Dell XPS 13 9350 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4): Which Laptop Should You Buy?
Quick Verdict
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.0 for the Dell XPS 13 9350, making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the XPS 13 9350 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Key Differences
- Faster overall: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (Geekbench multi 14,800 vs 14,100).
- Longer battery: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (18h vs 15.2h web).
- Lighter: Dell XPS 13 9350 (1.19 kg vs 1.24 kg).
- Display: IPS (Dell XPS 13 9350) vs IPS (Liquid Retina) (Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4)).
- Cheaper: Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) (saves about $150 CAD).
XPS 13 9350 vs MacBook Air 13 (M4): Full Breakdown
Performance: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the stronger performer, posting a multi-core Geekbench score of 14,800 against 14,100 for the Dell XPS 13 9350 — roughly 5% faster in CPU-heavy work like exports and compiling. In our 1080p gaming suite, the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) averaged 34 FPS versus 18 FPS. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better pick if you game or edit video.
Battery and portability: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) lasts longer away from a charger, running 18 hours in our web-browsing test versus 15.2 hours. The Dell XPS 13 9350 is also easier to carry at 1.19 kg versus 1.24 kg, which matters if you commute or travel.
Display: the Dell XPS 13 9350 uses a 13.4-inch IPS panel (1920 x 1200, 60Hz), while the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) has a 13.6-inch IPS (Liquid Retina) panel (2560 x 1664, 60Hz). The Dell XPS 13 9350 measured brighter at 478 nits, and covered 78% of DCI-P3 — relevant for outdoor use and colour work.
Price and value: the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option in Canada, about $150 less than the Dell XPS 13 9350. Weighed against our test scores (8.0 vs 8.5 overall), the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) offers the better value for the money, while the Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the stronger laptop outright if budget is not the deciding factor.
For the complete testing data, read our full Dell XPS 13 9350 review and Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) review.
Where these laptops rank
Both the XPS 13 9350 and the MacBook Air 13 (M4) feature in these BestLaptop.ca rankings:
Winner by Use Case
Specs & Scores Comparison
| Spec | XPS 13 9350 | MacBook Air 13 (M4) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.0 | 8.5 ✓ |
| Price (CAD) | $1,499 | $1,349 ✓ |
| CPU | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite | Apple M4 (10-core) |
| GPU | Qualcomm Adreno (integrated) | Apple M4 GPU (8-core) |
| RAM | 16GB LPDDR5x | 16GB Unified LPDDR5x |
| Storage | 512GB ✓ | 256GB |
| Display | 13.4" IPS | 13.6" IPS (Liquid Retina) |
| Brightness | 478 nits ✓ | 476 nits |
| Battery (web) | 15.2 h | 18 h ✓ |
| Weight | 1.19 kg ✓ | 1.24 kg |
| Geekbench multi | 14,100 | 14,800 ✓ |
| Gaming (1080p) | 18 fps | 34 fps ✓ |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS |
| Warranty | 1-year limited (onsite available) | 1-year limited (AppleCare+ available) |
Which Should You Buy?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.0 for the Dell XPS 13 9350, making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the XPS 13 9350 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I buy the XPS 13 9350 or the MacBook Air 13 (M4)?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) scores 8.5 versus 8.0 for the Dell XPS 13 9350, making it the stronger all-rounder. The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the cheaper option at $1,349. Choose based on the use cases below: the MacBook Air 13 (M4) leads overall, while the XPS 13 9350 can still be the better pick for specific needs.
Which is better for school?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for school.
Which is better for business?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for business.
Which is better for gaming?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for gaming.
Which is better for multimedia?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for multimedia.
Which is better for programming?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for programming.
Which is better for travel?
The Apple MacBook Air 13 (M4) is the better choice for travel.
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