Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) vs Dell 14 Plus (DB14250)
65.5Performance41.4
29.8Display31.8
55.3Battery65
79.6Portability71.1
7 spec wins — Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5)2 spec wins — Dell 14 Plus (DB14250)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) wins this laptop face-off, 56.9 to 49.5, pulling ahead mainly in performance (+24) and portability (+9). Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5)
- Stronger performance score: 66 vs 41
- Stronger portability score: 80 vs 71
- 67% higher Peak brightness: 500 nits vs 300 nits
- 54% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 4,195 vs 2,728
- 53% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 16,995 vs 11,085
Reasons to pick the Dell 14 Plus (DB14250)
- Stronger battery score: 65 vs 55
- 100% higher Refresh rate: 120 Hz vs 60 Hz
- Lower launch price: $1,099 vs $1,299
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 15.3 ″+9% | 14 ″ |
| Panel type | IPS (Liquid Retina) | IPS (anti-glare) |
| Resolution | 2880x1864 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 60 Hz | 120 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 500 nits+67% | 300 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V |
| Graphics | Apple M5 10-core GPU | Intel Arc Graphics 140V |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| RAM type | LPDDR5X (unified) | LPDDR5X-8533 (soldered) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (QLC) |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,195+54%Top 6% | 2,728Top 50% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 16,995+53%Top 27% | 11,085Bottom 17% |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 67 Wh+4% | 64 Wh |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 13.4 h |
| Charging | 60 W | 65 W+8% |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.51 kg+3% | 1.55 kg |
| Thickness | 11.5 mm+32% | 17 mm |
| Material | Recycled Aluminum | Aluminum lid and base, plastic palmrest and bezel |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm | Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery), USB-A 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, 3.5mm combo |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 6 | 5.4 |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage | 1080p + IR, privacy shutter |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | Fingerprint reader (power button) |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS Tahoe | Windows 11 Home (Copilot+ PC) |
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