Comparison guide
Dell XPS 16 (9640) vs Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5): which should you choose?
Dell XPS 16 (9640) and Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) compared under one framework. One recorded specification difference is Memory: 32 GB on the Dell XPS 16 (9640) against 16 GB on the Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5). Specifications and their sources are recorded alongside.
Published: 2026-06-14 · Updated: 2026-09-21
Laptops verdict
Undocumented scoring basis · overall score and upgrade ranking withheld. The table records stored representative configurations; confirm the configuration and price on the merchant page before buying.
- Dell XPS 16 (9640): A creator's 16-inch — an RTX 4070 and OLED screen strong for both work and video.
- Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5): The latest Air puts M5, 16GB memory, 512GB base storage, and Wi-Fi 7 in a fanless 13-inch body.
- Undocumented quality and performance advantages are not ranked
- Specification field coverage (not accuracy): 100%
Choosing between Dell XPS 16 (9640) and Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) starts with the real use case and the problem to solve, not with which product is newer. No independent laboratory test is implied.
Core specifications on one baseline
| Item | Dell XPS 16 (9640) | Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Memory | 32 GB AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 16 GB AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | -50% |
| Weight | 2.13 kg AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 1.23 kg AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | -42.3% |
| Battery capacity | 99.5 Wh AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 53.8 Wh Manufacturer verified specification · apple_technical_specs · check date not recorded | -45.9% |
| Display brightness | 500 nits AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 500 nits Manufacturer verified specification · apple_technical_specs · check date not recorded | Same |
| Refresh rate | 90 Hz AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 60 Hz AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | -33.3% |
| Thunderbolt/USB-C ports | 3 AskRS catalog index · check date not recorded | 2 Manufacturer verified specification · apple_technical_specs · check date not recorded | -33.3% |
| Chipset | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H | Apple M5 | Different |
| Color | Graphite | Sky Blue | Different |
| Connectivity | 3x Thunderbolt 4, microSD, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 | Different |
| CPU model | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (16C/22T) | Apple M5 10-core CPU | Different |
| GPU model | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop | Apple M5 8-core GPU | Different |
| Operating system | Windows 11 | macOS Tahoe | Different |
| Panel | 16.3" OLED 3840x2400 touch | 13.6-inch Liquid Retina | Different |
| Region | GLOBAL | GLOBAL | Same |
| Screen size | 16.3 in | 13.6 in | -16.6% |
| Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | -50% |
12 of the 32 values in this table carry a source. The rest have no source on record, which is not the same as being wrong.
How to read Same, Different, No data, Unverified and Not applicable is documented on the configuration-level specification screen. If a condition you require is unknown, withhold the decision and match the exact model, sales region and configuration against the sources on that screen.
Differences recorded in the table
6 fields can be ranked on the same basis, listed by weight.
- Memory · Dell XPS 16 (9640) 32 GB, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) 16 GB (-50%)
- Weight · Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) 1.23 kg, Dell XPS 16 (9640) 2.13 kg (-42.3%)
- Battery capacity · Dell XPS 16 (9640) 99.5 Wh, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) 53.8 Wh (-45.9%)
- Refresh rate · Dell XPS 16 (9640) 90 Hz, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) 60 Hz (-33.3%)
- Storage · Dell XPS 16 (9640) 1024 GB, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) 512 GB (-50%)
- Thunderbolt/USB-C ports · Dell XPS 16 (9640) 3, Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) 2 (-33.3%)
The decision axes and the checking order for the whole category are on the Laptops comparison page.
The two products this comparison names
Match the listing against these models first. The recorded-field count is catalogue completeness, not product quality.
- Dell XPS 16 (9640) · Dell · model number 9640 · released 2024 · recorded fields 16/16
- Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) · Apple · model number MacBook Air 13 M5 · released 2026 · recorded fields 16/16
Fields the two products share
2 recorded fields hold the same value for both stored representative configurations, so nothing in this list separates them.
- Display brightness · 500 nits
- Region · GLOBAL
Who should choose Dell XPS 16 (9640)
Dell XPS 16 (9640) leads the table on Memory, Battery capacity, Refresh rate, Storage, Thunderbolt/USB-C ports. A creator's 16-inch — an RTX 4070 and OLED screen strong for both work and video.
Who should choose Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) leads the table on Weight. The latest Air puts M5, 16GB memory, 512GB base storage, and Wi-Fi 7 in a fanless 13-inch body.
How to read price and purchase availability
No merchant link is shown: neither product has an approved listing whose name and configuration match the catalogue, and AsKrs does not guess a destination.
- Dell XPS 16 (9640) · No verified purchase link currently available
- Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) · No verified purchase link currently available
This comparison is built from published specifications and stored representative configurations. The use context, configuration checks, switching costs, and the scope and limits for Laptops are documented on the Laptops comparison page.