Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) vs Dell 16 Plus (DB16250)
The real choice here is the system: the Apple MacBook Air 15 runs macOS and the Dell 16 Plus runs Windows. Beyond that, the Apple MacBook Air 15 is lighter and has a sharper screen, while the Dell 16 Plus has HDMI and USB-A and has a number pad and Copilot+ AI features.
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Key differences
- Operating system Depends on you
They run different systems: the Apple MacBook Air 15 runs macOS and the Dell 16 Plus runs Windows. Pick the one that runs the apps you rely on.
- Weight Apple MacBook Air 15 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is 0.4 kg lighter: 1.51 kg against 1.87 kg.
- Sharpness Apple MacBook Air 15 wins
The Apple MacBook Air 15's screen is sharper: 3K against 2.5K.
- Ports Dell 16 Plus wins
Only the Dell 16 Plus has HDMI and USB-A.
- Extras Dell 16 Plus wins
Only the Dell 16 Plus has a number pad and Copilot+ AI features.
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Apple MacBook Air 15 if…
- You own an iPhone or prefer a Mac: it runs macOS and works smoothly with Apple devices.
- You'll move it around the house or office: it's 0.4 kg lighter.
- You read, write or edit photos a lot: its 3K screen makes text and images crisper.
Choose the Dell 16 Plus if…
- You need Windows programs or want to play PC games: it runs Windows 11, which runs almost anything.
- You plug things in: it has HDMI (for TVs and monitors) and USB-A (for older USB accessories).
- You want a number pad and Copilot+ AI features, handy for spreadsheets and numbers and Windows' newest AI tools.
Full spec comparison
Add more laptopsThe Apple MacBook Air 15 leads on battery and weight and the screen, while the Dell 16 Plus leads on ports and wireless and extras. Highlighted values mark the better spec in each row, and you can hide the rows where they match.
Performance
Both laptops are very close on performance.
Their processors are in the same class: both are powerful enough for photo and video editing, and both have 16 GB of memory.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 16 Plus (DB16250) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V |
| Graphics | Apple M5 10-core GPU | Intel Arc Graphics |
| AI engine (NPU) | — | 47 TOPS |
| Memory (RAM) | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory type | — | LPDDR5X-8533 |
| Maximum memory | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory upgrades | Soldered (not upgradeable) | Soldered (not upgradeable) |
| Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | SSD |
| Storage interface | — | PCIe Gen4 x4 SSD, QLC |
| Storage slots | 0 | — |
Screen
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is ahead on the screen.
The Dell 16 Plus has a slightly bigger screen: 16" against 15.3". The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a sharper screen and has a brighter screen, while the Dell 16 Plus has a slightly bigger screen.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 16 Plus (DB16250) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 15.3" | 16" |
| Resolution | 3K (2880 x 1864) | 2.5K (2560 x 1600) |
| Aspect ratio | — | 16:10 |
| Panel | IPS | LCD |
| Refresh rate | — | 60 Hz |
| Brightness | 500 nits | 300 nits |
| Colour range | Wide colour (P3) | — |
| HDR | None | — |
| Finish | — | Matte |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
Battery and size
The Apple MacBook Air 15 is ahead on battery and weight.
It is lighter and is slimmer, and the Dell 16 Plus doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 16 Plus (DB16250) |
|---|---|---|
| Battery life (maker claim) | Up to 18 hours | — |
| Battery capacity | 66.5 Wh | 64 Wh |
| Charges via | MagSafe 3 or USB-C | USB-C |
| Fast charging | Fast-charge capable with 70 W or higher USB PD power source | — |
| Weight | 1.51 kg | 1.87 kg |
| Dimensions | 340.4 x 237.6 x 11.5 mm | 356.78 x 250.60 x 16.99 mm |
| Materials | 100% recycled aluminium enclosure | LCD cover/base: aluminium; bezel/palmrest: plastic |
| Durability | — | Military-grade testing (MIL-STD standard not named) |
| Colour | Midnight | Ice Blue |
| Colours available | Sky Blue, Silver, Starlight, Midnight | Ice Blue |
Ports and wireless
The Dell 16 Plus is ahead on ports and wireless.
It has HDMI and USB-A, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 16 Plus (DB16250) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C; charging, DisplayPort, USB 4 up to 40Gb/s), 1x MagSafe 3 (charging), 1x 3.5 mm headphone jack | 1x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbps, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery/charging), 1x Thunderbolt 4 (40 Gbps, DisplayPort 2.1, Power Delivery/charging), 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x universal audio jack |
| Thunderbolt / USB4 | 2x Thunderbolt 4 / USB4 40Gbps | Thunderbolt 4 |
| External displays (max) | 2 | — |
| Card reader | None | None |
| Ethernet | None | None |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Wi-Fi card | Apple N1 | Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE201 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 6 | Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Mobile data | None | None |
Features
The Dell 16 Plus is ahead on extras.
It has a number pad and Copilot+ AI features, and the Apple MacBook Air 15 doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 16 Plus (DB16250) |
|---|---|---|
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage, 1080p | FHD+ |
| Backlit keyboard | Yes | Yes |
| Keyboard | backlit Magic Keyboard, 78 ANSI or 79 ISO keys, 12 full-height function keys, ambient light sensor | Numeric keypad, UK English (QWERTY) layout |
| Login | Fingerprint | Fingerprint |
| Number pad | No | Yes |
| Touchpad | Force Touch trackpad with pressure sensing and Multi-Touch gestures | Mylar surface, colour-matched to chassis |
| Speakers | six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos | Stereo speakers, Dolby Atmos and Waves MaxxAudio Pro |
| Microphones | three-mic array with directional beamforming | built-in microphone |
| Pen | No | No |
| Security | Touch ID | TPM, Fingerprint reader |
Software and model
They run different systems, so this comes down to the apps you use.
It is newer, and the Dell 16 Plus doesn't beat it on anything here.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) | Dell 16 Plus (DB16250) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Model number | MDVH4B/A | KH4PX |
| Released | 2026 | 2025 |