Dell XPS 14 (2026) vs. MacBook Pro 14-inch M5: Which laptop wins?
Dell XPS 14 (2026) vs. MacBook Pro 14-inch M5: Which laptop wins?
Publish Date: 2026-02-11 00:18:00
Source Domain: www.tomsguide.com
The Dell XPS 14 (2026) is a welcome return for the iconic laptop brand. This model features a more practical design, a gorgeous OLED panel option, strong Panther Lake performance, and epic battery life. While it has a smaller screen and lacks an SD card slot, its positives outweigh the negatives. The XPS is back!
The MacBook Pro M5 improves on its predecessor thanks to its powerful M5 chip and faster SSD. Though it’s not a revolutionary update from before, it’s a fantastic option for power users who demand a powerful and portable notebook with epic battery life.
The Dell XPS 14 (2026) is a fantastic return to form that’s also a showcase for Intel’s Panther Lake chip. This new laptop features a practical design that still feels futuristic. Its tandem OLED makes everything practically pop off the screen, while the powerful and energy-efficient processor delivers strong performance for all-day use.
Though the new XPS 14 is unquestionably one of the best Windows laptops, it still has to contend with the mighty MacBook Pro 14-inch. Though the Mac’s design remains unchanged, the Apple M5 chip at its core offers incredible and sustained performance. If you’re looking for pure performance-per-watt, this is the laptop to beat for heavy workflows.
Now that Dell has ditched the “Premium” branding, our long-running XPS vs. MacBook face-off is officially back! Below, I’ll detail everything you need to know about the new Dell XPS 14 and MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 to help you decide which laptop to get. Let’s get into it!
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Dell XPS 14 (2026) vs. MacBook Pro 14-inch M5: Specs
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| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Dell XPS 14 (2026) |
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5 |
|
Price |
$1,599 (starting) |
$1,599 (starting) |
|
CPU |
Intel Core Ultra 5 325 |
Apple M5 (10-core) |
|
GPU |
Intel Graphics |
10-core GPU |
|
RAM |
16GB |
16GB |
|
Storage |
512GB |
512GB |
|
Display |
14-inch non-touch 2K 120Hz |
14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR |
|
Battery Life (Lab) |
12:23 (OLED) / 20:41 (LED) |
18:00 |
|
Weight |
3.0 pounds |
3.4 pounds |