Dell has relaunched the XPS 13 as an affordable rival to Apple's MacBook Neo, after its previous XPS 13 model marked what was intended to be the end of the XPS brand before Dell revived it with the pricier XPS 14 and 16 earlier in 2026. According to a Verge review, the new XPS 13 offers some of the best hardware available in a laptop at this price point outside of Apple's own offerings, with strong screen, keyboard, trackpad and speaker quality, making it a genuine alternative for buyers who might otherwise default to a MacBook.

The reviewer tested two configurations, both fitted with a six-core Intel Core 5 320 "Wildcat Lake" processor and a 512GB SSD, differing only in memory: an 8GB model priced at $799.99 and a 16GB model at $999.99, though the 16GB version is recommended for most users. Notably, the laptop remains competent even at 8GB, unlike many other Windows machines. The screen offers 120Hz refresh and touch support with an anti-glare finish, outperforming the Neo's 60Hz non-touch display, while the device weighs 2.2 pounds and measures 0.5 inches thick. Drawbacks include a weak port selection and the absence of a headphone jack, and Dell has recently adjusted pricing, introducing a cheaper 256GB base model while raising prices on 512GB variants.