IN A NUTSHELL: Dell is taking another swing at the ultraportable market, this time with a version of the XPS 13 designed to compete on price as much as aesthetics. The new model, set to launch in July, marks a shift for the XPS lineup, which has traditionally targeted the premium segment. With this release, Dell aims to bring the XPS design language to a lower price point without sacrificing the features and styling that define the brand.
The company is launching the laptop at a promotional price of $599 for students as part of a back-to-school offer that runs through September. After that, the starting price will increase to $699. That places it in direct competition with Apple's MacBook Neo, which has already helped define the budget ultraportable category. Apple still offers a slightly lower student price, meaning Dell will need to differentiate the XPS 13 in other areas.
Dell is emphasizing the XPS 13's portability. The company says this is the thinnest and lightest XPS 13 it has ever produced, measuring just half an inch thick and weighing 2.2 pounds. The design is clearly aimed at users who are constantly on the move, making it easy to carry throughout the day.
At the same time, that minimalist approach extends to connectivity, for better or worse. The laptop includes just two USB-C ports and omits a headphone jack entirely. Higher-end configurations add Thunderbolt 4 support and more powerful processors, but the missing headphone jack remains.
