Dell’s XPS 13 is a laptop that took hold of the ultrabook genre in 2012, and has had quite a history in the following 14 years.
The most recent update in 2024, at least until this new announcement that I’m talking about today, brought us XPS 13 9345 with Qualcomm Snapdragon X chips.
It came at a time when Dell was renaming its PCs away from the XPS name, a decision it finally admitted was a mistake at CES 2026. There, I saw Dell reveal the new XPS 14 and XPS 16 models that are redesigned and better than ever.
Dell also teased the return of the XPS 13 this year, and that time has come with a new one XPS 13 (DX13260) The model was presented at Computex 2026.
Dell’s new XPS 13 arrives to take on the MacBook Neo
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The new XPS 13 arrives at a critical time in the PC market. Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo shocked almost everyone, including me, when it was unveiled earlier this year, sparking weeks of online controversy about the cost and quality of the Windows laptop.
Well, I have good news. Dell plans to introduce its new XPS 13 at a price of $599 for studentswhich I can’t help but think will make it a great competition for the Apple MacBook Neo.
The XPS 13 isn’t just competitive on price, either. I can’t help but note a few outstanding features that are not available on the MacBook Neo, such as backlit keyboarda touch displaysupport of many external displaysand until 32GB of memory.
Here’s a closer look at the specs coming to the new XPS 13 (DX13260).
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Dell XPS 13 (DX13260) |
|
CPU |
Intel Core 5 320, Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (after launch) |
|
The GPU |
Intel Graphics (integrated) |
|
RAM |
8GB, 16GB, 32GB (Core Ultra only) LPDDR5x-7467 |
|
Storage |
256GB (post-launch), 512GB, 1TB (Core Ultra only) M.2 PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD |
|
Show |
13.4 inches, 2560×1600 (2.5K), touch, 500 nits, 100% DCI-P3, DisplayHDR 400, 30-120Hz VRR, Dolby Vision, Eyesafe, anti-glare |
|
Wireless |
Wi-FI 7, Bluetooth 6.0 |
|
Camera |
1080p + IR |
|
The sound |
Quad speakers (total 8W), Dolby Atmos |
|
Battery |
52Wh, 800ED cells |
|
Size |
11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches (296.9mm x 200.66mm x 12.7mm) |
This is the smallest XPS laptop I have ever seen
The new XPS 13 (DX13260) is the smallest XPS laptop ever created by Dell, weighing just . 2.2 pounds (0.9kg) and measurement only 0.5 inches (12.7mm) he is young.
It is made of CNC-machined aluminum for strength, durability, and the overall premium feel associated with the XPS, and despite its small size, it has a dual-fan cooling system.
Dell also managed to fit four speakers with 8W of total audio output with Dolby Atmos, as well as a small webcam with 1080p resolution and an IR sensor for Windows Hello. Models with Intel Core chips get two USB-C ports, while Core Ultra models jump up to dual Thunderbolt 4.
Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 3 chips power the new XPS 13
Dell plans to launch its XPS 13 first with Intel’s “Panther Lake” Core 5 320 CPU, but will add a more powerful Core Ultra 7 355 option after launch.
The Core 5 chip will be available with 8GB or 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM and up to 512GB SSD, while the Core 7 Ultra chip unlocks 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD.
Dell claims up to 17 hours of battery life when streaming video, and while that number will drop with real-world use, that’s still a pretty good proposition.
Regardless of CPU choice, all new XPS 13 models have the same 13.4-inch touchscreen display. It has 2560×1600 (2.5K) resolution, 500 nits brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color, DisplayHDR 400 certification, Dolby Vision, variable refresh rate 30-120Hz, and anti-flicker.
You don’t have to wait long with the new XPS 13
Dell aims to launch its new XPS 13 in June 2026, and as mentioned, it will start at just $599 for students aged 16 and up. For everyone else, it goes up to $699. Not bad, but remember that the price will be for the model with a non-Ultra Intel chip, 8GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD.
Dell plans to launch the XPS 13 with the Intel Core Ultra 7 355 chip “later this summer.”
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