Dell reintroduces the XPS laptop, and this time, it’s truly impressive.
A 13-inch variant is set to be released later this year, making it the most affordable XPS model ever.
About a year prior, Dell unveiled a significant rebranding of its consumer PC range, which was rather perplexing. The most unexpected aspect was the discontinuation of the legendary XPS series. However, at CES 2026, Dell has revived this flagship of advanced design, and it features a new look.
An impressive comeback
The new XPS laptops, available in 14-inch and 16-inch versions, are the thinnest and lightest models Dell has produced so far. The previous wedge design has been replaced with a sleek monolithic style characterized by sharp lines and rounded corners. Remarkably, the 14-inch model occupies less desk space than the 13-inch MacBook Air.
Moreover, the invisible trackpad has been replaced with a version that clearly defines the touch-sensitive region. The capacitive button row has also been removed in favor of physical function keys. Dell boasts an industry-leading battery life of up to 40 hours, while the 14-inch model weighs just three pounds.
Specifications:
- **Dell XPS 14:**
- Model Number: DA14260
- Processor Options: Intel Core Ultra 5 (up to 4.5 GHz) to Core Ultra X9 (up to 5.1 GHz)
- Screen Options: 14-inch 2K (1920×1200) non-touch (1-120Hz)
- RAM: 16GB LPDDR5x 7467 MT/s (Core Ultra 5/7)
- Storage: 512GB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4)
- Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C), Universal audio jack, Kensington lock support
- **Dell XPS 16:**
- Model Number: DA16260
- Processor Options: Intel Core Ultra 5 (up to 4.5 GHz) to Core Ultra X9 (up to 5.1 GHz)
- Screen Options: 16-inch 3.2K (3200×2000) OLED touch (20-120Hz)
- RAM: 32GB/64GB LPDDR5x 9600 MT/s (Core Ultra X7/X9)
- Storage: 1TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4)
- Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C), Universal audio jack, Kensington lock support
These new devices come equipped with Intel’s latest Ultra Series 3 processors, and the display features Tandem OLED technology, similar to that of the iPad Pro. The most surprising aspect is the pricing.
Dell
Later this year, Dell will introduce a 13-inch model, which will be the thinnest, lightest, and least expensive XPS laptop to date. The starting price for the Dell XPS 14 is $2,049.99, while the 16-inch model will begin at $2,199.99 on January 6 in the U.S. Additional budget-friendly configurations will be launched in the coming weeks.
Nadeem reports on technology and science for Digital Trends.
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