MacBook Air M4 vs Dell XPS 13 vs Surface Laptop 7: Which Wins?

Design & Build

All three laptops nail the premium ultraportable aesthetic, but they take different approaches. The MacBook Air M4 weighs 2.7 lbs and measures impossibly thin at 0.44 inches. Apple's unibody aluminum construction feels rock-solid, and the wedge design has become iconic for good reason. According to Tom's Guide, it's "the laptop we recommend most" partly because of how well the hardware holds up over time.

The Dell XPS 13 comes in at 2.8 lbs with a 13.4-inch display in a chassis that's nearly as compact as the Air. Dell's CNC-machined aluminum and carbon fiber palm rest give it a distinct premium feel. Laptop Mag called it "the best compact laptop on the market," praising the edge-to-edge display and minimal bezels. The XPS 13's design language is more modern and aggressive than Apple's classic look.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 also weighs 2.8 lbs with an all-metal build that reviewers consistently describe as premium. The haptic trackpad is a standout feature. CNET noted it's "a strong contender in the ultraportable market" with build quality that punches above its current $720 sale price. The design is clean and professional, though less distinctive than either competitor.

Winner: MacBook Air M4. It's the lightest at 2.7 lbs, the thinnest, and Apple's build quality remains the benchmark. The XPS 13 is close, but the Air's combination of weight and durability gives it the edge.

Performance

This is where the differences get real. The MacBook Air M4 runs Apple's latest silicon with 16GB of unified memory. Tom's Guide found it delivers "killer combo of speed, endurance, and affordability." The M4 handles 4K video editing, runs multiple browser tabs without lag, and compiles code faster than Intel-based competitors. It's completely fanless, which means silent operation under all workloads.

The Dell XPS 13 packs an Intel Core i7-1365G7 processor with 16GB RAM. Ars Technica gave it a 9.4/10, noting it "remains a top choice for those seeking a high-end ultrabook." In real-world multitasking and creative work, it's fast and responsive. However, Intel's 13th-gen chips can't match Apple's M4 in single-core performance or efficiency. The XPS 13 also needs fans, which kick in under sustained loads.

Microsoft's Surface Laptop 7 uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite ARM processor. Battery life is excellent, but as our analysis found, the chip "loses single-core performance to M3" and faces ARM architecture limitations. Software compatibility issues remain, especially for gaming and specialized professional apps. It's fast enough for everyday work, but it's not competing with the M4 or even Intel's latest chips in raw performance.

Winner: MacBook Air M4. The M4 chip delivers faster performance than both competitors while running completely silent. The XPS 13 is capable, but it can't match Apple's efficiency. The Surface Laptop 7's ARM limitations put it third.

Display Quality

The MacBook Air M4 features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display with 500 nits of brightness and P3 wide color gamut. Wirecutter praised it as having a "bigger brighter screen" compared to previous models. It's sharp, color-accurate, and bright enough for outdoor use. However, it lacks ProMotion (high refresh rate), which some competitors offer at this price point.

Dell's XPS 13 sports a 13.4-inch FHD+ display with excellent color reproduction. CNET gave it a 9.1/10, calling it "a sleek and powerful ultrabook that delivers on all fronts." The display is sharp and vibrant, though not OLED. Color accuracy is excellent for photo editing and creative work. The nearly edge-to-edge design maximizes screen real estate in a compact footprint.

The Surface Laptop 7's display is good but not exceptional. As our review noted, there's "no OLED option when competitors offer it at this price." It's a solid IPS panel with decent brightness and color, but it doesn't stand out. For a laptop targeting creative professionals, the lack of an OLED upgrade path is disappointing.

Winner: Tie between MacBook Air M4 and Dell XPS 13. Both deliver excellent color accuracy and brightness. The Air is slightly brighter, but the XPS 13's edge-to-edge design is impressive. The Surface Laptop 7 trails behind.

Battery Life

Battery life separates the winners from the also-rans in ultraportables. The MacBook Air M4 delivers 18 hours of real-world use according to Tom's Guide. Our review confirmed: "Battery lasts all day, every day without fail." You can work through a full day, handle evening emails, and still have charge left. The M4's efficiency makes this possible without a massive battery.

The Surface Laptop 7 actually beats the MacBook Air on paper, hitting nearly 20 hours in YouTube streaming tests. CNET called this "impressive," and our analysis confirmed it's "finally a Windows laptop that can hang with MacBooks when it comes to staying powered all day." Qualcomm's ARM architecture delivers genuine all-day battery life.

The Dell XPS 13 manages 14 hours of battery life, which is respectable but clearly behind both competitors. Digital Trends gave it a 9.0/10 but noted battery life isn't quite at MacBook levels. Intel's chips are more power-hungry than ARM alternatives, and it shows in endurance tests.

