Dell XPS 13 goes on sale at $699 — but Apple already beat it to the classroom
Dell has officially put the new XPS 13 on sale, starting at $699 for the general public and $599 for students — making it one of the most affordable XPS laptops ever. The machine weighs just 1kg and is the thinnest and lightest XPS Dell has ever built. It arrives squarely aimed at Apple's new budget MacBook Neo, and the timing matters: whoever wins the education market now could define the ultraportable laptop pecking order for years.
The hardware
The 2026 XPS 13 ships with an Intel Core Series 3 processor and a 2.5K touchscreen as standard — features that were optional extras on pricier predecessors. At 1kg it edges out the MacBook Neo in weight, and Dell claims it's smaller overall. Per the Dell official announcement, the design is the most compact XPS 13 to date. For Windows users who want a premium build without a premium price, there isn't much competition at this level.
Apple moved first
The problem for Dell is that Apple didn't wait around. The MacBook Neo launched at $499 for education buyers and $699 for everyone else — and it has already landed a contract to supply more than 4,500 units to the Kansas City school district. That's a significant early win in the segment Dell is targeting.
Windows Central has called the XPS 13 the most important Dell release of 2026, and the specs back that up. But the $599 student price is still $100 more than Apple's education tier, and macOS creative tools remain a draw for schools already using iPads and iPhones. Ecosystem lock-in is real, and Apple got there first.
What it costs in Europe
Outside the US, the value case shifts considerably. European pricing comes in at €1,049 for the standard model and €799 for students, according to VideoCardz. In Germany, that means the XPS 13 student price is still €200 below the MacBook Neo public price, but Apple's education deal in Germany sits at €599 — undercutting Dell by €200 at the student tier. UK pricing for the 2026 model has not been confirmed yet.
Worth buying?
If you're a Windows user looking for a genuinely portable machine under $700, the XPS 13 is hard to fault on specs and build. Students on a tight budget will find more dollar-for-dollar value in Apple's MacBook Neo — unless Windows is a firm requirement. Dell is selling through its website and major retailers now.
