Dell's new XPS 13 at $599 challenges MacBook Neo with lighter build and touchscreen
Dell takes on Apple's budget MacBook Neo with a $599 XPS 13 that's lighter and has a touchscreen
Dell has unveiled the 2026 XPS 13 at Computex, priced aggressively at $599 for students and $699 for everyone else — a direct challenge to Apple's MacBook Neo. COO Jeff Clarke openly positioned it as a rival, keeping premium XPS features while reducing cost via Intel's new 'Wildcat Lake' Core Series 3 chips (6-core Core 5 or 8-core Core 7). The laptop weighs just 2.2 lbs (0.5 lbs lighter than the Neo), features a 13.4-inch 2.5K LCD touchscreen with 120Hz VRR and 500 nits brightness, and includes a backlit keyboard — something the Neo lacks. Dell offers 8GB to 32GB LPDDR5X RAM and 256GB to 1TB storage, giving buyers more flexibility than Apple's fixed configurations.
On connectivity, the XPS 13 bests the Neo with two USB-C 3.2 ports supporting DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery, versus the Neo's single 10Gbps USB-C plus a slower USB 2 port. Dell claims up to 17 hours of battery life. While the base model is compelling at $599, upgrading to 32GB RAM and 1TB storage pushes the price well above $699, where a higher-tier XPS 14 might be more attractive. The keyboard uses chiclet keys instead of premium zero-lattice, but the overall package retains the XPS identity — a premium-feeling budget laptop for students and professionals.
- Base price $599 (students) or $699 (retail) with Intel Wildcat Lake Core 5/7 CPUs, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage.
- Weighs 2.2 lbs with a 13.4-inch 2.5K 120Hz touch display, backlit keyboard, and 17-hour battery.
- Better I/O than MacBook Neo: two USB-C 3.2 with DisplayPort 2.1, up to 32GB RAM, and 1TB storage.
Why It Matters
Dell delivers premium XPS features at budget pricing, putting pressure on Apple's MacBook Neo in the sub-$700 market.