The Apple MacBook Air (2020) with the Apple M1 chip is known for its impressive battery efficiency and powerful performance, especially for creative tasks like video editing, while offering a silent, fanless operation and a high-resolution screen. However, it may be less flexible for certain professional software that runs on Windows. It's also slightly less portable due to weight. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5330, priced slightly lower, includes Intel's processor with vPro for enterprise security and management, more ports, and is slightly lighter. It suits business environments better with Windows 11 Pro and offers easier compatibility with corporate networks and software. Consider the MacBook Air if you prioritize a higher-quality display and battery performance for creative tasks, while the Latitude could be a better business laptop with more RAM and features for enterprise management out of the box. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Air (2020)
Good for engineering and design
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Dell Latitude 5330
The Dell Latitude 5330 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2020).
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
286.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 5330 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) boasts a high-resolution Retina display with bright and vibrant colors, making it great for general use and engineering tasks that require precise color reproduction. However, its screen's standard refresh rate is less suited for 3D applications where smoother motion is paramount. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 5330's screen, while offering adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and engineering software, doesn't stand out in any specific aspect, and the lower refresh rate and color accuracy can be limiting for gaming and 3D work.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 5330 has 9 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Latitude 5330 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$590
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the Dell Latitude 5330 costs $590.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Latitude 5330 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) excels in general use with its high screen resolution and color accuracy, silent operation, and strong battery life, but has a lower RAM capacity which may affect multitasking performance. The Dell Latitude 5330 offers more RAM for better multitasking, a brighter screen for outdoor use, and robust heat management, making it suitable for people who prioritize performance and durability in various environments over the Air's longer battery life and quieter operation.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Latitude 5330 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2020) to be good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 5330 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is favored in engineering and design due to its high-resolution screen and superior color accuracy, essential for detailed graphical work, plus its Apple M1 chip provides efficient performance. The Dell Latitude 5330, while offering more RAM which is advantageous for multitasking and demanding engineering applications, has a lower screen quality but makes up for it with additional ports and expandable RAM and storage, enhancing its adaptability in different work scenarios.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Latitude 5330 are both good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Latitude 5330 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Latitude 5330 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the Dell Latitude 5330 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Air M2 Entry is a very good, but too expensive daily MacBook. The new MacBook Air M2 is undoubtedly once again a very good mobile companion, but we are still a little bit disappointed on a very high level, which is definitely connected with the increased price point. The new chassis is extremely slim and the front edge is no problem during typing, but the bezels are pretty wide for a modern device and in addition with the vertical space required for the notch, the new Air has larger footprint than some Windows rivals."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the Dell Latitude 5330
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About Dell
Dell is a highly recognizable American technology company, and is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. Their laptops are very popular for both personal and professional use, and they also own the Alienware brand which makes mid to high end gaming laptops. Their premium XPS range of laptops offer great build quality and portability, while Latitude and Precision laptops are known for reliability, repairability and performance for business users.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.