--- title: "Dell Takes on Apple MacBook Neo with New $700 XPS 13 Touch-Screen Laptop" url: https://digitaltechbyte.com/dell-takes-on-apple-macbook-neo-with-new-700-laptop-xps-13/ date: 2026-06-01 modified: 2026-06-01 author: "Brijesh Desai" description: "Dell takes on Apple MacBook Neo with new $700 laptop, the redesigned XPS 13 featuring a 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen display, Intel Core 5 \"Wildcat Lake\" processor, backlit keyboard, and up..." categories: - "Gadgets" - "News" tags: - "back-to-school laptop 2026" - "Dell XPS 13" - "Dell XPS 13 2.5K display" - "Dell XPS 13 July launch" - "Dell XPS 13 student discount $599" - "Dell XPS 13 touchscreen 120Hz" - "Dell XPS 13 Windows Hello" - "Dell XPS Windows rival MacBook Neo" - "Dell's thinnest and lightest XPS laptop" - "MacBook Neo vs XPS 13" - "MacBook Neo vs XPS 13 price" - "premium Windows laptop under $700" - "XPS 13 $700 laptop" - "XPS 13 17 hours battery life" - "XPS 13 500 nits brightness" - "XPS 13 backlit keyboard" - "XPS 13 beats MacBook Neo" - "XPS 13 CNC aluminum chassis vs MacBook Neo" - "XPS 13 Intel Core 5 Wildcat Lake" - "XPS 13 Storm Sky colors" - "XPS 13 vs MacBook Neo display" image: https://digitaltechbyte.com/wpbytes/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/dell-xps-1024x536.webp word_count: 648 --- # Dell Takes on Apple MacBook Neo with New $700 XPS 13 Touch-Screen Laptop Dell takes on Apple MacBook Neo with new $700 laptop, the redesigned XPS 13 featuring a 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen display, Intel Core 5 "Wildcat Lake" processor, backlit keyboard, and up to 17 hours of battery life, available for students at $599 starting July. **Dell takes on Apple MacBook Neo with new $700 laptop**, unveiling the redesigned **XPS 13** as a direct competitor to Apple's budget-friendly MacBook Neo that stunned the premium laptop market when it launched in March 2026. The new XPS 13 is positioned as Dell's answer to Apple's **$599 MacBook Neo**, which has been dominating the budget premium laptop segment with its performance and price combination. Dell's strategy is clear: **bring back the XPS brand as a lower-priced premium Windows alternative** targeting the same students and young buyers entering the mainstream premium market. ## Price and availability The pricing strategy is aggressive: **Standard price**: **$699** (around Rs 67,900 in India) **Student price**: **$599** introductory price for students **Back-to-school offer**: Valid from **July to September 2026** Apple's MacBook Neo costs **$599**, dropping to **$499 for education buyers**, meaning Dell hasn't been able to fully match Apple on price. However, the student discount brings Dell's XPS 13 much closer to Apple's pricing. ## Design and build quality The new XPS 13 is **Dell's thinnest and lightest XPS laptop to date**: **Thickness**: Just **0.5 inches (12.7mm)** thick **Weight**: Merely **1kg (997 grams)**, making it one of the lightest laptops in its class **Chassis**: **CNC-machined aluminum** body for premium feel **Colors**: Available in two colors — **Storm** and **Sky** This attention to design and portability directly challenges the MacBook Neo's compact, premium build. ## Display: where XPS 13 beats MacBook Neo The XPS 13's display is one of its biggest advantages over the MacBook Neo: | Feature | **Dell XPS 13** | **MacBook Neo** | | ------- | --------------- | --------------- | | Resolution | **2.5K LCD touch display** | Non-touch display | | Refresh rate | **120Hz** | 60Hz | | Brightness | Up to **500 nits** | Lower brightness | | Color coverage | **100% DCI-P3** | Standard coverage | | Touch support | **Yes** | No | The XPS 13 features a **2.5K IPS touchscreen** with **120Hz refresh rate**, offering smoother scrolling and more responsive interactions. The MacBook Neo, by comparison, has a **60Hz non-touch display**. ## Performance and specs The entry-level XPS 13 configuration includes: **Processor**: **Six-core Intel Core 5 320 "Wildcat Lake"** processor **RAM**: **8GB** (LPDDR5X) **Storage**: **512GB SSD** (base model has 256GB) **Webcam**: Built-in webcam with **Windows Hello facial recognition** support ## Key features that MacBook Neo lacks The XPS 13 includes several features that the MacBook Neo doesn't offer: - **Backlit keyboard** — The MacBook Neo lacks a backlit keyboard - **Touchscreen display** — Fully interactive touch support - **120Hz refresh rate** — Smoother visuals vs MacBook Neo's 60Hz - **Windows Hello facial recognition** — Built-in security - **100% DCI-P3 color coverage** — Better color accuracy for creative work ## Battery life and port selection - **Battery life**: Up to **17 hours** of battery life, sufficient for all-day use - **Ports**: Two **USB-C ports** (no 3.5mm audio jack, similar to its pricier predecessor) The lack of a headphone jack is a concern for users who want wired audio, but this is a design choice that aligns with the ultra-thin profile. ## Why this matters Dell's decision to revive the XPS brand as a cheaper premium Windows rival shows that **laptop makers are aggressively chasing the same student and younger buyers** that Apple is targeting with the MacBook Neo. The competition is heating up in the **budget premium segment**, where price, performance, and features matter most. The XPS 13's **touchscreen, 120Hz display, backlit keyboard, and Windows Hello** give it a clear advantage over the MacBook Neo in terms of features, even if Apple's laptop is slightly cheaper. --- **Dell takes on Apple MacBook Neo with new $700 laptop** marks a significant moment in the budget premium laptop war. The redesigned XPS 13 brings **better display technology, backlit keyboard, touchscreen, and Windows features** to the table, while matching Apple on portability and battery life. For students and young buyers, the **$599 student pricing** starting in July makes this an attractive alternative to the MacBook Neo, especially if you value a **touchscreen, 120Hz display, and backlit keyboard**. Dell has successfully revived XPS as a **premium Windows rival** that's finally competitive with Apple's budget offering. The question now is whether Windows performance and compatibility will win over macOS loyalists.