Engadget's review of Dell's redesigned 2026 XPS 13 finds it a credible, if flawed, rival to Apple's MacBook Neo, offering a thin, light, all-metal laptop from $700. The redesign brings the XPS 13 down-market to compete directly on price with Apple's budget option, but Dell had to cut corners to hit that figure, most notably reviving an 8GB RAM base configuration that the reviewer argues struggles to run Windows 11 comfortably, especially for anyone keeping the machine several years.

The new model weighs 2.2 pounds and measures 12.7mm thick, making it lighter than the 2.7-pound MacBook Neo and giving it a faster 120Hz display, though its design now resembles Dell's cheaper Inspiron range rather than the premium XPS look of recent years. Other compromises include a mechanical trackpad seen as a step down from Dell's haptic versions, slower Intel Core chips than the previous generation, and fewer ports, while the entry-level 8GB RAM configuration reportedly has 80% of memory already committed to background Windows processes at startup. The reviewer, who scored the laptop 7.5/10, recommends most buyers pay extra for 16GB of RAM, and notes Dell's pricier XPS 14 remains the better choice for those wanting the more premium build of earlier XPS 13 models.