Dell XPS 15 (2025)
Core Ultra 9 · RTX 4070 · 15.6″ OLED
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
M4 · 15.3″ · Fanless · $1,199
MacBook Air 15" (M4) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Dell XPS 15 (2025) lands at 90 and MacBook Air 15" (M4) at 93. That puts MacBook Air 15" (M4) ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Dell XPS 15 (2025) if…
- ✓Stunning 15.6″ OLED
- ✓Best-in-class build
- ✓Solid creator performance
Pick MacBook Air 15" (M4) if…
- ✓Silent fanless M4
- ✓Excellent battery
- ✓Huge bright display
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPerformance
Dell XPS 15 (2025)CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work
Dell XPS 15 (2025) leads on gpu (88 vs 84).
Battery life
MacBook Air 15" (M4)Unplugged endurance for travel and campus
MacBook Air 15" (M4) leads on battery (96 vs 80).
Portability
MacBook Air 15" (M4)Weight, size, and carry-everywhere comfort
MacBook Air 15" (M4) leads on portability (94 vs 86).
Display
Dell XPS 15 (2025)Panel quality for creative and media work
Dell XPS 15 (2025) leads on display (96 vs 88).
Value for money
MacBook Air 15" (M4)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
MacBook Air 15" (M4) more score per dollar ($1,199 vs $2,499).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Dell XPS 15 (2025) | MacBook Air 15" (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | — |
| GPU | RTX 4070 Laptop | — |
| RAM | ▲ Up to 64 GB | 16/24/32 GB |
| Storage | Up to 4 TB | ▲ 256 GB – 2 TB |
| Display | ▲ 15.6″ OLED 3456×2160 | 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880×1864 |
| Weight | 1.92 kg | ▲ 1.51 kg |
| Chip | — | Apple M4 (10C CPU / 10C GPU) |
Dell XPS 15 (2025)
- +Stunning 15.6″ OLED
- +Best-in-class build
- +Solid creator performance
- −Thermals can spike
- −Only 2× USB-C
- −Battery trails MacBook
MacBook Air 15" (M4)
- +Silent fanless M4
- +Excellent battery
- +Huge bright display
- −Only 2 TB3 ports
- −Single external display (M4 base)
- −No ProMotion
FAQ: Dell XPS 15 (2025) vs MacBook Air 15" (M4)
Which is better, Dell XPS 15 (2025) or MacBook Air 15" (M4)? +
MacBook Air 15" (M4) scores 93 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Dell XPS 15 (2025) worth the price? +
At $2,499, Dell XPS 15 (2025) delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in display.
Is MacBook Air 15" (M4) worth the price? +
At $1,199, MacBook Air 15" (M4) delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in battery.
Does Dell XPS 15 (2025) or MacBook Air 15" (M4) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for performance, Dell XPS 15 (2025) or MacBook Air 15" (M4)? +
Dell XPS 15 (2025) — leads on gpu (88 vs 84). CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work.
Which is better for battery life, Dell XPS 15 (2025) or MacBook Air 15" (M4)? +
MacBook Air 15" (M4) — leads on battery (96 vs 80). Unplugged endurance for travel and campus.