it)
Headphone jack	Yes (3.5 mm)	Yes (3.5 mm with high-impedance support)
Charger	100W USB-C	30W / 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter

Battery

leads 1-0

Battery specifications. Middle column is Dell XPS 16 (2024), right column is MacBook Air 13" (M3).
Claimed battery lifeNot on the official sheet	~8–12 hours mixed use	Up to 18 hours Apple TV app / 15 hours wireless web (wins this row: higher)

Software

2 differences

Software specifications. Middle column is Dell XPS 16 (2024), right column is MacBook Air 13" (M3).
Operating system	Windows 11	macOS Sequoia
Repairability	Medium (SSD swappable; RAM not)	Low (integrated SoC design)

Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.

Dell XPS 16 (2024) source MacBook Air 13" (M3) source

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

Dell XPS 16 (2024)

Premium 16-inch Windows laptop with OLED touchscreen and Intel Core Ultra 9.

3.2K OLED touchscreen
Windows software and game compatibility
Carbon-fiber / aluminum build

What you give up

Battery life trails the MacBook
Can get warm under load
No MagSafe-style magnetic charge by default

Full Dell XPS 16 (2024) specs →

Pick this one if

MacBook Air 13" (M3)

13.6-inch ultraportable with Apple M3 chip, Liquid Retina display, and fanless silent design.

Exceptional battery life (up to 18 hours)
Fanless completely silent operation
Compact lightweight design (2.7 lb)

What you give up

Supports only up to two external displays with lid closed
Base model starts at 256GB storage

Full MacBook Air 13" (M3) specs →

Best for each use

Travel

In a bag every day: weight, battery, a screen you can read on a train

For travel, buy the MacBook Air 13" (M3).

Leads 3 of 3 rankable travel specs.
Claimed battery life: Up to 18 hours Apple TV app / 15 hours… vs ~8–12 hours mixed use
Weight: 2.7 lb vs 4.5 lb
It is also $1,100 cheaper.

Heavy work

Video, 3D, compiles or games: CPU, GPU, memory and panel quality

Too close to call on heavy work from the spec sheets. Only memory is rankable here.

Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 185H vs Apple M3
Graphics: Intel Arc + optional NVIDIA RTX vs Integrated 10-core Apple GPU

Longevity

Keep it five years: upgradable parts, repairability, ports without dongles

Too close to call on longevity from the spec sheets. Only storage upgradable is rankable here.

RAM upgradable: No vs No
Repairability: Medium vs Low

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

Dell XPS 16 (2024) spec sheet MacBook Air 13" (M3) spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: Dell XPS 16 (2024) ↗ · MacBook Air 13" (M3) ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the Dell XPS 16 or the MacBook Air 13" (M3)?

MacBook Air 13" (M3) costs $1,100 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the Dell XPS 16 or MacBook Air 13" (M3)?

MacBook Air 13" (M3) has this deal-breaker: no touchscreen. No pen or touch input for marking up PDFs or sketching.

Which is better for travel, the Dell XPS 16 or the MacBook Air 13" (M3)?

For travel, buy the MacBook Air 13" (M3). Leads 3 of 3 rankable travel specs. Claimed battery life: Up to 18 hours Apple TV app / 15 hours… vs ~8–12 hours mixed use

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 29 specs tracked here, 20 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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