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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe 2026 Dell XPS 13 is the better fit if you want a light Windows laptop, a touchscreen and a high-refresh display; Apple’s MacBook Neo is the stronger pick if you prefer macOS or prioritize the measured brightness, color coverage and benchmark performance in Tom’s Guide’s comparison. Dell lists both models from $699 in the U.S., so the decision is less about a clear price winner than which trade-offs suit your work.
Which laptop is better for your needs?
Neither is an automatic winner. The XPS 13 makes a compelling MacBook Neo alternative for buyers committed to Windows, especially if they value lower carry weight, touch input or a 120Hz-capable screen. The Neo makes more sense for macOS users and, in Tom’s Guide’s tests, delivered higher CPU and graphics scores along with a brighter panel and slightly higher DCI-P3 coverage.
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Both are aimed at everyday web, office and streaming use. PCWorld’s reviewer described the XPS as compelling but slightly behind the Neo; Tom’s Guide called it the best budget Windows laptop. Those are individual reviewers’ judgments, not a universal verdict.
What do the U.S. starting prices include?
Dell’s U.S. pages list the XPS 13 and MacBook Neo starting at $699, with eligible student pricing for the XPS from $599. These are manufacturer-listed starting prices, not assurances of current retailer price or stock; check the live price and the exact RAM and storage configuration before buying. Dell lists XPS configurations up to 32GB of memory, while PCWorld’s reviewed unit had 8GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, so its results should not be treated as testing every configuration.
#1 Best Overall
- PREMIUM ULTRA-PORTABLE DESIGN – The Dell XPS 13 9350 designed for users who value performance, mobility, and premium craftsmanship. With its ultra-slim, lightweight design and refined finish, it delivers a high-end portable experience for work and daily use. Built for all-day productivity, up to 26 hours battery life keeps you powered without interruption
- INTUITIVE CONTROL & PREMIUM INTERACTION – Engineered for modern workflows, it features a precision haptic glass touchpad with smooth, responsive feedback and a streamlined touch function row for effortless control between media and function keys. Combined with its minimalist design, it delivers a clean, premium, and distraction-free experience for everyday productivity. Backlit keyboard ensures comfortable typing in low-light environments
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE - Powered by Intel Ultra 7 256V Processor (8 cores, up to 4.8 GHz) and Intel Arc Graphics, this PC delivers efficient performance for multitasking, data analysis, and content creation. Equipped with 16GB DDR5 and 1TB PCIe SSD, it ensures swift application loading and ample storage for professional workloads
- IMMERSIVE DISPLAY - Features a 13.4-inch WUXGA (1920x1200) display with narrow borders, 500-nit brightness, and 120Hz refresh rate for smooth visuals and reduced eye strain. Supports up to 2 external displays via Thunderbolt 4, with up to 4K@60Hz output. The FHD RGB camera with dual-array microphones delivers clear video calls
- ADVANCED CONNECTIVITY - With 2x Thunderbolt 4, you can easily connect external displays, storage devices and essential peripherals. Stay fast and reliable on the go with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, perfect for video calls, cloud work, and wireless devices without lag
How do their screens compare?
| Display feature | Dell XPS 13 | MacBook Neo |
|---|---|---|
| Size and resolution | 13.4 inches, 2560 × 1600 | 13 inches, 2408 × 1506 |
| Touch and refresh | Touchscreen; 30–120Hz variable refresh | Non-touch |
| SDR brightness measured by Tom’s Guide | 398 nits | 452 nits |
| DCI-P3 coverage measured by Tom’s Guide | 74.7% | 78% |
The XPS offers a larger panel, touch support and variable refresh up to 120Hz. The Neo’s panel measured brighter and covered more of the DCI-P3 color gamut in Tom’s Guide’s comparison. Those figures describe that outlet’s test results; they do not establish that every user will perceive the Neo as better overall, particularly if touch or smooth scrolling matters more.
Which is easier to carry?
The XPS 13 is lighter on published specifications: Dell and PCWorld list it at 2.2 pounds, while Dell lists the Neo at 2.7 pounds. The XPS also has the larger display. These are manufacturer and review-page specifications, not independent weighings for this comparison. Dell describes the XPS as 12.7mm thin and says it is the thinnest and lightest laptop in the XPS line; that is Dell’s own comparison claim.
