Dell’s new XPS 13 is marketed as the thinnest and lightest in the line, tipping the scales at 2.2 pounds and 12.7 millimeters thick. With a starting price of $700, it directly competes with Apple’s Mac Book Neo, but to hit that price point, Dell had to make compromises.

The aluminum case feels solid, but the design now mirrors the more basic Inspiron line rather than the premium XPS family. The 8GB of RAM base model struggles with Windows 11, often pushing memory usage to 95 % and causing noticeable lag. The Intel Core 5 320 chip is also slower than the newer Intel Core Ultra or Snapdragon options, losing head‑to‑head in Geekbench 6 benchmarks.

On the bright side, the XPS 13 offers a fast 120 Hz 1440p display, a 15‑hour‑plus battery Damian tested, and a quieter build than the earlier 2024 model. For those on a tight budget who value portability over raw power, it’s a viable, though imperfect, alternative to the Neo.