✦ SIDE-BY-SIDE COMPARE

MacBook Air 13 M4 vs MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) vs XPS 13 Plus: which is better?

MacBook Air 13 M4, MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) and XPS 13 Plus compared side by side across 107 specs and 7 scored categories — every winner highlighted, so the right pick is obvious.

3 PRODUCTS · 107 SPECS · 7 SCORED CATEGORIES · LIVE RE-RANKING

COMPARING

3 / 4

LAPTOPS

Add or remove products — every chart and spec row re-ranks live.

APPLE

MacBook Air 13 M4

$999

BEST VALUE

← TOP PICK

APPLE

MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)

$1,999

BEST OVERALL

DELL

XPS 13 Plus

$1,199

STRONG CONTENDER

Add product

1 AVAILABLE

⚡ COMPARZONE VERDICT

The MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) takes the overall win.

Highest composite at 9.3/10 — 0.1 ahead of the MacBook Air 13 M4. Tightest race: battery, just 0.2 apart. Scroll for the category-by-category breakdown.

View best price →

CATEGORY WINS · 7 SCOREDTIES SHOWN GREY

PERF

DISP

BATT

DESI

VALU

BUIL

CONN

MacBook Air 13 M4×3

MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)×4

XPS 13 Plus×0

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4BEST VALUE

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)BEST OVERALL

Dell XPS 13 PlusSTRONG CONTENDER

01 · SCORE RADAR

Performance profile

CLICK A PRODUCT TO ISOLATE ITS SHAPE

LARGEST GAPBuild Quality — MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) leads by 9.3

TIGHTESTBattery — only 0.2 between the top two

02 · CATEGORY BREAKDOWN

Category showdown

13 M4M4 PRO13 PLUS

PerformanceiMacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) · +0.5

13 M49.0

M4 PRO9.5

13 PLUS8.8

DisplayiMacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) · +0.3

13 M48.8

M4 PRO9.6

13 PLUS9.3

BatteryiMacBook Air 13 M4 · +0.2

13 M49.6

M4 PRO9.4

13 PLUS7.8

DesigniMacBook Air 13 M4 · +0.3

13 M49.4

M4 PRO0.0

13 PLUS9.1

ValueiMacBook Air 13 M4 · +0.8

13 M48.9

M4 PRO7.8

13 PLUS8.1

Build QualityiMacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) · +9.3

13 M40.0

M4 PRO9.3

13 PLUS0.0

ConnectivityiMacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) · +9.0

13 M40.0

M4 PRO9.0

13 PLUS0.0

03 · VALUE MAP

Price vs performance

TOP-LEFT IS THE SWEET SPOT

SCORE PER $100 · RANKED

01MacBook Air 13 M40.92BEST DEAL

02XPS 13 Plus0.72

03MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)0.47

Map shows current starting prices · trends show tracked street prices. Check live deals before deciding.