Rank #2
- ULTIMATE AI MOBILITY - Meet the first XPS CoPilot+ PC - the Snapdragon-powered XPS 13 with revolutionary on-device AI for lightning-fast performance. Enjoy desktop-class power without needing a charger, thanks to its industry-leading 27-hour battery life. Our thinnest, lightest XPS yet delivers instant AI acceleration, making professional-grade content creation possible anywhere
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE - Powered by a Snapdragon X Elite (12 Core Dual-Core Boost up to 4GHz, NPU up to 45 TOPS) X1E-80-100 Processor for superior efficiency and speed, 32GB of 8448MT/s DDR5 RAM for seamless multitasking, and a 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for fast storage and reduced load times, ensuring smooth and responsive performance for all your tasks
- CRISP DISPLAY & PRIVACY - Features a FHD IR webcam for crystal-clear video calls and enhanced security, while the 13.4" 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED 400nits Anti-reflective touchscreen display with Qualcomm Adreno graphics delivers crisp visuals, supported by the ability to connect 2 external monitors via Type-C ports at 4K (3840x2160) @60Hz (without docking station)
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY - Features a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for enhanced productivity. Equipped with 2 x USB4 40Gbps USB Type-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery for versatile connectivity. Includes Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 for fast, reliable wireless performance
- OPERATING SYSTEM - Preinstalled with Windows 11 Pro 64-bit and AI-powered Copilot, including enterprise features such as BitLocker encryption, Remote Desktop, Hyper-V virtualization, and Group Policy management. It enhances productivity with intelligent assistance for tasks such as document creation, data analysis, email drafting, and virtual meetings
What ports and display connections do they have?
The reviewed XPS configuration has two USB-C ports and no USB-A or HDMI. WIRED describes these as 10-Gbps USB-C ports, one on each side, with support for two 4K monitors at 60Hz. WIRED also notes that the XPS omits a headphone jack found on the Neo. If your mouse, external drive or monitor relies on USB-A or HDMI, a compatible USB-C hub may be necessary; match the hub to the connections you actually need.
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How does battery life compare?
In Tom’s Guide’s continuous Wi-Fi web-browsing test at 150 nits, the XPS lasted 14 hours 26 minutes and the Neo 13 hours 26 minutes. This is a result under that review’s test conditions, not a promise for mixed everyday use. Dell separately advertises up to 17 hours of streaming for the XPS; that manufacturer claim uses a different protocol and should not be compared directly with the web-browsing result.
Rank #3
- 13.4 inch FHD+ (1920 x 1200) Anti-Glare 30-120Hz 500-nits InfinityEdge Eye Safe Non-Touch Display
- Snapdragon X Elite, X1E-80-100 (12 cores up to 3.4 GHz Dual-Core Boost up to 4.0 GHz, NPU Upto 45 TOPS)
- 16GB RAM | 512GB SSD
- Qualcomm Adreno GPU | Two USB4 40 Gbps USB Type-C ports with DisplayPort and Power Delivery
- Windows 11 PRO | Fingerprint Reader
How different are their performance results?
Tom’s Guide’s 2026 comparison reported these benchmark scores:
| Benchmark | Dell XPS 13 | MacBook Neo |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 single-core | 2,684 | 3,535 |
| Geekbench 6 multi-core | 7,952 | 8,920 |
| 3DMark Wildlife Extreme | 2,455 / 14 fps | 3,661 / 21 fps |
The Neo led in these particular tests, but scores from one publication do not guarantee the same gap in every app or configuration. Both laptops are budget-friendly general-purpose options rather than gaming machines. Tom’s Guide also reported 14 fps for the XPS in Borderlands 3 at 1080p and described the result as unplayable; the Neo scored low in the cited Borderlands test as well. For demanding games or graphics work, choose a different product class.
