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The $699 Dell XPS 13 (2026) is the best budget Windows laptop ever and a serious rival to the similarly priced MacBook Neo. Dell’s machine packs in many premium features and proves that the best budget laptops don’t have to feel cheap or have poor performance and battery life.I’ve tested the entry-level model featuring an Intel Core 5 “Wildcat Lake” CPU, 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage. Like other configurations of this laptop, my test unit has a sturdy aluminum chassis and a vivid 2.5K display. It’s also the lightest XPS laptop ever, even lighter than the MacBook Air M5! As I said in my Dell XPS 13 (2026) review, it proves you don’t have to sacrifice quality for an affordable notebook.Now that I’ve spent two weeks with the Dell XPS 13, I wanted to dig deeper into what I like (and what I don’t) about Dell’s affordable laptop. Here's what I think!Dell XPS 13 (2026): What I likeUltraportable design

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)I travel a lot for work, so I prefer having the lightest laptop possible when I'm out and about. The 13-inch MacBook Air has long been my go-to when attending events like CES since it’s so thin and light. Now, after taking the Dell XPS 13 back and forth between my apartment and the office, I’ve found another ultraportable laptop that I barely feel in my backpack.The MacBook Neo proved that a budget laptop can still look and feel premium, and the XPS 13 is following suit. The CNC aluminum chassis is a feature that can’t be overstated, as similarly priced laptops usually have cheap plastic builds that are offensive to the eyes and hands. The XPS 13 feels as sturdy and looks as good as a MacBook Air, which is definitely a huge compliment.I also like that this lower-end XPS has design features that more expensive Dell XPS 14 and Dell XPS 16 lack. The first is that there’s a lip on the laptop lid. That might not sound like a big deal, but if you’ve ever struggled to open an XPS laptop, you’re going to sing with joy. Secondly, the keyboard deck has a traditional design, with evenly spaced keys rather than the cramped, lattice-less layout of the aforementioned XPS models. These touches make an already great laptop design even better.While there is one design aspect I’m not enamored with (more on that soon), the XPS 13 is overall a lovely-looking laptop that’s tailor-made for travel.Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Lovely display