The Apple MacBook Air (2020) offers a more modern, powerful Apple M1 processor with better battery life and a higher resolution screen, making it suitable for tasks that require good performance such as photo and video editing. It's also lighter and has a fanless design for silent operation. However, it's usually more expensive. On the other hand, the Dell Latitude 14 7490 offers more storage and memory at a budget price, which is great for multitasking and storage-intensive tasks. It also runs Windows 10 Pro, so if you rely on specific Windows applications, this could be a significant advantage. The Dell's design includes more types of ports, potentially reducing the need for additional adapters. If cost is a major concern and you need a laptop with a good balance of features for general use and business tasks without the premium build and display of the MacBook Air, the Dell Latitude may be a better choice. Give Feedback
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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 14 7490
The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air (2020).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Software Development
7.7/10
7.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
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 14 7490 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Air (2020) is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
6.7/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
395.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Air has a high-resolution Retina display known for vibrant color and clarity, making it suitable for general use and engineering tasks where color accuracy is key, but its standard refresh rate limits its effectiveness for 3D applications requiring smoother visuals. The Dell Latitude 14 7490's display, while offering decent resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, might not have the same color fidelity as the MacBook Air but still performs well for engineering applications. However, like the MacBook Air, its standard refresh rate is not ideal for gaming or 3D work, which often require higher refresh rates for fluid motion.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air has 15 hours of battery life. The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has 9.5 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Latitude 14 7490 both have very good portability, though the Apple MacBook Air (2020) has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,000
$300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has a price of $1,000 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 costs $300.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) offers a higher-resolution screen, longer battery life, and is lightweight with silent, fanless operation, which is great for portability and ease of use, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 provides more RAM and storage, along with Windows 10 Pro suited for business environments that require compatibility with a variety of software.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
5.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
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
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Air (2020) to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Air (2020) has an integrated GPU which is less powerful than dedicated gaming GPUs, leading to merely adequate 3D performance, and many games don't run on its MacOS platform. The Dell Latitude 14 7490 also has an integrated GPU which results in comparable 3D limitations, but its Windows operating system supports a wider array of games, though it's still not optimized for intense gaming due to its modest GPU and standard screen refresh rate.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
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 14 7490 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Air (2020) and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 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."
"The Dell Latitude 7490's got the speed you need (and then some), a keyboard that's comfortable enough for writing all day long and a battery that supports a full 8-hour workday. If only the display were brighter and it managed heat better. If you need every minute of battery life you can get, the extended-battery version of the Lenovo ThinkPad T480 lasts 8 hours longer than the Latitude 7490, but its display is much less colorful."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air (2020) or the Dell Latitude 14 7490
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.