MacBook Pro 14 (M5) vs Dell XPS 14 (2026)
The MacBook Pro M5 is faster and more consistent on battery. The redesigned Dell XPS 14 is lighter, has a tandem OLED option, runs more games and, in its LED version, outlasted the Mac in Tom’s Guide’s battery test.
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Quick answer
Pick the MacBook Pro 14 M5 (from $1,999) for faster performance, an SDXC slot and 18 hours in Tom’s Guide’s battery test. Tom’s Guide names it the overall winner. Pick the Dell XPS 14 (from $1,989.99) if you want Windows, a lighter 3.0-pound laptop, wider game support, or the LED model’s 20 hours 41 minutes of battery life.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Check Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5) price (opens in a new tab)Check Dell XPS 14 (2026) price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5) | Dell XPS 14 (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (Oct 2026) | $1,999 | $1,989.99 |
| Chip | Apple M5 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 325 to Core Ultra 7 358H |
| Display | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) | 14-inch FHD+ LED or tandem OLED touch |
| Weight | 3.4 pounds | 3.0 pounds |
| Geekbench 6 single/multi | 4,288 / 17,926 | 2,867 / 16,927 (Core Ultra X7 358H) |
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5) vs Dell XPS 14 (2026): side-by-side
| MacBook Pro 14 (M5) | Dell XPS 14 (2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (Oct 2026) | $1,999 | $1,989.99 |
| Chip | Apple M5 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 5 325 to Core Ultra 7 358H |
| Display | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) | 14-inch FHD+ LED or tandem OLED touch |
| Weight | 3.4 pounds | 3.0 pounds |
| Geekbench 6 single/multi | 4,288 / 17,926 | 2,867 / 16,927 (Core Ultra X7 358H) |
| Battery test (Tom’s Guide) | 18:00 | 20:41 LED; 12:23 OLED |
| SD card slot | SDXC | No |
| Tom’s Guide overall | Winner | Runner-up |
How much do they cost?
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5) plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 14-inch, M5 | From $1,999 | 16GB memory |
| 14-inch, M5 Pro | From $2,499 | |
| 14-inch, M5 Max | From $4,099 |
Dell XPS 14 (2026) plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Core Ultra 5 325, 16GB, 512GB, FHD+ | $1,989.99 | Estimated value $2,149.99 |
| Core Ultra 7 358H, 32GB, 1TB, FHD+ | $2,619.99 | |
| Core Ultra 7 358H, 32GB, 1TB, QHD+ touch | $3,149.99 |
What are the pros and cons?
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5): pros
- Faster in Geekbench 6 and Handbrake (Tom’s Guide)
- 18 hours in Tom’s Guide’s battery test
- SDXC slot and stronger port selection
- Bright mini-LED display (1,109 nits HDR in Tom’s Guide’s test)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5): cons
- Heavier at 3.4 pounds
- Smaller native game library
- Design hasn’t changed much
Dell XPS 14 (2026): pros
- Lighter at 3.0 pounds
- LED model lasted 20:41 in Tom’s Guide’s battery test
- Tandem OLED option is punchier
- Runs the wide x86 Windows game library
Dell XPS 14 (2026): cons
- OLED model lasted 12:23, well short of the Mac
- No SD card slot
- Base model has a lower-end Core Ultra 5 chip
Which should you choose: Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5) or Dell XPS 14 (2026)?
Tom’s Guide[3][4] picks the MacBook Pro 14 M5 as the overall winner for its faster performance, longer battery life than the OLED Dell, and better ports including an SDXC slot. It gives the XPS 14 its highest recommendation for Windows users, crediting the fixed design, the tandem OLED screen and the LED model’s 20-plus hours of battery life.
Choose Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5) if…
- You want the fastest performance per watt
- You need an SD card slot
- You’re not tied to Windows
Choose Dell XPS 14 (2026) if…
- You prefer Windows or play PC games
- You want a lighter laptop
- You want the longest battery life (LED model)
Pricing compared
Apple’s store lists the 14-inch MacBook Pro from $1,999 with M5, $2,499 with M5 Pro and $4,099 with M5 Max. Dell lists the XPS 14 at $1,989.99 with a Core Ultra 5 325, 16GB of memory, a 512GB SSD and a non-touch FHD+ display. Its Core Ultra 7 358H configurations cost $2,619.99 and $3,149.99. When Tom’s Guide[3][4] compared them in February 2026, both started at $1,599, so both have risen since.
Performance and gaming
In Tom’s Guide’s[3][4] tests, the MacBook Pro M5 scored 4,288 single-core and 17,926 multi-core in Geekbench 6, against 2,867 and 16,927 for the XPS 14 with a Core Ultra X7 358H. The Mac finished Tom’s Guide’s Handbrake test in 3:31 versus 4:32. For gaming, the Mac was faster in Cyberpunk 2077 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider, but Tom’s Guide gives the XPS 14 the win because it runs the much wider x86 game library.
Battery life and display
In Tom’s Guide’s[3][4] web-surfing battery test, the MacBook Pro M5 lasted 18 hours, the XPS 14 with a 1200p LED panel lasted 20 hours 41 minutes, and the tandem OLED version lasted 12 hours 23 minutes. Tom’s Guide says the LED XPS 14 is one of the longest-lasting laptops it has tested. It found the Mac’s mini-LED display brighter, while the XPS 14’s tandem OLED looked punchier and more vibrant.
Frequently asked questions
Which has better battery life?
Which is faster?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
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