Apple has come back with another new offering of the MacBook Air, with improvements on the previous model, whereas Dell has also come out with the latest updated Ultrabook XPS 13. The Dell is available at around $1049 and it is powered by the Intel Core 13, a processor of the 4th generation, along with a RAM of 4GB and an SSD, Solid State Drive of 128GB. It is a great improvement on the previous model, due to the improved graphics and the most modern chipsets. The resolution has also increased to a 1920 x 1080 p HD display and there is an option for touchscreen features at $250 extra.
On the other hand, the MacBook Air comes at around $1099 and it is a 13-inch screen, with LED screen resolution at 1440 x 900p. It is powered by the Intel Core i5 Processor, clocking at a speed of 1.36 GHz. It is based on the Haswell chipset and offers a good battery life of about 12 hours, whereas the Dell XPS 13 is around 7 hours. The RAM for the MacBook Air is 4GB with an SSD of 128GB.
Features and Specs Comparison
When comparing the display screens, the MacBook Air is a 13.3 inch screen at 1440 x 900 p resolution, compared to the Dell XPS 13 at 13.3 inches, with 1366 x 768p. Both the devices have a similar RAM capacity and the same storage of 128GB SSD and offer connectivity of Wi-Fi 802.11 and Bluetooth 4.0. As far as the dimensions are concerned, the Dell specs are 12.4 x 81 x 0.24 – 0.71 inches, whereas the MacBook Air specs are 12.8 x 8.94 x 0.11-0.68 inches. The weight of both the notebooks is almost similar at 2.95 pounds for the Dell and 2.96 pounds for the MacBook Air. The Dell XPS is smaller and heavier than the MacBook, but both the devices are premium ones.
Software Specs
There is a lot of difference in the OS of both the notebooks, with the Dell using the Windows 8 and the MacBook coming with the Mac OS X 10.8 version. The Mac OS is considered to be better at controlling and managing media, but both the OS systems have excellent video as well as photo editing tools. There is a metro style atmosphere to the Windows 8 software and the app store, whereas the Mac OS X has a messaging center with its own app center. So, it all depends on the kind of devices you own, as those owning an iPhone or an Apple TV could opt for the MacBook Air, whereas Xbox One owners or those using a Windows phone would like to stay with Dell’s Microsoft OS.
Recommendations and Verdict
If you are looking for a good touchscreen device and an excellent battery life, the Dell XPS 13 is the way to go. However, it is more expensive when you include the touchscreen, compared to the MacBook Air and this might deter some buyers, as both the notebooks come with similar specs. However, users can also opt for the Dell notebook without the touchscreen, that is, the base model. Alternatively, the MacBook Air is also a sleek device in aluminum, with an excellent glass track pad, having all the specs found in the Dell XPS 13 and offered at a lower price of $1099, but Apple’s OS makes it a unique device. So, it all comes to individual preferences, as the Dell notebook offers a great Windows PC, but a little expensive with touchscreen, whereas the MacBook Air can save you about $50 giving the same specs.
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