Dell (DELL) Launches $699 XPS 13 Laptop to Challenge Apple's MacBook Neo

Dell Technologies (DELL) unveiled its most affordable laptop, the XPS 13, on May 31, 2026, starting at $699, in a direct challenge to Apple’s (AAPL) MacBook Neo. The aggressive pricing targets students and young professionals amid a competitive PC market. Dell priced the student version at $599 for back-to-school buyers. The company said the XPS 13 is half a pound lighter than the MacBook Neo and features a larger display. “I’ll give them credit. It’s a good product and it validates the market we’ve been talking about. Students and consumers deserve better options at accessible price points,” Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke said. The launch follows Dell’s January strategy to compete across all consumer price tiers, aiming to offset expected PC shipment slowdowns from rising memory chip costs. The base XPS 13 with Intel Core Series 3 processors will be available soon, while a model with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips is due later this summer.