04 · THE FULL SHEET

Full specifications

107 SPECS · ALL SHOWN

SPECS

MacBook Air 13 M4$9991W9.2

MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)$1,9996W9.3

XPS 13 Plus$1,1992W8.6

Battery TypeiSAME

—

Battery CapacityMAHiSAME

—

Battery VoltViSAME

—

Included Adapter PowerWiSAME

—

Charging TypeiSAME

—

Fast ChargingiSAME

—

Battery ReplaceableiSAME

—

Battery EnergyWHiSAME

—

Charge TimeHRSiSAME

—

Has sleep-and-charge USB portsiSAME

—

Has a MagSafe Power AdapteriSAME

—

Geekbench 6 Result (Single)iSAME

—

Battery LifeHRi

18 hr← TIED BEST

12 hr

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-C)iSAME

—

Supports WiFiiSAME

—

USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (USB-A)i

2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm

3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm

2x Thunderbolt 4

USB 4 20Gbps PortsiSAME

—

USB 4 40Gbps PortsiSAME

—

Thunderbolt 5 PortsiSAME

—

Thunderbolt 4 PortsiSAME

—

USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports (USB-C)iSAME

—

USB 3.2 Gen 1 Ports (USB-A)iSAME

—

Thunderbolt 3 PortsiSAME

—

Has an HDMI OutputiSAME

—

Has USB Type-CiSAME

—

Has WiFi VersioniSAME

—

Has an External Memory SlotiSAME

—

Bluetooth VersioniSAME

—

RJ45 PortsiSAME

—

USB 2.0 PortsiSAME

—

Display Port OutputsiSAME

—

Has AirPlayiSAME

—

Mini Display Port OutputsiSAME

—

Has a VGA ConnectoriSAME

—

Portsi

2x Thunderbolt 4, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm

3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm

2x Thunderbolt 4

Webcami

12MP Center Stage

1080p + IR

Warranty PeriodiSAME

—

Has a Backlit KeyboardiSAME

—

Uses a Fanless DesigniSAME

—

VolumeCM³iSAME

—

WidthMMiSAME

—

HeightMMiSAME

—

ThicknessMMiSAME

—

French Repairability IndexiSAME

—

Maximum Operating Temperature°CiSAME

—

Minimum Operating Temperature°CiSAME

—

Weather Sealed (Splashproof)iSAME

—

Is a Rugged BuildiSAME

—

Screen SizeINCHiSAME

—

Pixel DensityPPIiSAME

—

Display TypeiSAME

—

Has a Touch ScreeniSAME

—

Refresh RateHZiSAME

—

Contrast RatioiSAME

—

Has Anti-Reflecting CoatingiSAME

—

Supported DisplayiSAME

—

WeightKGi

1.24 kg

1.6 kg

1.19 kg← 4% lighter

Display SizeINi

13.6 in

14.2 in← BEST +4%

13.4 in

Resolutioni

2560 x 1664

3024x1964

3456 x 2160 OLED

Panel Typei

IPS Liquid Retina

Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR)

OLED touch

Refresh RateHZi

60 Hz

120 Hz← BEST +100%

60 Hz

BrightnessNITSi

500 nits

1,600 nits← BEST +220%

400 nits

Release DateiSAME

—

Has Stereo SpeakersiSAME

—

Has a Socket for a 3.5 mm Audio JackiSAME

—

Megapixels (front camera)MPiSAME

—

Has Front CameraiSAME

—

Supports Ray TracingiSAME

—

Supports DLSSiSAME

—

Has a Dolby AtmosiSAME

—

Stylus IncludediSAME

—

Has a Fingerprint ScanneriSAME

—

Number of MicrophonesiSAME

—

Uses 3D Facial RecognitioniSAME

—

Has Voice CommandsiSAME

—

Has S/PDIF Out PortiSAME

—

Has a GyroscopeiSAME

—

Has GPSiSAME

—

Has an AccelerometeriSAME

—

Has a CompassiSAME

—

Has an Optical Disc DriveiSAME

—

LaptopiSAME

—

CPU NameiSAME

—

Has an Unlocked MultiplieriSAME

—

Maximum Memory BandwidthGBiSAME

—

Supports ECC MemoryiSAME

—

Uses HMPiSAME

—

Has TrustzoneiSAME

—

Has NX BitiSAME

—

RAMGBi

16 GB

24 GB← BEST +50%

16 GB

StorageGBi

256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD GB

512GB SSD GB

512GB / 1TB SSD GB

Semiconductor SizeNMiSAME

—

Battery HealthiSAME

—

Has Xess(XMX)iSAME

—

Uses Flash StorageiSAME

—

CPU ThreadsiSAME

—

CPU speedGHZiSAME

—

Is a NVMe SSDiSAME

—

Uses For MultithreadingiSAME

—

Maximum Memory AmountGBiSAME

—

DDR Memory VersioniSAME

—

Turbo Clock SpeedGHZiSAME

—

Supports 64-BitsiSAME

—

Processori

Apple M4

Apple M4 Pro

Intel Core Ultra 7 155H

CPU Coresi

16← BEST +14%

Geekbench 6 (Multi)i

15,200

22,500← BEST +48%

12,800

Graphicsi

10-core Apple GPU

Apple M4 Pro 20-core GPU

Intel Arc integrated

ROW WINS

05 · WHICH ONE IS FOR YOU

Pick by persona

RE-RANKS LIVE AS YOU ADD OR REMOVE PRODUCTS

THE ALL-ROUNDER

Best overall

MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)APPLE9.3

ALL GROUPSEQUAL WEIGHT

Best total score across weighted category factors.

RUNNER-UP · MacBook Air 13 M4 (9.2)

FOR VALUE SEEKERS

Best bang for buck

MacBook Air 13 M4APPLE9.2

SCORE ÷ PRICELIVE PRICES

Strongest score-to-price ratio from the available price data.

RUNNER-UP · XPS 13 Plus (0.7)

PRIORITY · BUILD QUALITY

Best for build quality

MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)APPLE9.3

BUILD QUALITY WEIGHTEDCONF 89%

Best visible score in the build quality category group.

RUNNER-UP · MacBook Air 13 M4 (0.0)

PRIORITY · CONNECTIVITY

Best for connectivity

MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)APPLE9.0

CONNECTIVITY WEIGHTEDCONF 86%

Best visible score in the connectivity category group.

