Dell Pro Max 16 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 Comparison

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Dell Pro Max 16

16 inches | March 2025

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Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025

13.6 inches | March 2025

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Dell Pro Max 16 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 Comparison Overview

Dell Pro Max 16

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Apple MacBook Air 13...

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Dell Pro Max 16

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Apple MacBook Air 13...

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In this review, we will be comparing Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025, two laptops from Dell and Apple. Dell Pro Max 16 was introduced to market in March 2025 and Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 was launched in March 2025. Both Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 were launched within the same month so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and available technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 are members of Apple's series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Dell Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Dell 16 Premium	June 2025	16.3"	358.18 x 240.05 x 18.7 mm	2.07 kg (4.56 lbs)
Dell 15	June 2025	15.6"	358.5 x 235.6 x 16.96-18.99 mm	1.9 kg (4.19 lbs)
Dell Pro 14 Plus 2-in-1	June 2025	14.0"	313.5 x 224 x 19.92-20.25 mm	1.59 kg (3.51 lbs)
Dell 16	June 2025	16.0"	356.78 x 249.52 x 16.18-19.05 mm	1.98 kg (4.37 lbs)
Dell Alienware 16 Aurora	May 2025	16.0"	356.98 x 265.43 x 15.2-22.7 mm	2.49 kg (5.49 lbs)
Dell Alienware 16X Aurora	May 2025	16.0"	356.98 x 265.43 x 19.2-23.4 mm	2.57 kg (5.67 lbs)
Dell Pro Max 14	March 2025	14.0"	313 x 227.3 x 14.79-18.9 mm	1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)
Dell Pro Max 16	March 2025	16.0"	358 x 256 x 15.08-19.08 mm	2.2 kg (4.85 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Dell Pro Max 16 and Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Dell Pro Max 16 Key Specs

Launched in March 2025
16.0" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core Ultra 5 235H,Intel Core Ultra 7 255H,Intel Core Ultra 7 265H,Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
GPU: Intel Arc 140T
16GB,32GB,64GB Ram
358 x 256 x 15.08-19.08 mm (14.09 x 10.08 x 0.59-0.75 inches)
Weight: 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs)

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 Key Specs

Launched in March 2025
13.6" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M4 (10-Core)
GPU: Apple M4 GPU (10-Core)
16GB Ram
304.1 x 215 x 11.3 mm (11.97 x 8.46 x 0.44 inches)
Weight: 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Dell Pro Max 16 over Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025

Display Size	16 inches vs 13.6 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Screen Type	Matte vs Glossy	potentially less reflections on screen
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	Flexible cable positions
Upgradable RAM	Yes vs No	More RAM Options
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	Easily increase the Storage when needed
WiFi Standard	v7 vs v6E	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.4 vs v5.3	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
Ethernet RJ45 Port	Yes vs No	Connects to the local network via Ethernet RJ45
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
Numeric Pad	Yes vs No	Fast way to input numbers

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 over Dell Pro Max 16

Weight	1.24 kg vs 2.20 kg	0.96 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~82% vs ~81%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	5.6 mm vs 6.7 mm	1.1 mm thinner bezels
Contrast Rate	1494:1 vs 1000:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	225 ppi vs 142 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	2560 x 1664 pixels vs 1920 x 1200 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
Max Brightness	500 nits vs 300 nits	Brighter Screen
GPU Fabrication Process	3 nm vs 5 nm	Newer Generation GPU
Dolby Atmos Speakers	Yes vs No	3D Surround Sound Support
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	Better Sound capture

Common Strengths of Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 and Dell Pro Max 16

Launch Dates	March 2025 vs March 2025	Both laptops are recent models
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 and Dell Pro Max 16

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability

Dell Pro Max 16 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Dell Pro Max 16 and the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025.