Winner: Surface Laptop 7. At nearly 20 hours, it edges out the MacBook Air's 18 hours. The Dell XPS 13's 14 hours is good but not competitive with ARM-based alternatives.

Value for Money

Here's where things get interesting. The MacBook Air M4 starts at $850 on Amazon (down from $999 MSRP). For that price, you get 16GB RAM, 256GB storage, the M4 chip, and 18-hour battery life. Tom's Guide called it the "best laptop for most people" partly because of this value proposition. However, storage and RAM upgrades cost a premium. Bumping to 512GB adds $200, which is expensive.

The Dell XPS 13 costs $1,300 at Amazon with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. That's $450 more than the base MacBook Air, but you get four times the storage. Laptop Mag rated it 9.3/10, acknowledging the premium price but noting the specs justify it for power users. The 1TB storage is genuinely useful if you work with large files.

The Surface Laptop 7 is currently $720 at Best Buy (down from $1,125 MSRP). Our review called this "an excellent value" at the sale price. You get nearly 20 hours of battery life, premium build quality, and solid performance for everyday work. However, at full MSRP, it's overpriced given the ARM limitations and missing OLED option.

Winner: MacBook Air M4. At $850, it delivers the best performance-per-dollar. The Dell XPS 13's extra storage is nice but doesn't justify the $450 premium. The Surface Laptop 7 is only competitive on sale.

Ports and Connectivity

The MacBook Air M4 has two Thunderbolt 4 ports and a MagSafe charging port. Our review noted "only two ports is genuinely annoying" for users who need to connect multiple peripherals. You'll need a hub for HDMI, USB-A, or SD card access. The MagSafe charging is convenient and frees up one Thunderbolt port, but this is still limited connectivity.

The Dell XPS 13 also offers two Thunderbolt 4 ports, putting it in the same boat as the MacBook Air. You get fast data transfer and charging, but you'll need dongles for legacy devices. Dell doesn't include MagSafe-style magnetic charging, so one port is always occupied when plugged in.

The Surface Laptop 7 includes two USB-C ports and a Surface Connect port for charging. The dedicated charging port is useful, but the USB-C ports lack Thunderbolt 4 speeds. For most users this won't matter, but it's a limitation for high-speed external storage or displays.

Winner: Tie. All three laptops are limited to two main ports. The MacBook Air's MagSafe gives it a slight edge, but none of these machines are port-rich.

Who Should Buy What?

Get the MacBook Air M4 if you want the best overall laptop for everyday work, creative projects, and all-day battery life. It's the fastest machine here, runs completely silent, and costs less than the Dell XPS 13 while delivering better performance. The 256GB base storage is tight, but if you can live with that or afford the upgrade, this is the laptop most people should buy. It's especially good for students, professionals who travel frequently, and anyone who values build quality and longevity.

Get the Dell XPS 13 if you need 1TB of storage out of the box and prefer Windows. The $1,300 price tag is steep, but you get a premium ultrabook with excellent build quality and a gorgeous display. It's the right choice for Windows users who work with large files, need specific Windows software, or want a machine that looks as modern as it performs. Just know you're paying a premium for those extras.

Get the Surface Laptop 7 only if you find it on sale for $720 or less. At that price, it's a solid Windows alternative with exceptional battery life and premium build quality. The ARM architecture means some software won't run natively, and gaming is limited. But for web browsing, Office work, and media consumption, it's a capable machine at a discount. At full MSRP of $1,125, skip it and get the MacBook Air instead.

Final Verdict

The MacBook Air M4 wins this comparison. It earned the highest rating from professional reviewers (9.4/10) for good reason: it delivers the best combination of performance, battery life, build quality, and value. Tom's Guide called it "the laptop we recommend most," and after comparing all three machines, that recommendation holds up.

The M4 chip is faster than Intel's Core i7 in the Dell XPS 13 and Qualcomm's Snapdragon in the Surface Laptop 7. It runs completely silent while the XPS 13 needs fans. Battery life at 18 hours beats the Dell decisively and only trails the Surface Laptop by two hours. At $850, it costs $450 less than the XPS 13 while outperforming it.

Yes, the Dell XPS 13 offers more storage and a beautiful design. Yes, the Surface Laptop 7 has slightly longer battery life. But the MacBook Air M4 is the better laptop for more people. It's faster, quieter, lighter, and cheaper than the Dell. It's more powerful and more compatible than the Surface. Unless you absolutely need Windows or 1TB of storage out of the box, the MacBook Air M4 is the ultraportable to buy in 2025.