Apple MacBook Air 2013 vs Dell XPS 13: Spec showdown

By Drew Prindle June 10, 2013

MacBook Air vs Dell XPX 13 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

This story is part of our complete Apple WWDC coverage

Apple kicked off this year’s WWDC conference with a slew of new announcements, and among them was the new and improved fleet of MacBook Airs. This year’s 13-inch model boasts a handful of improvements over last year’s, but it isn’t exactly enough to make Apple king of the Ultrabook market. To help you get a sense of how the new Macbook Air stacks up against the competition, we’ve put it up against Dell’s XPS 13 Ultrabook in this detailed spec comparison.

	Dell XPS 13 Image used with permission by copyright holder	13-inch Macbook Air 2013 Image used with permission by copyright holder
Dimensions	12.4” x 8.1” x 0.71”	12.8” x 8.94” x 0.68”
Weight	2.99 pounds	2.96 pounds
Chassis	Carbon fiber	Aluminum
Keyboard	Backlit	Backlit w/ ambient light sensor
Processor	2.6 GHz Core i5-3337U	1.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 (Haswell)
RAM	8GB	4GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3
Graphics	HD Graphcis 4000	Intel D Graphics 5000
Screen Size	13.3″	13.3″
Resolution	1920 x 1080	1440 by 900
Storage	256GB SSD	256GB SSD
Networking	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 3.0	Wi-Fi (including 802.11ac), Bluetooth 4.0
Ports	HDMI, Mini Display port, 2 USB 3.0, SDXC card reader	USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, SDXC card reader
Webcam	1.3 MP webcam	720p HD webcam
Operating System	Windows 8	Mac OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)
Battery Life	8 hours	12 hours
Price	$1,400	$1,300

As you can see, the new Macbook is a bit slimmer and lighter than the XPS, but also doesn’t come with nearly the screen resolution, storage space, or RAM that Dell boasts. Still, it’s worth noting that Apple’s machine boasts superior battery life, and comes equipped with the latest 802.11ac wireless networking standard, meaning it’ll be capable of faster throughput and data transfer rates – if you’ve got an AC router.

As for the pricetag, Apple is a bit easier on your wallet than Dell, but depending on how much you value your pixels and storage space, the XPS 13 might be worth the extra $100.

Which laptop would you choose, and why?

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…

Computing

How to keep your MacBook from sleeping

The M3 MacBook Air in front of a window.

Your MacBook is your go-to powerhouse for all things computing. Web browsing, graphic design, video editing, music production, you name it, the MacBook can do it. But like any good laptop, your MacBook has a number of battery-saving features built in and enabled by default. One of these functions is the computer’s sleep mode, which optimizes battery life by decreasing power usage.

Computing

Best Dell XPS deals: Save on Dell XPS 13, Dell XPS 15 and Dell XPS 17

Dell XPS 15 OLED on a table.

When it comes to purchasing a new laptop, from Apple to Lenovo, all of the best laptop brands are worth considering. Sandwiched in there is a brand that’s been at or near the top of the laptop hierarchy for decades: Dell. Dell is also a great brand to turn to if you’re looking for some savings, as it’s almost always among the best laptop deals worth shopping, and that’s certainly the case right now. Its XPS lineup is particularly worth pointing out, as each of its laptop sizes are seeing great discounts. We’ve rounded up all of the best Dell XPS deals in one place, so you can read onward to find the best way to save and some information on which Dell XPS model may be best for you.
Best Dell XPS 13 deals

The Dell XPS 13 is the smallest in the Dell XPS line. It's great for commuters and students. These laptops don't generally have powerful GPUs, but they're fast, reliable and sleek.

Computing

Best refurbished MacBook deals: Get a MacBook Air for $140 and more

A stack of MacBooks is pictured from the top down.

If you’re in the market for one of the best laptops it’s worth turning your attention toward Apple’s MacBook lineup, and if you’re looking for some savings it can be helpful to shop MacBook deals. Due to the popularity of Apple’s MacBooks they don’t often see significant discounts, but a good way to land some impressive MacBook deals is by shopping refurbished. Most refurbished MacBooks are backed by warranties and decent return windows, allowing you to shop refurbished MacBooks with the confidence you might have when shopping for a brand new one. We’ve tracked down what we feel are the best refurbished MacBook deals currently taking place, so feel free to start shopping for a refurbished MacBook with some savings.
MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2015) -- from $140

Once the latest MacBook Air but now eight years old and still competent, the MacBook Air 11.6-inch (2015) is a great starting point for anyone new to macOS or who just needs something financially on par with a Chromebook. It's a refurbished model but it comes with a one-year warranty so there's peace of mind here. It won't run the latest macOS unfortunately, but its Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and 128GB of SSD storage helps you perform the basics. It still has all the style of a MacBook so we're thinking this could be a good entry point as your child's first MacBook or if you want a project.