Dell Launches $599 XPS 13, Undercutting Apple

Dell officially unveiled its new XPS 13 laptop at Computex 2026 in Taiwan on Monday, June 1, 2026. This device aims to compete directly with Apple's budget offerings, featuring a premium aluminum build and a student price of $599.

The XPS 13 is set to be Dell's thinnest and lightest XPS laptop, weighing just 2.2 pounds. It will include a 2.5K touchscreen, keyboard backlighting, and WiFi 7. The display supports up to 500 nits of brightness and a 120Hz variable refresh rate, contributing to an estimated 17 hours of video streaming per charge.

Launching later in June, the base configuration includes 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, powered by Intel's Core Series 3 "Wildcat Lake" chips. A special student offer of $599 is available until November 2, 2026; otherwise, the price is $699.

Later in the summer, Dell will introduce a "storm" finish and upgraded models with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 "Panther Lake" chips, featuring two Thunderbolt 4 ports. Cheaper models will have USB-C ports, but notably, neither will include a headphone jack.

This accessible price point marks a shift for Dell's premium XPS line, driven by a commitment to broader consumer reach despite global component shortages. The move also follows Acer's recent announcement of a similarly priced budget laptop.