Dell this week introduced a new version of the XPS 13, a laptop that it says “rivals the MacBook Neo on price and surpasses it on features.”
In the US, the XPS 13 starts at $699 for the general public and $599 for eligible students, which is $100 more than the MacBook Neo on both fronts. However, Dell said the XPS 13 offers the following six features “that you won’t find on a MacBook Neo.”
- A touch screen
- A backlit keyboard
- A second, faster USB-C port (10 GB/s versus 480 MB/s)
- Wi-Fi 7 (vs. Wi-Fi 6E)
- Windows Hello to unlock a laptop via facial recognition (MacBook Neo offers Touch ID at the same $699 price)
- Four speakers (compared to two)
“Apple’s MacBook Neo is a capable machine, and its arrival confirms that there is a real appetite for premium quality at accessible prices,” Dell said. “Where Dell differs is what we think is premium at this price point and what we were willing to build to get there. »
Although not mentioned in the Dell listing above, the XPS 13’s display offers a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, while the MacBook Neo has a 60Hz refresh rate and sRGB-only coverage. And with a 13-inch screen and 2,560 × 1,600 pixel resolution, the XPS 13 delivers Retina-like quality.
Like the MacBook Neo, the base model XPS 13 comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage in a slim aluminum body. The base model is powered by the new Intel Core Series 3 processor, with more expensive configurations offering Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage.
Apple silicon delivers industry-leading performance per watt, enabling the MacBook Neo with an A18 Pro chip to have a fanless design. In the XPS 13 there are two fans.
Dell said the XPS 13 is the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop ever made. It measures 12.7mm thick, matching the MacBook Neo, but its claimed weight of 2.2 pounds is half a pound less than the MacBook Neo.
The base model XPS 13 with a Core Series 3 processor will be coming to the US “soon”, according to Dell. The laptop will be available in two finishes, Sky and Storm, with the latter color only available “later this summer.”
Windows versus macOS remains an important factor, but increased competition is good for all customers because it helps drive prices down across the board.
“A few months ago at CES, we made a commitment: to compete at every price point in the consumer market and create products worthy of the XPS name,” Dell said. “Even though memory shortages have driven up component costs in virtually every industry, we are honoring this commitment. »
Without the MacBook Neo, which we have been talking about since June 2025, we might not be in this situation.