Rank #4
- ULTIMATE AI MOBILITY - Meet the first XPS CoPilot+ PC - the Snapdragon-powered XPS 13 with revolutionary on-device AI for lightning-fast performance. Enjoy desktop-class power without needing a charger, thanks to its industry-leading 27-hour battery life. Our thinnest, lightest XPS yet delivers instant AI acceleration, making professional-grade content creation possible anywhere
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE - Powered by a Snapdragon X Elite (12 Core Dual-Core Boost up to 4GHz, NPU up to 45 TOPS) X1E-80-100 Processor for superior efficiency and speed, 32GB of 8448MT/s LPDDR5x RAM for seamless multitasking, and a 1TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD for fast storage and reduced load times, ensuring smooth and responsive performance for all your tasks
- CRISP DISPLAY & PRIVACY - Features a FHD RGB webcam for crystal-clear video calls, while the 13.4" FHD+ (1920x1200) 500nits Anti-reflective display with Qualcomm Adreno graphics delivers crisp visuals, supported by the ability to connect 2 external monitors via Type-C ports at 4K (3840x2160) @60Hz (without docking station)
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY - Features a backlit keyboard and fingerprint reader for enhanced productivity. Equipped with 2 x USB4 40Gbps USB Type-C with DisplayPort and Power Delivery for versatile connectivity. Includes Wi-Fi 7(802.11be) and Bluetooth 5.4 for fast, reliable wireless performance
- COPILOT+ PC AI POWERHOUSE - The dedicated NPU delivers 45 TOPS for local AI processing without relying on the cloud. Enables Recall (instant content retrieval), Cocreate (AI image tools), Windows Studio Effects (auto-framing/background blur for video calls), and Live Captions (real-time translation). Redefines productivity and creativity with seamless, offline AI acceleration
Who should choose the XPS 13?
- Choose it if Windows is a requirement for your work, preferred apps or workflow.
- It is the better match if you want touch input, a 120Hz-capable display, or the lighter published weight.
- Dell lists Wi-Fi 7 and configurations up to 32GB of memory; verify the exact SKU, since the independently reviewed configuration had 8GB.
- Plan for a USB-C hub if your setup depends on USB-A or HDMI peripherals.
Who should choose the MacBook Neo?
- Choose it if you want macOS and its ecosystem.
- It is the stronger fit if you prefer the display measurements in Tom’s Guide’s comparison: higher SDR brightness and DCI-P3 coverage.
- Its higher scores in the cited CPU and graphics benchmarks may appeal to buyers whose workloads benefit from those results, though they are not a guarantee for every application.
Is the XPS 13 a good MacBook Neo alternative?
Yes, if “alternative” means a lightweight, similarly priced laptop for someone who wants Windows rather than macOS. It is not a one-for-one match: the XPS is lighter and has a larger touchscreen with variable refresh, while the Neo measured brighter and more colorful by DCI-P3 coverage in Tom’s Guide’s tests and scored higher in the cited benchmarks. Choose based on operating system, display priorities, ports and the exact configuration—not on a blanket claim that one is better for everyone.
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Best Value
- STUNNING 3K OLED TOUCH DISPLAY – Experience incredible detail and vibrant color on the 13.4-inch 3K (2880 x 1800) OLED InfinityEdge touchscreen. With deep blacks, sharp contrast, and touch functionality, it's ideal for productivity, streaming, and creative work.
- SNAPDRAGON X ELITE X1E-80-100 PROCESSOR – Features a 12-core Qualcomm Oryon CPU with boost speeds up to 4.0GHz, 42MB total cache, integrated Qualcomm Adreno graphics, and a dedicated 45 TOPS NPU for accelerated AI workloads, multitasking, content creation, and everyday productivity.
- COPILOT+ AI PC EXPERIENCE – Built with a dedicated NPU capable of up to 45 TOPS, enabling advanced AI-powered features, faster on-device processing, enhanced video conferencing effects, and next-generation Windows Copilot+ experiences.
- FAST MEMORY & STORAGE – Equipped with 16GB LPDDR5X memory for seamless multitasking and a 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD that provides fast boot times, quick application launches, and ample room for files, photos, and software.
- PREMIUM ULTRAPORTABLE DESIGN – Crafted from premium materials in Graphite, the XPS 13 combines a compact, lightweight form factor with modern connectivity, including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth, making it an excellent companion for work, travel, and everyday use.
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