As competition intensifies in the affordable premium laptop segment, Dell Technologies has launched a redesigned XPS 13 laptop aimed at competing with Apple’s MacBook Neo, which gained significant attention after its debut in March due to its pricing and features.
The new Dell XPS 13 arrives ahead of the back-to-school season and features a premium design, a high-resolution touch display, and a backlit keyboard. The laptop starts at $699, while students can purchase it for $599. In comparison, Apple’s MacBook Neo is priced at $599 and drops to $499 for education buyers.
Dell’s base model comes with 512GB of storage, matching the higher-end $699 MacBook Neo with Touch ID. The XPS 13 measures 12.7mm in thickness and weighs 2.2 pounds, making it lighter than the 2.7-pound MacBook Neo. It also features an aluminum exterior designed to offer a premium look and feel.
Speaking during a media webcast, Dell Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke acknowledged Apple’s offering, saying, “I’ll give them credit. It’s a good product, and it validates the market we’ve been talking about. The difference is we’ve built something better.”
The XPS 13 offers greater customization options, including up to 32GB of memory, compared to the MacBook Neo’s fixed 8GB unified memory. The display supports refresh rates of up to 120Hz and delivers a wider color range. Dell has also included Wi-Fi 7 connectivity and claims the laptop can provide up to 17 hours of streaming battery life, compared to 16 hours on the Neo.
However, the device does not include a built-in headphone jack. Users will need to rely on Bluetooth audio devices, the quad-speaker system, or a USB-C adapter through one of the 2 USB-C ports.
Competition in the segment is also increasing. Acer recently launched the Swift Air 14 at $699, featuring an aluminum design, a 120Hz display, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity.
Meanwhile, Apple CEO Tim Cook recently highlighted strong demand for the MacBook Neo, stating, “off the charts” and adding that Apple “undercalled” consumer demand for the device. “We could not be happier with how things are going at the moment,” he said.
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