Physical Specs
Weight	2.2 kg (4.85 lbs)	1.24 kg (2.73 lbs)
Surface Area	916 cm2 (142 inches2)	654 cm2 (101.3 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~81%	~82%
Side Bezel Thickness	~6.7 mm	~5.6 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.14 kg/inch	0.09 kg/inch
	0.308 lbs/inch	0.198 lbs/inch
Colors	Black	Black, Silver, Gold, Blue

Comparison of the Dell Pro Max 16 and the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 External Dimensions

Weight

Pro Max 16 weighs 2.2 kg (4.85 lbs), whereas the MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 weighs 1.24 kg (2.73 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Dell Pro Max 16

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Thickness Comparison

Dell Pro Max 16

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Dell Pro Max 16 is 0.14 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 is 0.09 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Dell Pro Max 16 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core Ultra 5 235H Intel Core Ultra 7 255H Intel Core Ultra 7 265H Intel Core Ultra 9 285H	Apple M4 (10-Core)
Base Frequency	2.4 GHz	4.41 GHz
Turbo Frequency	5 GHz
Number of Cores	14 (4P + 8E)	10 (4P + 6E)
Number of Threads	14	10
L3 Cache	18 MB
Integrated GPU	Arc Graphics 140T	Apple M4 GPU (10-core)
CPU Fabrication Process	3 nm	3 nm

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Dell Pro Max 16 and Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Intel Core Ultra 5 235H,Intel Core Ultra 7 255H,Intel Core Ultra 7 265H,Intel Core Ultra 9 285H

Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 8 Compare

Laptops with: Apple M4 (10-Core)

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel Arc 140T	Apple M4 GPU (10-Core)
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	500 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	2250 MHz	1800 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	35 W	18 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	4.6 TFLOPS	4.6 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	DDR5	LPDDR5X
Memory Speed	5.6 Gbps	7.5 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	1024	1280
TMUs	64	80
ROPs	32	40

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Dell Pro Max 16 has a FLOPS value of 4.6 TFLOPS whereas the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 ' has a FLOPS value of 4.6 TFLOPS.

RAM Comparison

RAM	16GB 32GB 64GB	16GB 24GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x8 GB	2x8 GB
RAM Clock	5600 MHz	7500 MHz
RAM Type	DDR5	LPDDR5X
Upgradable	Yes	No
Max RAM Size	64 GB
Total Slots	2
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Custom

Both laptops, the Pro Max 16 and the MacBook Air 13 M4 2025, come with similar RAM capacities of 16 GB, providing comparable performance in memory-intensive tasks.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Dell Pro Max 16	Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 (2025)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✔ Good performance.	✔ Good performance.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	⚠ Can run slowly on CPU with enough RAM and good iGPU.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	64 Wh 96 Wh	53.8 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	Yes	No
Charging Port Position	Left, Right	Left
Charge Power	100 / 130 W	30 / 35 / 70 W
Voltage	15.6 V

Moreover, the Pro Max 16 boasts a larger battery capacity of 64 Wh, offering extended usage time compared to the MacBook Air 13 M4 2025's54 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Dell Pro Max 16

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

STORAGE
Both laptops, the Pro Max 16 and the MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 have similar max. storage capacities of 2 TB, allowing for ample space to store files and applications.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB
Upgradable	Yes	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Dell Pro Max 16 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Dell Pro Max 16 and Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Pro Max 16 has a display size of 16.0".On the other hand, MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 has a smaller 13.6" display.The total usable screen area of the Pro Max 16 is 742cm² / 115inch² whereas the MacBook Air 13 M4 2025's total usable screen area is 536cm² / 83inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 features a higher pixel density with 225 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Dell Pro Max 16

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Refresh Rate
Both Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 offer the same refresh rate of 60 Hz.

Brightness
The MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 offers a higher maximum brightness of 500 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Dell Pro Max 16

Avg: 16.0-16.9"

Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025

Avg: 13.0-13.9"

Dell Pro Max 16 vs Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Pro Max 16 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v7, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 (v6E).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Pro Max 16 is equipped with 2x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 feature 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 are equipped with Thunderbolt 4 ports.

HDMI
Pro Max 16 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Pro Max 16 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Pro Max 16 and MacBook Air 13 M4 2025 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v7	v6E
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5.4	v5.3
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	2x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	2x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Optional	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	Yes	No
SD CardReader	Yes	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	Yes