The Apple MacBook Air offers a sleek design and potentially longer battery life, ideal for general use and tasks that benefit from a robust ecosystem, whereas the Dell Latitude 2-in-1 provides versatility with its convertible design, often at a lower price point, which may be better for hands-on interaction or presentations. If budget is a concern and you value flexibility and touchscreen capabilities, the Dell might suit your needs, while if you're focused on a higher-quality display, longer battery life, and overall build, and are okay with a higher cost, the MacBook Air could be the right choice. Also, consider the operating system preference, as the MacBook runs macOS and the Dell runs Windows, which could influence your decision based on the software you need to use. 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 15 (2023)
Good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
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 2-in-1
The Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
6.9/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 generally offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a high-resolution screen suited for detailed engineering and design tasks, while its integrated GPU handles most graphics-related workloads effectively. The Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1, although slightly less powerful, provides flexibility with its convertible design, decent keyboard, and portable form factor, which could be beneficial for engineers and designers who value versatility and the ability to work on the go.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 is good.
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
8.1/10
7.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 is good.
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
7.8/10
6.3/10
15.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
286.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 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's screen offers a higher resolution and better brightness, making it more suitable for general use where clarity and visibility are key. Its higher coverage of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB makes the display more accurate for tasks requiring color precision, which benefits engineering and design work. However, its lower refresh rate hampers its effectiveness for 3D applications, where smooth motion is paramount and is better complemented by a screen with a higher refresh rate.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 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 15 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,299
$600
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 costs $600.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Air, with its high-quality CPU and screen, is a fine choice for everyday tasks, offering a good balance of performance, portability, and long battery life, making it excellent for users who prioritize mobility and screen clarity. The Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 also provides solid CPU and RAM for general use, while its convertible design, reasonable portability, and decent battery life cater to those who value flexibility and the option for touch-based interaction.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
6.2/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2880 x 1864
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 15 (2023) and Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Air 15, while featuring a capable GPU, lacks the high screen refresh rate favored by gamers and may not be the best fit for popular Windows-based games unavailable for macOS; the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1, despite being labeled fair for gaming and 3D, also may not satisfy demanding gaming needs due to its moderate GPU and refresh rate, but it offers versatility for different operating systems and software compatibility.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
15.3in
SIZE
13.3in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 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 15 (2023) and the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Air 15 is boringly good. The new MacBook Air 15 is a very good, but also boring device, because apart from the larger screen and the higher price, there are no differences compared to the smaller MacBook Air M2 from last year. No new processor, no additional ports, just the usual basic hardware - but the overall package is extremely good and it simply works. Above all, the lack of fans is an aspect that should not be underestimated in everyday use. In our opinion, the Air could be a lot better, but Apple goes easy on itself here."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) or the Dell Latitude 5330 2-in-1
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.
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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.