# How does the Dell XPS 13 Plus compare to the MacBook Air M2?

> Expert answer comparing Dell XPS 13 Plus to MacBook Air M2

*Published: 2026-03-23 | Updated: 2026-03-23 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/answers/dell-xps-13-plus-vs-macbook-air-m2-comparison-which-better*

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## Product: Dell XPS 13 Plus Business Laptop, 13.4" 4K UHD OLED Touchscreen, Intel Core i7-1260P, Zero-Lattice Backlit Keyboard, Fingerprint Reader, Killer Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11 (16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe SSD)
**Brand:** Dell

These premium ultraportables compete at similar prices but excel in different areas. Here's how they compare.

## Performance

| Benchmark | XPS 13 Plus (i7) | MacBook Air M2 | Winner |
|-----------|------------------|----------------|--------|
| Multi-core (Geekbench 5) | ~10,293 | ~8,952 | XPS (plugged in) |
| Single-core (Geekbench 5) | ~1,700 | ~1,932 | MacBook |
| Video transcoding | Slower | Faster | MacBook |
| Adobe apps | Good | Better | MacBook |

**Critical note:** XPS 13 Plus only matches M2 performance when connected to power. On battery, the M2 significantly outperforms.

## Battery Life

| Model | Battery Life |
|-------|--------------|
| MacBook Air M2 | 14+ hours |
| XPS 13 Plus LCD | 10-13 hours |
| XPS 13 Plus OLED | 7-8 hours |

**Winner:** MacBook Air M2 (significantly)

## Display

| Specification | XPS 13 Plus OLED | MacBook Air M2 |
|---------------|------------------|----------------|
| Color gamut | 100% DCI-P3 | 100% P3 |
| Contrast | Infinite (OLED) | 1,000,000:1 |
| Touch | Yes | No |
| Resolution | 3456 × 2160 | 2560 × 1664 |

**Winner:** XPS 13 Plus OLED (for creative work)

## Connectivity

- **XPS 13 Plus**: 2× Thunderbolt 4 only (no headphone jack)
- **MacBook Air M2**: 2× Thunderbolt + MagSafe + headphone jack

**Winner:** MacBook Air M2

## The Verdict

**Choose Dell XPS 13 Plus:** Windows requirement, best display for creative work, futuristic design preference

**Choose MacBook Air M2:** Battery life priority, macOS preference, consistent unplugged performance, video/Adobe work

[Compare Dell XPS 13 Plus prices →](https://www.shopsavvy.com/products/UTg3zxa38uAKx4ccEXGg)

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*Where this comes from: This answer is based on ShopSavvy's product database, real-time pricing from thousands of retailers, and analysis of user reviews to give you a well-rounded picture.*