RUNNER-UP · MacBook Air 13 M4 (0.0)

06 · BOTTOM LINE

Why pick each

STRENGTHS · AND ONE HONEST TRADE-OFF

#2APPLE0.0

MacBook Air 13 M4

“Silent, featherlight ultrabook with the M4 chip, all-day battery, and a premium Liquid Retina display.”

Battery 9.6

Design 9.4

Wins Battery Life

TRADE-OFFOnly two Thunderbolt ports

BEST VALUEBest price →

#1APPLE0.0

MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro)

“A compact pro workstation pairing the M4 Pro chip with a stunning mini-LED display and class-leading battery life.”

Display 9.6

Performance 9.5

Wins RAM

Wins Geekbench 6 (Multi)

TRADE-OFFHigh starting price and costly memory upgrades

BEST OVERALLBest price →

#3DELL0.0

XPS 13 Plus

“Futuristic compact Windows ultrabook with a stunning 3.5K OLED option and edge-to-edge keyboard.”

Display 9.3

Design 9.1

Wins Weight

Wins CPU Cores

TRADE-OFFBelow-average battery life

STRONG CONTENDERBest price →

Still deciding? The MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro) is the safest pick.

COMPOSITE 9.3/10 · WINS 4 OF 7 CATEGORIES

Buy the winner →

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) vs Dell XPS 13 Plus: which is best?

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) is our overall pick, scoring 9.3/10 against 9.2/10 for the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 — a 1% edge. Current starting prices span $999–$1,999. The score weighs category-specific laptops attributes, spec wins, price signals, and data confidence — not sponsorships.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) leads overall with a 9.3 total score.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) wins 5 comparable specs with a 5% weighted win rate.
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 has the strongest high-impact advantage in Battery Life.
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 has the best visible score-to-price balance based on available starting price.

Apple MacBook Air 13 M49.2/10

Silent, featherlight ultrabook with the M4 chip, all-day battery, and a premium Liquid Retina display.

Pros

+ ~18 hour battery life
+ Silent fanless design
+ Fast, efficient M4 performance
+ Excellent build, display, and trackpad

Cons

− Only two Thunderbolt ports
− 256GB base storage fills fast
− No high-refresh display

Best for: Students and professionals · Travel and battery life · Quiet everyday work

“The best everyday laptop for most people: silent, light, long-lasting, and quick. The limited port selection and modest base storage are the only real caveats.”

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024)WINNER 9.3/10

A compact pro workstation pairing the M4 Pro chip with a stunning mini-LED display and class-leading battery life.

Pros

+ Excellent sustained CPU and GPU performance for its size
+ Reference-quality 1600-nit mini-LED HDR display
+ Outstanding battery life under real workloads
+ Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SD card, and MagSafe connectivity

Cons

− High starting price and costly memory upgrades
− Design and weight unchanged for several generations
− macOS-only, so limited for Windows-specific software

Best for: Video editors and content creators · Software developers running heavy builds · Photographers needing color accuracy

“If you need real horsepower for code, video, or 3D in a 14-inch body, the M4 Pro MacBook Pro is the one to beat. It is expensive and the design is unchanged, but the combination of sustained performance, display quality, and all-day battery is unmatched in…”

Dell XPS 13 Plus8.6/10

Futuristic compact Windows ultrabook with a stunning 3.5K OLED option and edge-to-edge keyboard.

Pros

+ Stunning 3.5K OLED option
+ Premium compact CNC build
+ Strong productivity performance
+ Excellent keyboard feel

Cons

− Below-average battery life
− Only two USB-C ports
− Can run warm under load

Best for: Design-conscious buyers · OLED-display seekers · Compact productivity

“A gorgeous, compact Windows laptop with a class-leading OLED and bold design. Battery life and the minimal port set are the trade-offs for that look.”

Frequently asked questions

Which is best: Apple MacBook Air 13 M4, Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) or Dell XPS 13 Plus?

By ComparZone's weighted scoring of category-specific laptops specs, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M4 Pro, 2024) scores highest overall (9.3/10, 0.1 points ahead of the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4). It is the better all-round pick, but the right choice depends on your priorities — the spec table above shows exactly where each one wins.

What are the main differences between these laptops?

The biggest measurable differences are Processor, Battery Life, Resolution. The grouped spec sheet above marks the winner of every comparable spec.

Can I compare other laptops on ComparZone?

Yes — ComparZone supports dynamic comparison pages for any 2 to 4 laptops from the same category, with verified specs, transparent scores, and live prices. See the related comparisons below or build your own from the category page.

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