Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) vs Dell 16 Plus DB16250

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: Dell 16 Plus DB16250

Dell 16 Plus DB16250 takes 9 weighted points vs 7.3, winning on RAM, Storage, Refresh Rate. Read our comprehensive Dell 16 Plus DB16250 review or see the full Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) review. The winner also sits in a more competitive value tier — a clear-cut call.

Highly Rated

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)

Apple M5 (10 Core) · Integrated (Apple iGPU)

Under $1500
4.8 (748)
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VS
Winner

Dell 16 Plus DB16250

Intel Core Ultra 9 288V · Integrated (Intel iGPU)

Under $1500
4.1 (26)
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryMacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)16 Plus DB16250
Gaming3.3/103.7/10
Productivity6.2/105.7/10
Programming5.8/106/10
Engineering / 3D4.4/104.6/10
Student6.3/105.6/10
Travel / Portability7.4/106.3/10
AI Workloads4.1/104.5/10
Value for Money5.7/106/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecMacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)16 Plus DB16250
CPUApple M5 (10 Core)Intel Core Ultra 9 288V
PassMark Score27,32219,876
CPU Cores4P+6E4P+4E
GPUIntegrated (Apple iGPU)Integrated (Intel iGPU)
G3DMark Score——
RAM24 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableNo (soldered)No (soldered)
Storage1 TBSSD2 TBSSD
Display15.3″ Liquid Retina16″ IPS
Resolution2880x18642560x1600
Refresh Rate60 Hz120 Hz
Pixel Density224 PPI189 PPI
TouchscreenNoNo
Weight3.32 lbs3.42 lbs
Thickness0.45″0.67″
Amazon Rating4.8 ★ (748)4.1 ★ (26)
Value Score5.7/106/10

CPU Comparison

The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)'s Apple M5 (10 Core) is ~37% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (27,322 vs 19,876). Noticeable in sustained workloads, less so in everyday browsing. Read more in our in-depth MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026) benchmark breakdown and 16 Plus DB16250 performance review.

GPU & Gaming

Neither carries a dedicated GPU — both fine for esports at low settings, neither for modern AAA gaming. For dedicated gaming silicon, check our best gaming laptops guide.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 6.2/10 vs 5.7/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but both share a similar power class, so expect comparable endurance.

Display

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026): 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880x1864 @ 60 Hz. 16 Plus DB16250: 16″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 120 Hz. The Dell 16 Plus DB16250's higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026): 24 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD. 16 Plus DB16250: 32 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 2 TBSSD.

Build & Portability

3.32 lbs / 0.45″ vs 3.42 lbs / 0.67″. Effectively identical to carry. Travel scores: 7.4 vs 6.3.

Value

Value scores land 5.7/10 vs 6/10. The Dell 16 Plus DB16250 extracts more performance per dollar.

Final Verdict

Buy the Dell 16 Plus DB16250 — it wins the weighted spec battle and costs less. You can read the detailed Dell 16 Plus DB16250 review or compare alternative models in our laptop comparison tool.

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Also Consider

More on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 24GB (2026)

More on the Dell 16 Plus DB16250