The Verge tested 8GB and 16GB XPS 13 units, both with 512GB SSDs, and recommended the $999.99 one. Dell has since moved the $699.99 entry price onto a 256GB machine and added $100 to both tested builds.
Reality
- Evidence64
- Adoption35
- Hype gap+18
- Incentives45
- Confidence60
The 14S borrows the XPS 13's metal shell and promises 21 hours of Netflix, while Dell points at the $699 XPS as its neighbour without saying what the 14S costs. The MacBook Neo comparison waits on that number.
Perspective Coverage
4 publishers
- Builder
- Builder 38%
- Operator
- Operator 25%
- Investor
- Investor 37%
Reality
- Evidence32
- Adoption5
- Hype gap+38
- Incentives58
- Confidence52
The cheaper 14S drops to a six-core Wildcat Lake chip, 8GB of memory and a 256GB SSD, with pricing held back until closer to a fall launch. On the XPS 13, closing that memory gap costs $200.
Reality
- Evidence48
- Adoption14
- Hype gap+22
- Incentives58
- Confidence46
Apple dragged premium hardware into a budget price band. Wired's comparison says Dell has matched the entry price and beaten it on display, ports and keyboard.
Reality
- Evidence58
- Adoption
- Insufficient
- Hype gap+22
- Incentives42
- Confidence52
Two reviews grade the new XPS 13 against Apple's MacBook Neo rather than against cheap Windows laptops. The 8 GB base configuration is where the discount actually lands.
Reality
- Evidence64
- Adoption24
- Hype gap+18
- Incentives58
- Confidence66