Dell unveils lighter XPS 13 at its lowest entry price

Dell has unveiled a new XPS 13 laptop, which it says has the lowest entry price yet in the XPS range.

The device weighs 1kg and measures 12.7mm at its thinnest point. Dell describes it as the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop it has made. It is positioning the machine against Apple's MacBook Neo, arguing that it includes more features as standard.

Every XPS 13 model will ship with a touchscreen, backlit keyboard and Intel Wi-Fi 7. Standard features also include USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, Windows Hello support and quad speakers.

The laptop has a 2.5K LCD touchscreen with support for 100% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut. Dell says the panel uses variable refresh rate technology, adjusting between 30Hz and 120Hz depending on what is on screen.

Under Dell's internal Netflix streaming test, the laptop delivers up to 17 hours of battery life. Processing options include Intel Core Series 3 at launch, with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 models to follow, alongside configurations with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and up to 1TB of storage.

Dell says the machine uses a dual-fan thermal design to manage heat and noise during heavier workloads. The chassis is made from aluminium, and the laptop will be available in Sky and Storm finishes.

Consumer push

The launch reflects Dell's effort to broaden the appeal of the XPS line beyond its traditional premium customer base. The company said it is targeting students and younger professionals looking for a lighter device that can last through a full day without frequent charging.

Dell also presented the release as part of a wider attempt to compete across more consumer price bands at a time when memory shortages have raised component costs. It said it wanted to offer a lower-cost XPS product without removing design features or reducing build quality.

Comparison with Apple was central to the announcement. Dell says the XPS 13 is smaller and more than 200 grams lighter than the MacBook Neo, while also offering a larger display.

That argument rests heavily on standard specifications rather than optional extras. Touch input, keyboard backlighting and the latest Wi-Fi standard are common points of differentiation in thin-and-light laptops, particularly where lower-priced models strip back features to meet cost targets.

Design focus

Dell says the XPS 13 remains aligned with the design approach that has long defined the range. It describes the product as a smaller, lighter interpretation of the XPS line rather than a cut-down version.

The emphasis on chassis materials and portability suggests Dell is trying to preserve the identity of the XPS brand while lowering the barrier to purchase. Aluminium construction, a slim profile and relatively low weight remain central to that pitch.

By making the touchscreen standard across the line, Dell is also leaning into one of the sharper distinctions between Windows laptops and Apple's MacBook range. The inclusion of Windows Hello underlines that strategy by tying hardware features to familiar Windows login and security functions.

Dell has not provided detailed regional pricing in the launch materials. It did, however, make clear that affordability is central to the new model's market position.

Explaining the thinking behind the device, Dell said: "XPS 13 was built for everyone who's been told that a lower price means accepting less. It doesn't."