Verdict: 4.5/5 – Requires tinkering, but rewards you with a premium macOS ultrabook that Apple refuses to make.
The Dell XPS 13 9370 (2018 model) holds a legendary status in the Hackintosh community. While modern Apple Silicon MacBooks are powerful, many users miss the port selection, the superior 16:10 display, or simply want a macOS machine on a budget. Enter the XPS 9370. After running Catalina, Big Sur, and Monterey on this machine for six months, here is the definitive user review.
Before proceeding, understand that Hackintoshing carries risks. You may void your warranty, and incorrect BIOS settings can cause instability.
If you swapped to the DW1560, you must:
BrcmPatchRAM3.kext and BlueToolFixup.kext.FeatureUnlock.kext.Before installation, the BIOS must be configured to strip security protocols that prevent the bootloader from operating.
DisableIoMapper Quirk in OpenCore).The Dell XPS 13 9370 is a Tier-A candidate for a Hackintosh, provided the user is willing to perform the physical hardware modification (Wi-Fi card swap).
The result is a machine that runs macOS Ventura or Sonoma with near-perfect fluidity, offering HiDPI scaling on the 4K display (if equipped) and excellent battery life comparable to a MacBook Air of the same era. The primary drawback is the complexity of Thunderbolt 3 hot-plugging and the rigorous tuning required for perfect sleep/wake cycles.
Recommendation: Proceed with OpenCore 0.9.x or newer. Do not attempt without a Broadcom Wi-Fi module.
Disclaimer: This paper is for educational and archival purposes. Installing macOS on non-Apple hardware violates Apple's End User License Agreement (EULA).
The Dell XPS 13 9370 Hackintosh journey is a classic tale of trial, error, and ultimate technical triumph. When the 9370 first debuted in early 2018, it was hailed as a powerhouse but feared by the Hackintosh community due to its soldered-down Killer Wi-Fi card, which initially seemed to doom users to a life of dongles. The Quest for a "Perfect" Portable Mac
Early adopters were drawn to the 9370 for its incredibly compact "InfinityEdge" display and Thunderbolt 3 ports, seeking to create a cheaper, more powerful alternative to the MacBook Air. xps 13 9370 hackintosh
The Initial Struggles: Early builds on macOS Mojave faced significant hurdles. Standard issues included "finicky" trackpads, broken sleep/wake cycles, and the inability to use the left-side USB-C ports without a pre-boot device plugged in.
The Hardware Swap: Many users found that replacing the stock SSD with a WD Blue or Black NVMe and adding thermal pads improved performance significantly, allowing the aluminum chassis to act as a massive heat sink. The Evolution: From Clover to OpenCore
As bootloader technology shifted from Clover to OpenCore, the "story" of the 9370 changed from a partial success to a "nearly perfect" daily driver.
Success with Ventura: By 2023, developers had refined OpenCore (v1.0.0) enough to run macOS Ventura almost natively.
The Touchscreen Breakthrough: One of the most satisfying "chapters" for owners was getting the 4K touchscreen to work with multi-touch gestures, a feature Apple's own MacBooks famously lacked. Current "State of the Art"
Today, a fully configured 9370 Hackintosh is often described as running better than Windows 11 on the same hardware.
What Works: CPU power management, internal speakers/microphones (with the right ALC3271 layout), and even iMessage/FaceTime (if serial numbers are properly generated).
The Final Bosses: The fingerprint reader remains non-functional, and users still grapple with "hotswapping" issues on specific USB-C ports unless their ACPI patching is perfect.
You can find modern, community-tested configurations for this specific model in repositories like the ngfuong XPS 9370 GitHub or comprehensive forum threads on InsanelyMac.
Are you planning to start a fresh install on a 9370, or are you looking to fix a specific bug like sleep issues or iMessage? tonyu124/DELL-XPS-13-9370-Hackintosh - GitHub OS Support: This guide focuses on macOS Monterey
The Dell XPS 13 9370 is widely considered one of the best ultrabooks for a "Hackintosh" project due to its near-perfect hardware compatibility with macOS, particularly models using the Intel UHD Graphics 620 and 8th Gen Kaby Lake R processors. While the process requires technical patience, modern tools like the OpenCore Install Guide have made achieving a stable, daily-driver setup more accessible than ever. Hardware Compatibility & Specifications
The 9370's internal architecture closely mirrors the MacBook Pro 14,1 and 14,2 models, allowing for native power management and graphics acceleration.
CPU: 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U or i7-8550U (Fully supported).
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 620 (Supports Metal acceleration and 4K output).
Display: Both the 1080p and 4K touch versions work, though 4K requires specific framebuffer patches for stability.
Audio: Realtek ALC3271 (Supported via AppleALC kext with layout ID 21 or 299).
The WiFi Hurdle: The stock Killer 1435/Qualcomm QCA6174A card is soldered to the motherboard and is not natively supported by macOS. You will need a compatible USB nano-dongle or use Android USB tethering for internet access. Essential BIOS Settings
Before installation, you must configure the XPS 13 9370 BIOS to ensure the OpenCore bootloader can hand off to macOS. SATA Mode: Set to AHCI (Crucial for macOS to see the SSD). Secure Boot: Set to Disabled. Fast Boot: Set to Thorough. Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX): Disabled.
Virtualization: Enable "Intel Virtualization Technology" but disable "VT-d" if you aren't using the DisableIoMapper quirk. Step-by-Step Installation Overview
While pre-built EFI folders exist on platforms like GitHub , it is highly recommended to build your own to ensure security and stability. A 16GB or larger USB drive
The story of the Dell XPS 13 9370 Hackintosh is a classic tale of a "near-perfect" match in the enthusiast community. For years, the 9370 was hailed as the "Dream Laptop Hackintosh" because its hardware closely mirrored the MacBook Airs of its era, making it a favorite for those wanting Apple’s software on Dell’s sleek, nearly bezel-less hardware The Technical Obsession
What makes this specific model interesting is the sheer dedication of the community to achieve "feature parity." Developers spent countless hours on creating custom
and Clover EFI folders to overcome specific hardware hurdles: The 90% Hurdle
: Most users found they could get about 90% of the features working—sleep, trackpad gestures, and the display were easy wins The Wi-Fi Battle
: The biggest plot twist for 9370 owners was the soldered-down Killer Wi-Fi card. Unlike other laptops where you could swap in a Broadcom card, 9370 users had to wait for the development of custom drivers (like "itlwm") just to get basic internet connectivity The Fingerprint Mystery
: Despite all the progress, the fingerprint reader remains a "ghost in the machine"—it rarely works because there are no macOS drivers for Dell’s specific hardware Why People Still Do It Even with newer models like the XPS 13 9310 or the redesigned XPS 13 Plus 9320 available, the
remains a legend because it represents a sweet spot in price and compatibility
. For many, the "story" isn't just about having a cheap Mac; it’s the challenge of making a device perform a "digital transplant" that the manufacturers never intended If you'd like to try this yourself, I can: identify your specific hardware specs to see if they're compatible Explain the difference between OpenCore and Clover bootloaders. Point you toward the most current installation guides for macOS Sequoia or Sonoma tonyu124/DELL-XPS-13-9370-Hackintosh - GitHub
Hi Everyone this is my Dream Laptop Hackintosh Build that I am putting together. specific niche model of DELL XPS 13 9370 :) ngfuong/xps-13-9370-hackintosh - GitHub