Dell’s midrange XPS 13 with 16GB of RAM delivers a noticeably better experience than the base model, which has 8GB. The reviewer argues that 8GB is too little for Windows 11 in 2026, leaving limited memory for everyday apps and potentially slowing the system when it relies on storage as virtual memory.

In testing, the 16GB model scored 6,904 on PCMark 10, compared with 5,319 for the base version, despite sharing the same processor and 512GB SSD. It also lasted 17 hours 40 minutes in a battery test, versus 15 hours 56 minutes, and achieved gaming frame rates typically 5–10 per cent higher. Dell charges $200 to upgrade to 16GB; the reviewer considers that worthwhile, while noting the laptop’s minor drawbacks include no headphone jack and a soft-feeling touchpad.