Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 vs Dell XPS 15 OLED
Side-by-side comparison of viewing distance, PPI, and specifications
Category Ranking
Pixel Density (PPI)18in category
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3224 PPI #11
Dell XPS 15 OLED261 PPI #1
189 PPI261 PPI
HDR Peak Brightness18in category
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3600 nits #7
Dell XPS 15 OLED500 nits #13
500 nits1600 nits
DCI-P3 Color Gamut17in category
Apple MacBook Air 15" M399% #12
Dell XPS 15 OLED100% #1
97%100%
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Air 15" M360 Hz
Dell XPS 15 OLED60 Hz
StandardHighUltra
Summary
- Sharpness: no visible difference — Both screens exceed the retina threshold at 50cm. The Dell XPS 15 OLED has 14% higher pixel density (261 vs 224 PPI), but this only becomes visible below 33cm.
- Brightness: advantage Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 — The Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 is 25% brighter in SDR (500 vs 400 nits), a noticeable difference for outdoor readability. HDR peak: 600 vs 500 nits.
Key Differences
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 | Dell XPS 15 OLED |
|---|---|---|
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits | 400 nits |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits | 500 nits |
| Year | 2024 | 2023 |
| Screen Size | 15.3" | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 2880×1864 | 3456×2160 |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 224 | 261 |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm | 33cm |
| Response Time | 25 ms GTG | 1 ms GTG |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,280 | 1:1,000,000 |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 70 W | 130 W |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 99% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 96% |
All specifications
| Specification | Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 2024 | Dell XPS 15 OLED 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 15.3" | 15.6" (Better) |
| Resolution | 2880×1864 | 3456×2160 (Better) |
| Pixel Density (PPI) | 224 | 261 (Better) |
| Optimal Viewing Distance | 39cm | 33cm (Better) |
| Panel Type | IPS | OLED |
| Viewing Angle | 178° | 178° |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Refresh Rate | 60 Hz | 60 Hz |
| Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) | None | None |
| Response Time | 25 ms GTG | 1 ms GTG (Better) |
| HDR Certification | None | DisplayHDR True Black 500 |
| SDR Brightness | 500 nits (Better) | 400 nits |
| HDR Peak Brightness | 600 nits (Better) | 500 nits |
| Contrast Ratio | 1:1,280 | 1:1,000,000 (Better) |
| Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
| USB-C Power Delivery | 70 W | 130 W (Better) |
| Color Gamut | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 99% · Adobe RGB 88% | sRGB 100% · DCI-P3 100% · Adobe RGB 96% (Better) |
| Year | 2024 (Better) | 2023 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has better PPI: Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 or Dell XPS 15 OLED?
The Dell XPS 15 OLED has 261 PPI compared to 224 PPI for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M3.
Which has a closer optimal viewing distance?
The Dell XPS 15 OLED requires 33cm vs 39cm for the Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 to reach retina quality.
Related Comparisons
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 · 225 PPI · 13.6" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 2024 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 13" M3 2024 · 225 PPI · 13.6" · 60 Hz
vs Dell XPS 15 OLED 2023 · 261 PPI · 15.6" · 60 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 2024 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Air 15" M4 2025 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
Apple MacBook Air 15" M3 2024 · 224 PPI · 15.3" · 60 Hz
vs Apple MacBook Neo 2026 · 219 PPI · 13" · 60 Hz
Methodology & Sources
Formula: Retina distance (cm) = 3438 / PPI. Displayed values are rounded for readability.
Sources: Official manufacturer spec sheets and product pages. Specs are normalized before comparisons.
Comparison winners are calculated metric by metric (higher is better for most specs; lower is better for distance/response time).
Last updated: