Laptops
The New XPS 13: A Commitment Delivered
For students and young professionals who refuse to settle, meet the most accessible XPS ever built.
Key takeaways 6 min read
- XPS 13 arrives at its most accessible price ever, contending with the MacBook Neo on price, and exceeding it on features.
- At 1kg and remarkably thin, the XPS 13 is the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop ever made.1
- Touchscreen, backlit keyboard and Intel Wi-Fi 7 – all come standard on every XPS 13.
- Options to upgrade to Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
A few months ago at CES, we made a commitment: compete at every price point in the consumer market and build products worthy of the XPS name.
Even though memory shortages have pushed component costs higher across virtually every industry, we are delivering on that commitment.
Meet the new XPS 13. It redefines what a compact, accessible and premium laptop can be.
What premium actually means
XPS 13 was built for everyone who’s been told that a lower price means accepting less. It doesn’t.
Think about high schoolers and college students juggling coursework, jobs and everything else life throws at them. Young professionals that are just starting to build their careers. Their days are long, their bags are heavy and their budgets don’t have much room for compromise. They need a laptop that’s light enough to carry everywhere, lasts through a full day without hunting for an outlet, and doesn’t ask them to give up the features that make it worth having. XPS 13 was built for exactly that.
Apple’s MacBook Neo is a capable machine, and its arrival confirms that there’s real appetite for premium quality at accessible prices. Where Dell differs is what we think premium means at this price point and what we were willing to build to deliver it.
The XPS 13 is the lightest and most accessible expression of everything XPS has always stood for. Not a lesser version, but a smaller, lighter one.
At 12.7mm thin and only 1kg in weight (2.2lbs), XPS 13 is the thinnest, lightest XPS laptop ever made.2 It’s smaller and a half pound lighter than the MacBook Neo with a larger display.3 The lightweight and durable chassis is built to the same standard as every XPS, because a lower price shouldn’t mean a lesser build.
For eligible students ages 16 and up, the XPS 13 starts at $5994 during the back-to-school season. For everyone else, XPS 13 starts at $699. Here’s the standard features that you won’t find on a MacBook Neo5:
- A 2.5K touch display
- Backlit keyboard
- Faster USB-C (3.2 Gen 2)
- Intel Wi-Fi 7
- Windows Hello
- Quad speakers
Built for days that don’t slow down
The 2.5K LCD touch display is where the XPS 13 really earns its keep. It covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut – the color standard used in professional film and photography – so what you see on screen is accurate, vibrant and true to life. With Intel Wi-Fi 7 offered standard, all that rich content can be streamed seamlessly. In a world where everything runs through your connection, that’s a meaningful advantage.
Equipped with variable refresh rate technology, the display adjusts automatically between 30Hz and 120Hz depending on what’s on screen, delivering smooth visuals when you need them and conserving battery when you don’t. The result is up to 17 hours of streaming battery life6, enough that packing the charger is optional.
XPS 13 is powered by Intel Core Series 3 or Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors (available post-launch) with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory to handle multitasking without friction. And our dual-fan thermal architecture helps it stay cool and quiet, even when you’re pushing it.
Design and craftsmanship are non-negotiable
Design has always defined XPS. This XPS 13 is no different. It just gets there at a price point we’ve never hit before.
Every detail is intentional. The chassis is aluminum: rigid, sleek and ultra-thin. Day-to-day, the backlit keyboard makes typing comfortable in any lighting condition and the traditional touchpad keeps things clean and distraction-free.
XPS 13 comes in two finishes, Sky and Storm, designed to feel at home across the full range of environments its owners will take it: lecture halls, coffee shops, offices, wherever the day takes you.
XPS 13 is one part of a larger story. Read more here.
Check out our press kit and the official XPS page for more information.
US Availability
- XPS 13 with Intel Core Series 3 processors is arriving soon, starting at $599 for students 16 and up and $699 for everyone else.
- XPS 13 with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and the Storm colorway will be available later this summer.
1 Based on Dell internal analysis, May 2026.
2 Based on Dell internal analysis, May 2026.
3 Based on Dell internal analysis, May 2026.
4 Exclusive Student Offer: Offer valid until 11/2/26 at 7am CST.
Offer valid only for XPS 13 models with Intel Core Processor (excludes Ultra models). Offer is open to high school students 16 and older and college students at degree granting schools. Students must join Dell Rewards or be a current member and verify student status. Dell Rewards Terms and Conditions apply. Learn more about Dell Rewards. Offer contingent on purchase of eligible product. Purchase limit of 2 discounted items per order and 2 orders per student per year. Exclusions include: all limited quantity deals order codes, clearance offers, all warranties, gift cards, and other select PCs, electronics and accessories.
Offer subject to change, not combinable with all other offers. Taxes, shipping, and other fees apply. Free shipping offers valid only in the Continental U.S. (excludes Alaska and P.O. Box addresses). Offer not valid for Resellers. Dell reserves the right to cancel orders arising from pricing or other errors.
5 Based on Dell internal analysis, May 2026.
6 Netflix streaming battery benchmark: XPS 13 tested with Intel® Core 5 320 Processor, Intel Graphics, 2.5K LCD, 16GB and 512GB SSD. Testing conducted by Dell labs in May 2026 with display brightness set to 150 nits and wireless enabled. Battery configuration set to ExpressCharge and Intelligent Battery Extender disabled. Based on streaming Netflix Streaming 4k Video Playback. Actual battery life may be significantly less than the test results and varies depending on product configuration and use, software, usage, operating conditions, power management settings and other factors. Maximum battery life will decrease with time. The stated Watt Hour (WHr) is not an indication of battery life.
