Verdict: MacBook Pro 14 M5 wins overall with 18-hour battery life (Notebookcheck) and up to 128GB unified memory versus Dell XPS 15's 12 hours and 64GB max. Dell XPS 15 provides a larger 15.6-inch OLED at 120Hz and better native Windows app support. The MacBook Pro 14 M5 outperforms on efficiency metrics from AnandTech benchmarks while the XPS 15 suits users needing extra screen real estate.
Winner: MacBook Pro 14 M5
Dell XPS 15: 7.5/10
MacBook Pro 14 M5: 8.5/10
| Dell XPS 15 | MacBook Pro 14 M5 | |
|---|---|---|
| processor | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | Apple M5 |
| display | 15.6-inch OLED 120Hz | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR 120Hz |
| ram_options | 16GB-64GB LPDDR5X | 16GB-128GB unified |
| battery_life | 12 hours (per Notebookcheck) | 18 hours (per Notebookcheck) |
Our pick: MacBook Pro 14 M5.
The Dell XPS 15 runs Windows with discrete GPU options while the MacBook Pro 14 M5 uses Apple silicon. The MacBook Pro leads in battery efficiency per independent tests.
The Dell XPS 15 has a 15.6-inch OLED option and discrete GPU choices while the ThinkPad X1 Carbon uses a 14-inch LCD and integrated graphics only. The X1 Carbon weighs under 2.5 pounds with a spill-resistant keyboard the XPS 15 lacks.
Dell XPS 15 uses a 15.6-inch 3.5K OLED panel and Intel Core Ultra chips with discrete GPU options. MacBook Pro 14 M4 delivers longer battery life and stronger single-core performance in published reviews.
The Dell XPS 15 supports discrete NVIDIA GPUs and a 15.6-inch OLED panel while the MacBook Air M4 uses integrated Apple silicon graphics in a fanless chassis. XPS 15 models include an SD card slot absent on the MacBook Air M4.
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