Dell is swallowing its pride and resurrecting the beloved XPS brand, a move that’s both surprising and, frankly, a relief for many. But here’s where it gets controversial: after ditching the iconic name nearly a year ago in favor of bland monikers like 'Premium,' 'Plus,' 'Pro,' and 'Pro Max,' Dell is now backtracking—just in time for CES 2026. Why the sudden change of heart? And more importantly, does this signal a return to form for the once-revered laptop line? Let’s dive in.
The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 laptops are Dell’s latest attempt to win back fans of the ‘Extreme Performance System’ legacy. These machines boast Dell’s slimmest designs yet, a full row of dedicated function keys, improved battery life, and Intel’s cutting-edge Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 processors. Dell even went the extra mile by emblazoning the XPS logo on the lid and adding subtle glass etching lines to the seamless haptic trackpad—a small but meaningful touch. And this is the part most people miss: these changes aren’t just cosmetic; they’re a clear acknowledgment of past missteps and a commitment to listening to customer feedback.
Launching on January 6th in select configurations, with more options arriving in February, the XPS 14 starts at $2,049, while the XPS 16 begins at $2,199.99. For those growing weary of Windows, Dell promises an Ubuntu 24.04 version of the XPS 14 later this year—a nod to the Linux community that’s sure to spark debate among OS loyalists.
Under the hood, both laptops feature three USB-C/Thunderbolt 4 ports, 10W speakers, and weigh as little as 3 pounds (1.36 kg) for the 14-inch model and 3.65 pounds (1.65 kg) for the 16-inch. They come equipped with 1920 x 1200 IPS displays, 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, a 512GB SSD, and Intel’s Core Ultra 5 325 chip. For the visually demanding, Dell offers extra-bright tandem OLED displays (2880 x 1800 for the 14-inch and 3200 x 2000 for the 16-inch), which also make the laptops slightly thinner and lighter. Processor upgrades, including the Intel Core Ultra X9 388H, are expected later.
One potential sticking point? Neither model includes discrete graphics, but Dell is positioning these laptops as battery life champions, thanks to 70Whr cells and variable refresh rate displays that can drop as low as 1Hz for static tasks like reading emails or viewing photos. Is this a trade-off worth making? Let us know in the comments.
At a December preview event, Dell COO Jeff Clarke took the stage in an XPS-branded shirt, metaphorically hat in hand, to address last year’s branding blunder. ‘We’ve been a bit off-course in our PC business,’ he admitted, promising to ‘get back on course’ and ‘return to our roots.’ While the T-shirt stunt felt a bit cringe-worthy, the new XPS laptops themselves look genuinely promising.
The all-aluminum build feels sleek, and the addition of trackpad etchings and physical function keys addresses some of the criticisms of the previous XPS 13. However, the latticeless keyboard—a personal pet peeve of mine—remains on most models. But here’s a twist: Dell is also teasing a new XPS 13 for later in 2026, claiming it will be the thinnest and lightest XPS ever, at under 13mm thick. For context, that’s thinner than the 13-inch M4 MacBook Air’s 11.3mm profile. One major change? A return to the traditional chiclet-style keyboard, which Dell’s design head, Justin Lyles, says is ‘more cost-efficient to execute.’ This shift, coupled with a lower price point, could make the XPS 13 a serious contender in the ultraportable market.
While Dell hasn’t fully reversed last year’s awkward branding decisions, this revitalization of the XPS line feels like a step in the right direction. For years, XPS laptops were the go-to choice for Windows users seeking a MacBook Pro alternative. The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 certainly look the part, and my sneak peek at the XPS 13 (no photos allowed, unfortunately) revealed a design that’s practically a MacBook Air doppelgänger. If Dell is sacrificing some originality for improved functionality and clearer branding, I’m all for it.
Here’s the burning question: Is Dell’s revival of the XPS brand a genuine return to form, or just a bandaid fix for past mistakes? And does the new XPS 13 have what it takes to compete with Apple’s dominance in the ultraportable space? Share your thoughts below—let’s get the debate started!
