The budget laptop market no longer belongs to Apple alone. With the launch of the new Dell and that in many aspects surpasses it. The announcement came at Computex 2026 and made it clear that the battle for the affordable segment is going to be more intense than ever.

Since Apple introduced the MacBook Neo at $599, something has moved in the industry. The large PC manufacturers understood that they could no longer continue leaving that free space to Cupertino. There is a real demand for devices that offer premium design, good performance and a price that does not require you to take out a second credit card. And Dell knows this better than anyone.

An ultra-thin beast that weighs less than a kilo

The first thing that surprises you about this new XPS 13 is what it doesn't weigh: just 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram), making it the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop in Dell history. At just 0.5 inches thick and with a CNC machined aluminum casing, this device feels like a jewel from the first moment you hold it in your hands.

And unlike the MacBook Neo, the The screen adapts itself. That's something Apple isn't offering on its Neo yet.

There's also a 2MP camera with 1080p resolution and infrared facial recognition, a backlit keyboard with chiclet keys, and a standard mechanical trackpad. Small details that make a difference every day.

The technical specifications that matter

The heart of the team is the new Intel Core 5 320 (“Wildcat Lake”) processor, although Dell has already confirmed that a version with the Intel Core Ultra 7 355 (“Panther Lake”) will arrive after the launch. That means there is room to grow if you are looking for more power.

As for memory and storage, here are the key details:

Compared to the MacBook Neo, the The price for that flexibility, of course, can go up depending on the configuration you choose.

The price that changes everything

Here comes the interesting part. The Dell That puts it directly at the base price level of the MacBook Neo — although Apple offers that price permanently and its student discount even drops to $499.

Still, Dell's positioning is clear and aggressive. In an official blog, the company directly names the MacBook Neo, calling it “a capable device,” and then explains why it believes its XPS is superior in this price range. That's no small feat for a manufacturer that has historically avoided entering that arena.

The XPS 13 hits the market in June 2026, with the base configuration including the Core 5 320, 8 GB of RAM and 512 GB SSD. It's a solid proposition for college students, professionals on the go, or anyone who wants to stop feeling like they have to choose between price and quality.

The market has said it clearly: the era of the affordable premium laptop has already begun, and manufacturers like Dell, with all its experience building high-caliber equipment under the XPS line, have everything to beat Apple at its own game. If the MacBook Neo woke up the market, the XPS 13 arrived ready to answer the challenge.

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