The Dell Latitude 14 7490 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
7.9/10
7.2/10
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
501.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
15.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.5 Hours
10.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Dell Latitude 14 7490 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) with its high-resolution screen, efficient M2 processor, and lightweight design offers strong performance for general tasks alongside long battery life and high portability, making it a solid choice for users who value a blend of power and ease of carrying. In contrast, the Dell Latitude 14 7490 provides more storage and memory, which can be beneficial for multitasking and data-intensive work, but it has a lower screen quality and shorter battery life, though it still retains good portability and is equipped with a touchscreen, advantageous for certain interactive tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
5.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
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
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is poor.
The MacBook Air, with its efficient GPU, is capable of handling 3D tasks decently, but its refresh rate and the fact that many games aren't compatible with macOS limit its suitability for gaming. In contrast, the Dell Latitude has a compatible GPU and adequate refresh rate for gaming and can run a wider variety of popular games, but both models would be less optimal for high-end gaming or professional 3D work due to their CPUs and screen quality.
Engineering and Design
7.6/10
6.5/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) is good for engineering and design, while the Dell Latitude 14 7490 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) provides a better experience for engineering and design thanks to its advanced CPU and GPU, both integrated into the Apple M2 chip, coupled with a higher-resolution screen that offers extensive color coverage for detailed visual work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.3/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
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 14 7490 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
7.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
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 14 7490 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
6.7/10
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2880 x 1864
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
501.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
305.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Air 15 has a better screen than the Dell Latitude 14 7490 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Air’s superior screen resolution and brightness, along with a high-quality panel type make it excellent for general tasks that involve reading text and viewing media. For engineering and design, the MacBook's broader color gamut ensures that professionals can see more accurate colors, essential for precise design work. However, for 3D applications, the MacBook Air falls short because it lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth rendering of fast-moving images, while the Dell Latitude’s more modest screen might not impress in general settings or color accuracy, yet still falls behind for gaming and 3D due to a similar lack of high refresh rate.
Battery
15.0 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Air 15 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
15.3in
SIZE
14.0in
3.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.1 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) and Dell Latitude 14 7490 both have very good portability, though the Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) 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 15 (2023) 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
$1,299
$300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Air 15 (2023) has a price of $1,299 and the Dell Latitude 14 7490 costs $300.
"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."
"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 15 (2023) 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.
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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.
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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.