If you’re looking for a lightweight yet powerful laptop in 2025, the brand-new MacBook Air M4 is already making headlines. But how does it compare to one of its biggest rivals — the Dell XPS 14 (2024)? MacBook Air M4 review 2025
Both laptops are built for students, professionals, and creators who need performance without bulk. In this review, we’ll compare design, display, performance, battery, and price to help you decide which one is the better choice.
💻 Design & Portability
- MacBook Air M4: Apple continues its ultra-thin legacy. At just over 11mm thick, the M4 Air is the thinnest MacBook ever made. It weighs around 2.7 lbs, making it perfect for travel and everyday portability. Available in classic colors like Silver, Space Gray, Midnight, and Starlight.
- Dell XPS 14: Dell’s XPS lineup is famous for premium design. At 3.7 lbs, it’s slightly heavier than the MacBook Air, but its aluminum chassis and edge-to-edge keyboard feel modern and professional.
Winner: MacBook Air M4 — for pure portability.
🖥️ Display Quality
- SPEED OF LIGHTNESS — MacBook Air with the M4 chip lets you blaze through work and play. With Apple Intelligence,* up to …
- SUPERCHARGED BY M4 — The Apple M4 chip brings even more speed and fluidity to everything you do, like working between mu…
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express your…
- MacBook Air M4: Features a stunning 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display with P3 wide color gamut and True Tone. Perfect for creative work, photo editing, and streaming. Brightness reaches up to 500 nits.
- Dell XPS 14: Offers a 14.5-inch OLED touchscreen option with up to 3.2K resolution. Colors are rich and blacks are deep, giving it an advantage for movie lovers and digital artists. MacBook Air M4 review 2025
Winner: Dell XPS 14 — better display options.
⚡ Performance & Power
- MacBook Air M4: Powered by Apple’s new M4 chip, which delivers faster CPU & GPU performance than the M3, while remaining fanless and silent. Excellent for multitasking, editing 4K video, and running apps smoothly.
- Dell XPS 14: Equipped with Intel Core Ultra processors (with integrated Arc GPU). It’s powerful, but under heavy workloads, fans kick in and battery drains faster.
Winner: MacBook Air M4 — better efficiency and consistent performance.
🔋 Battery Life
- MacBook Air M4: Up to 22 hours of battery life, making it one of the longest-lasting laptops of 2025.
- Dell XPS 14: Averages 12–14 hours depending on usage. The OLED display consumes more power.
Winner: MacBook Air M4 — unmatched battery life.
💰 Price & Value
- MacBook Air M4: Starting at around $1,099 for the base model. A great balance of performance and portability, especially for students and professionals.
- Dell XPS 14: Starts at $1,699, especially for the OLED version. More expensive, but offers a larger display and touchscreen.
Winner: MacBook Air M4 — better value for money.
🏆 Final Verdict: Which One Should You Buy?
If you want a lightweight laptop with incredible battery life, silent operation, and excellent all-around performance, the MacBook Air M4 is the winner.
However, if you prioritize OLED visuals, touchscreen capability, and don’t mind paying more, the Dell XPS 14 is a strong contender.
👉 Best Choice for Most Users: MacBook Air M4
- SPEED OF LIGHTNESS — MacBook Air with the M4 chip lets you blaze through work and play. With Apple Intelligence,* up to …
- SUPERCHARGED BY M4 — The Apple M4 chip brings even more speed and fluidity to everything you do, like working between mu…
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express your…