Dell vs Apple MacBook:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Apple MacBook had more branded searches than Dell among laptop brands in the United States. Apple MacBook had about 823,000 branded searches, while Dell had 135,000. Apple MacBook made up 50.3% of all laptop brand searches we track, and Dell accounted for 8.2%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about laptop brands, both Dell and Apple MacBook appeared in all five answers. Apple MacBook was mentioned before Dell in three out of five answers.
Who do people search for more?
Apple MacBook, about 6 searches for every 1 for Dell
Who does AI mention more?
Both are mentioned in every answer we collected.
Who does AI recommend more?
Apple MacBook, named ahead of Dell in 3 of 5 answers
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Top laptop brands in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, both Dell and Apple MacBook showed up in all five answers. Apple MacBook was listed before Dell in three of them.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Apple MacBook5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Dell5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Lenovo3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
ASUS3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
HP2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Alienware1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Acer1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
MSI1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Razer1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Framework0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about laptop brands
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which laptop should I buy?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best laptop brands?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What is the best laptop for college students?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“laptop”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best laptop”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 26, 2026.
Is Dell or Apple MacBook more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Dell and Apple MacBook by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 13 laptop brands we track, month by month, from searches in United States.
Share of searches by month for Apple MacBook, Dell. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Apple MacBook | HP | Dell | Lenovo | Alienware | ASUS | Framework | Microsoft Surface | Samsung | Acer | MSI | Razer | LG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 44% | 13.1% | 10.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 3.2% | 4% | 4% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.97% | 0.65% |
| Nov 2025 | 49.9% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 8.2% | 3% | 3% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Dec 2025 | 46.7% | 14% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 7.7% | 3.4% | 2.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.84% | 0.56% |
| Jan 2026 | 42% | 15.3% | 10.3% | 8.4% | 6.9% | 3.1% | 5.6% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.4% | 0.92% | 0.62% |
| Feb 2026 | 45.3% | 13.5% | 11.1% | 7.4% | 6.1% | 3.3% | 5% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1.2% | 0.81% | 0.67% |
| Mar 2026 | 55.2% | 11.1% | 7.5% | 7.5% | 5% | 2.7% | 3.3% | 2.2% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 1% | 0.82% | 0.55% |
| Apr 2026 | 46.9% | 11.5% | 9.4% | 7.7% | 6.3% | 3.5% | 6.3% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.5% | 1.3% | 0.84% | 0.56% |
| May 2026 | 48.2% | 11.8% | 9.7% | 7.9% | 6.5% | 2.9% | 4.3% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.87% | 0.58% |
| Jun 2026 | 48.8% | 12% | 8% | 9.8% | 6.6% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.88% | 0.59% |
| Jul 2026 | 47.5% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 9.5% | 6.4% | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 1.9% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.57% |
| Aug 2026 | 51.8% | 10.4% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 5.7% | 3.1% | 3.8% | 2.1% | 1.7% | 1.7% | 1.2% | 0.77% | 0.51% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.3% | 12.3% | 8.2% | 8.2% | 6.7% | 3% | 3% | 2% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.74% | 0.6% |
How has the Dell and Apple MacBook comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Apple MacBook was ahead of Dell in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Dell’s share of searches among laptop brands in the United States moved from 10.8% to 8.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 165K to 135K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Apple MacBook’s share of searches among laptop brands in the United States moved from 44% to 50.3%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 673K to 823K.
How did search popularity change for United States laptop brands in September 2026?
2 changes
In September 2026, Apple MacBook lost share of searches among laptop brands in the United States, from 51.8% to 50.3%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Dell in the United States fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 165K to 135K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Dell’s and Apple MacBook’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Dell
1 branded search term
- dell laptop
Apple MacBook
1 branded search term
- macbook
Other head-to-heads among laptop brands
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