Dell is expanding into the budget ultraportable market with a redesigned XPS 13 that keeps the familiar XPS design while starting at a promotional price of $599. Set to launch in July, the laptop appears to target Apple’s MacBook Neo by combining portability, a quality display, and pricing aimed at students and back-to-school shoppers.
The $599 starting price will be offered to students through a back-to-school promotion lasting until September. Once the offer ends, the base model increases to $699, putting it head-to-head with Apple’s MacBook Neo. With Apple still holding a slight edge on student pricing, Dell may need to stand out through features and overall value.
Portability is a major focus for the new XPS 13. Dell says it is the thinnest and lightest version of the laptop so far, measuring half an inch thick and weighing 2.2 pounds. The design appears aimed at everyday mobility, though the limited connectivity may not suit everyone. The laptop includes two USB-C ports and removes the headphone jack entirely. Higher-end models offer Thunderbolt 4 support and more capable processors, but the lack of a headphone jack applies across the lineup.
The base XPS 13 is powered by Intel’s six-core Core 5 320 chip from the Wildcat Lake lineup and comes with 512GB of storage alongside 8GB of RAM. That setup should be enough for everyday use, though the limited memory may leave some Windows 11 users questioning its ability to keep up with heavier workloads. Dell says more powerful versions are on the way, with Intel’s upcoming Panther Lake processors and up to 32GB of RAM, but those models will arrive after launch.
Dell is keeping display quality consistent across the lineup. Every configuration includes a 13.4-inch anti-glare touchscreen with a 2,560 × 1,600 resolution, a variable refresh rate ranging from 30Hz to 120Hz, 500 nits of brightness, and 100 percent DCI-P3 color coverage. Those specifications make the display one of the more noticeable strengths of the laptop at this price.
Battery life is another area Dell is highlighting. According to the company, the XPS 13 can provide up to 17 hours of video streaming on a single charge and should last through a full day of classes in regular use. A backlit keyboard is included as a standard feature.
Dell appears comfortable drawing comparisons with Apple’s competing laptop. During an early media briefing, COO Jeff Clarke directly referenced the device, making Dell’s target market difficult to miss. The company also previewed a larger XPS model designed for more demanding tasks, equipped with Nvidia RTX graphics, a tandem OLED display, an HDMI port, and an SD card slot.
The XPS 13 arrives as part of Dell’s broader return of the XPS lineup, which the company discontinued in 2025 before bringing it back earlier this year with the XPS 14 and XPS 16. While those models reintroduced the brand, the XPS 13 may offer a clearer measure of how successful the comeback will be. The $599 to $699 market is competitive and leaves little room for mistakes.
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