After two decades in the spotlight, Dell retired its iconic and storied XPS laptop brand in 2025 as part of a rebranding effort that simplified its laptop portfolio.
But the classic moniker didn’t stay retired for long — XPS was so beloved that Dell brought it back at CES 2026 at the start of the year, with the new range consisting of three premium laptops to tackle a variety of budgets and needs.
The 2026 models of the Dell XPS 13, XPS 14 and XPS 16 all feature either Intel’s latest Core processors (either Wildcat Lake or Panther Lake), backlit keyboards, Wi-Fi 7 and plenty of flexible next-gen connectivity thanks to Thunderbolt 4 or USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports — all while remaining competitively priced.
Weighing just 1kg and measuring in at a svelte 12.7mm thick, the 2026 XPS 13 is a stunningly portable laptop that you can take anywhere you need to work, study or unwind. Featuring a 13.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen display, the XPS 13 is available with either an Intel Core 5 or Core Ultra 7 processor, RAM from 8GB to 32GB and SSD storage up to 1TB.
If you need an all-rounder that doesn’t sacrifice portability, the Dell XPS 14 is the agile middle option with a sweet-spot 14-inch display and weighing as little as 1.36kg. It’s powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, Intel Arc graphics, RAM ranging from 16GB to 64GB, and storage options up to 4TB. The display can either be a 2K non-touch LCD with a 120Hz refresh rate, or a 2.8K touchscreen OLED for even more vibrant colour and deep contrast.
Featuring the largest screen of the range (16 inches) while remaining relatively slim at just 14.62mm, the Dell XPS 16 gives you extra screen real estate to cater for big spreadsheets, video editing and other multimedia work — or more expansive entertainment after hours. This also features Intel Core Ultra chips, Intel Arc graphics, 16GB to 64GB of RAM, SSD storage up to 4TB and two display options. The non-touch LCD has 2K resolution, while the touchscreen OLED option packs in a higher-res 3.2K panel.
XPS 13 (2026) |
XPS 14 (2026) |
XPS 16 (2026) |
|
Starting price |
AU$1,399.20 |
AU$3,498 |
AU$3,997.40 |
Display |
13.4-inch 2.5K touch |
14-inch 2K LCD or 2.8K OLED touch |
16-inch 2K LCD or 3.2K tandem OLED touch |
Processor |
Intel Core 5 320 (Wildcat Lake); Core Ultra 7 (Panther Lake) coming soon |
Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake), up to 16-core |
Intel Core Ultra Series 3 (Panther Lake), up to 16-core |
Graphics |
Intel integrated |
Intel Arc 12 Xe |
Intel Arc 12 Xe |
RAM |
8GB base; up to 16GB (Core) or 32GB (Ultra) |
16GB base; up to 64GB |
16GB base; up to 64GB |
Storage |
Up to 1TB |
Up to 4TB PCIe |
Up to 4TB PCIe |
Ports |
2 x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2; Thunderbolt 4 on Ultra |
3 x Thunderbolt 4 + 3.5mm audio |
3 x Thunderbolt 4 + 3.5mm audio |
Weight / thickness |
12.7 mm |
14.62 mm (OLED) |
14.62 mm (OLED) |
Battery |
52 Wh |
70 Wh |
70 Wh |
The XPS 13’s size puts it roughly in competition as a Windows alternative to the Apple MacBook Neo, with the Dell offering more RAM and storage options, a backlit keyboard and optional Thunderbolt 4 ports while also being up to 230g lighter.
The XPS 14 and XPS 16, meanwhile, stand out against competitors like the Apple MacBook Air M5 and other premium Windows ultraportable laptops thanks to Dell’s flexible configuration options, such as displays with or without touch, OLED panels and up to three Thunderbolt 4 ports.
Whether you need a ‘barely there’ laptop that’s supremely portable and light, or want something with more display breathing-room for spreadsheets and multimedia work, there’s a 2026 XPS model for everyone.