Premium Ultraportables Compared

The MacBook Air M3 and Dell XPS 13 represent the best in ultraportable computing, but they take different approaches.

Performance

MacBook Air M3: Apple Silicon efficiency, fanless design, excellent for creative work Dell XPS 13: Intel Core Ultra, good performance, requires active cooling

Winner: MacBook Air M3 - Better performance, fanless design

Display

MacBook Air M3: Liquid Retina, 500 nits brightness, P3 color Dell XPS 13: InfinityEdge display, touch option, OLED available

Winner: Tie - Both excellent displays

Battery Life

MacBook Air M3: 15-18 hours real-world use Dell XPS 13: 8-12 hours typical use

Winner: MacBook Air M3 - Significantly better battery life

Portability

MacBook Air M3: 2.7 lbs, thin and light Dell XPS 13: 2.6 lbs, equally portable

Winner: Tie - Both extremely portable

Ecosystem

MacBook Air M3: macOS, seamless Apple integration Dell XPS 13: Windows 11, broader software compatibility

Winner: Depends on preference and existing devices

Verdict

Choose MacBook Air M3 for: Better battery, macOS, Apple ecosystem Choose Dell XPS 13 for: Windows software, touch screen, PC gaming