Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026) vs Dell DB14250

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

Winner: Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026)

Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026) takes 9.3 weighted points vs 3.5, winning on CPU Benchmark, Pixel Density, Weight. Read our comprehensive Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026) review or see the full Dell DB14250 review. The winner also sits in a more competitive value tier — a clear-cut call.

Winner
Highly Rated

Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026)

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

Under $1300
4.8 (704)
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VS

Dell DB14250

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

Under $1500
4 (71)
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryMacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026)DB14250
Gaming3.1/103.2/10
Productivity6/105.4/10
Programming5.3/105.6/10
Engineering / 3D4/104.3/10
Student6.4/105.6/10
Travel / Portability7.6/106.3/10
AI Workloads3.6/104.2/10
Value for Money5.6/105.6/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecMacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026)DB14250
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——
RAM16 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableNo (soldered)No (soldered)
Storage512 GBSSD1 TBSSD
Display13.6″ Liquid Retina14″ IPS
Resolution2560 x 16642560x1600
Refresh Rate60 Hz60 Hz
Pixel Density225 PPI216 PPI
TouchscreenNoNo
Weight2.7 lbs3.42 lbs
Thickness0.44″0.67″
Amazon Rating4.8 ★ (704)4 ★ (71)
Value Score5.6/105.6/10

CPU Comparison

The Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 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 (M5) (13.3" 2026) benchmark breakdown and DB14250 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: 6/10 vs 5.4/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but both share a similar power class, so expect comparable endurance.

Display

MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026): 13.6″ Liquid Retina 2560 x 1664 @ 60 Hz. DB14250: 14″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 60 Hz. Panel quality is effectively even.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026): 16 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 512 GBSSD. DB14250: 32 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD.

Build & Portability

2.7 lbs / 0.44″ vs 3.42 lbs / 0.67″. The Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026) is 0.7 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 7.6 vs 6.3.

Value

Value scores land 5.6/10 vs 5.6/10. Both offer comparable performance for their respective classes.

Final Verdict

Buy the Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026) — it wins the weighted spec battle and costs less. You can read the detailed Apple MacBook Air (M5) (13.3" 2026) review or compare alternative models in our laptop comparison tool.

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Also Consider

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