Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo.

Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo.

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      Dell is currently offering the XPS 13 for $599 to students, lowering the price to compete with Apple's budget-friendly MacBook.

      At Computex 2026, Dell made a bold statement. Since its launch, the XPS series has epitomized Dell's design and engineering excellence in laptops, though it comes at a premium price. After a brief hiatus, the XPS line is making a comeback, with Dell embarking on an ambitious initiative. The latest offering from the tech giant is the XPS 13, and its eye-catching price of $699 is sure to attract attention.

      What sets the XPS 13 apart?

      Dell claims it has a unique approach to defining "premium" laptops at a reasonable price, and in this aspect, it has succeeded. In comparison to the MacBook Neo, the XPS 13 includes several significant enhancements. To begin with, it features a notably superior 2.5K touch screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, faster USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) ports, quicker Wi-Fi 7 capabilities, and a quad speaker system.

      More importantly, the XPS 13 comes equipped with a backlit keyboard, a notable absence in the MacBook Neo. Additionally, it includes an IR sensor for biometric face recognition on the Windows device. The base model is powered by an Intel Series 3 Core 5 Processor, while more advanced versions will utilize the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chip, starting from 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

      Here are the specifications of this device:

      Model Number: DX13260

      Processor Options:

      - Series 3 Intel Core 5 Processor 320 (6-Core, 6MB Cache, up to 4.6GHz)

      - Series 3 Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor 355 (8-Core, 12MB Cache, up to 4.7 GHz)

      - Intel Core Ultra processors post-launch

      - Neural Processor: 16 TOPS on Intel Core, 49 TOPS on 355

      Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Home 64-bit, Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64-bit

      Memory Options:

      - 8GB LPDDR5x at 7467 MT/s

      - 16GB LPDDR5x at 7467 MT/s

      - 32GB LPDDR5x at 7467 MT/s

      - Intel Core options: 8-16GB, single channel

      - Intel Core Ultra options: 16-32GB options, dual channel

      Storage Options:

      - 256GB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4) – post-launch

      - 512GB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4)

      - 1TB PCIe 4 SSD (Gen 4)

      - Intel Core Ultra up to 1TB

      Graphics: Intel graphics

      Display: 13.4-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) InfinityEdge touch display, 500-nit typical brightness, 100% DCI-P3 typical color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR 400, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 176° wide viewing angle +/- 88° / 88° / 88° / 88°, 30-120Hz VRR, Dolby Vision™, Eyesafe® technology, anti-glare

      Wireless:

      - Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE213 2×2 + Bluetooth 6.0 Wireless Card (with Intel Core)

      - Intel Wi-Fi 7 BE211 2×2 + Bluetooth 6.0 Wireless Card (with Intel Core Ultra)

      AC Adapter: 65W USB-C GAN Slim AC adapter (2-pin, Wall-mount)

      Construction: CNC aluminum

      Dimensions and Weights:

      - Height: 0.50 in. (12.7mm)

      - Depth: 7.90 in. (200.66 mm)

      - Width: 11.69 in. (296.90 mm)

      - Starting weight: 2.2 lbs (1 kg)

      Battery: 52Whr battery, 800ED cells, ExpressCharge 1.0

      Ports and Slots:

      - 2x USB Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery (with Intel Core processors)

      - 2x Thunderbolt 4 (USB Type-C) with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery (with Intel Core Ultra processors)

      - Kensington lock supported via USB Type-C ports

      Inputs:

      - 2 Dual Array Microphones

      - Touch Display

      - Full size, backlit, chiclet keyboard; 0.8mm travel

      - Windowed glass touchpad, multi-touch gesture-enabled with anti-smudge coating

      - Ambient Light Sensor for

Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo. Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo. Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo. Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo. Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo. Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo. Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo. Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo.

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Dell unveils its slimmest and lightest XPS 13, priced at only $699, in an effort to outshine the MacBook Neo.

The Dell XPS 13 features a more vibrant 120Hz display, a backlit keyboard, quicker ports, and a biometric facial recognition option to cover the shortcomings of the MacBook Air.