Dell XPS 13 2026 Brings Premium Windows Ultraportables Back Below $900

As of Sunday, September 20, 2026, the Dell XPS 13 DX13260 is one of the more interesting Windows ultraportables because it moves the XPS idea back into a lower price bracket without turning into a plain budget notebook. Tom’s Hardware reviewed the 2026 XPS 13 on August 20, 2026, positioning it as Dell’s answer to the lower-cost MacBook Neo, with a reviewed starting price of $699 for the 8GB RAM model and $899 for the 16GB RAM model. Dell’s own U.S. store currently lists XPS 13 configurations that can vary by storage, color, and promotion, so buyers should check the exact cart before comparing prices. (tomshardware.com)

The appeal starts with the shell. Dell lists the 2026 XPS 13 with a CNC aluminum chassis, a starting weight of 2.2 pounds / 1 kg, and dimensions of 11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches. The display is a 13.4-inch 2.5K touch panel with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 30Hz to 120Hz refresh range, 500-nit rating, and Dell’s InfinityEdge design. Color options include Dell’s lighter Sky finish and darker Storm finish, depending on configuration. That combination is what makes this machine stand out: it is not trying to win on raw workstation power, but it keeps the compact feel, metal construction, and clean design language people expect from an XPS. (dell.com)

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The headline configuration uses Intel’s Series 3 Core 5 320, a Wildcat Lake chip with 6 cores, 6 threads, 6MB cache, and boost speeds up to 4.6GHz. Dell’s specification sheet lists the Core 5 320 at 15W base power and 35W maximum turbo power, with Intel Graphics and an NPU rated up to 16 TOPS. Dell’s support documentation also lists Core Ultra 5 325 and Core Ultra 7 355 processor options for the DX13260 family, but the sub-$900 story is mainly about the Core 5 version. In practical terms, this points the XPS 13 toward web work, documents, email, streaming, travel use, and school or office tasks rather than heavy rendering or modern gaming. (dell.com)

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The Core 5 version keeps the port layout simple: two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports rated at 10Gbps, with DisplayPort support and USB-C charging. Dell’s documentation for this model family lists Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, a 52Wh battery, a 65W USB-C adapter, a 1080p FHD camera with IR for Windows Hello, dual-array microphones, and a quad-speaker setup rated at 8W total peak output. There is no SD card reader, and Tom’s Hardware notes that the XPS 13 also lacks a headphone jack, so users with wired audio gear will need USB-C or Bluetooth accessories. The tradeoff is a very minimal chassis, but it does mean dongles may still be part of the experience. (dell.com)

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The 2026 XPS 13 makes the most sense as a value-and-design comeback story, not as a performance flex. Tom’s Hardware found the 8GB model could become laggy under multitasking, while the 16GB model felt smoother when switching between many browser tabs. That makes the $899 16GB configuration the more comfortable target for users who keep lots of apps or tabs open, while the cheaper 8GB model is better treated as a lighter-use machine. The upside is that Dell has put an aluminum 13-inch Windows ultraportable with a high-resolution touch display, modern wireless, and clean XPS styling back into a price range that no longer feels reserved for plastic budget laptops. The downside is clear too: limited CPU and GPU headroom, no headphone jack, and configuration details that should be checked carefully before buying. (tomshardware.com)

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