Starting at $599.99

For months, the PC world has been waiting for a real answer to the MacBook Neo. Apple set the tone for the next generation of ultraportables, and for a while it looked like no Windows OEM had a response ready. That gap became impossible to ignore. If the Neo was going to redefine what a lightweight, efficiency‑first laptop should be, someone in the PC market needed to step up with a credible alternative. Dell is one of the few companies positioned to do it, and the new XPS 13 shows exactly why.

This model sits just a step below the flagship XPS 14 and 15, but that positioning turns into an advantage. Instead of chasing raw power or premium pricing, the XPS 13 focuses on delivering the same modern design language and high‑end materials at a far more approachable price. It feels like Dell finally decided that competing with the Neo doesn’t require matching Apple spec for spec. It requires offering a smarter value proposition that still feels unmistakably premium.

The XPS 13 makes that case clearly.

You notice the design philosophy the moment you pick it up. Dell kept the signature XPS silhouette but tightened the details, carving the chassis from CNC‑milled aluminum and offering it in a soft Sky finish that feels more modern than the usual silver slab. The machine is just half an inch thick and starts at 2.2 pounds, which puts it right in the same portability class as the Neo. The difference is in the hand feel: the XPS reads a little more compact, a little more intentional, almost like Dell wanted every edge and surface to disappear into the background while you work.

That minimalism carries into the display, which remains one of the XPS line’s biggest strengths. The 13.4‑inch 2.5K touchscreen stretches nearly edge to edge, and the variable 30–120 Hz refresh rate gives it a fluidity the Neo simply doesn’t match. Apple may have the color‑calibrated consistency of its panels, but Dell’s combination of touch support, higher refresh, and up to 500 nits of brightness makes the XPS feel more adaptable. Whether you’re scrolling through documents, sketching ideas, or just zooming in on a spreadsheet, the screen responds the way a modern ultraportable should.

Inside, Dell pairs Intel’s new Series 3 Core 5‑320 processor with LPDDR5X memory and fast NVMe storage. It’s not built to replace a workstation, but it doesn’t need to. This is the same audience Apple targets with the Neo: people who want a machine that stays cool, quiet, and efficient while handling everyday workloads without hesitation. The 52 Whr battery supports that mission, and with USB‑C charging and dual USB‑C ports with DisplayPort and power delivery, the XPS keeps the setup clean and simple.

Even the smaller details feel considered. The quad‑speaker array pushes a surprising 8W of peak output for a laptop this thin, and the 1080p Windows Hello camera paired with dual‑array mics makes video calls feel less like a compromise. Add Wi‑Fi 7 support and you get a device that’s not just current but ready for the next few years of connectivity upgrades.

Where Dell really shifts the dynamic is in pricing. The XPS 13 starts at 699.99 dollars for the 8 GB / 512 GB configuration and 899.99 dollars for the 16 GB model, which undercuts the MacBook Neo by a wide margin. For students, Dell even layers on additional discounts that make the entry point even more approachable. With configurations available now and delivery windows as early as mid‑July, it’s positioned as an easy machine to buy and an even easier one to recommend.

What really helps the XPS 13 feel like a modern answer to the Neo is the inclusion of Intel’s on‑chip NPU. Every PC maker has been talking about NPUs for the past year, but this is one of the first ultraportables where the feature actually feels relevant. The NPU handles low‑power, always‑on AI tasks that would normally wake up the CPU or drain the battery faster. In real use, that means things like background noise removal during calls, on‑device transcription, and image cleanup in video chats all run more efficiently. You get smoother performance without the fans spinning up or the battery dipping as quickly.

The benefits show up in small but meaningful ways. If you’re on back‑to‑back meetings, the NPU keeps your video feed looking cleaner without taxing the system. If you’re using Windows Studio Effects for eye‑contact correction or background blur, those features stay responsive even when you have a dozen browser tabs open. And for anyone who relies on AI‑powered writing tools, photo enhancements, or quick on‑device summarization, the NPU should help those tasks feel instant instead of interruptive. It’s not a headline feature on its own, but it’s one of those quiet upgrades that makes the laptop feel more fluid day to day.

Dell is betting that a premium build, a more flexible display, modern connectivity, and a significantly lower price will resonate with anyone who wants a high‑end ultraportable without committing to Apple’s ecosystem. And in practice, the XPS 13 makes that argument convincingly. It feels like the first Windows laptop of this generation that doesn’t just compete with the Neo but challenges the assumption that Apple automatically owns this space.