Dell’s great undoing: XPS returns in 2026 after a year of missteps — and the all-new XPS 14 and XPS 16 might be the company’s smartest move yet

At CES 2026, Dell did something PC companies almost never do: it admitted it messed up.

A year after Dell attempted to replace well-known brands like XPS with a simpler naming system (“Dell / Dell Pro / Dell Max”), the plan has been abandoned. XPS is returning as the main focus of Dell’s products for consumers.

Dell is openly admitting they haven’t been doing well. Jeff Clarke, a top executive, told reporters in New York that the company missed the mark, didn’t pay enough attention to feedback, and is now refocusing on what made them successful in the first place. He even said that critics and customers were right about their recent branding choices. That level of honesty is unusual for a company that sells so much computer hardware – around 280 million units each year.

Dell didn’t simply revive the XPS brand; they redesigned the laptops from the ground up. The result is a stunning new look, and they listened to customer feedback to fix previous issues.

XPS 14 and XPS 16: thinner, lighter, cooler, and finally listening to users

The Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 are top picks here at Windows Central, with the XPS 14 being particularly impressive. It’s a remarkably compact 14-inch laptop that uniquely offers an optional RTX graphics card.

The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 represent a significant shift in direction for Dell. These laptops have been completely redesigned with a focus on being durable, easy to use, and reliable – a welcome change from the somewhat divisive touch-sensitive function row introduced last year.

The recent experiment with the new key design has been discontinued, and we’ve reverted to the traditional physical function row. While I personally enjoyed the LED keys – they were implemented for technical reasons, not just aesthetics – we received a lot of negative feedback from users.

The latest XPS laptops boast a refined design with a sleek aluminum body and durable Gorilla Glass. They feature smoother edges and a more understated color scheme. After years of requests from fans, the XPS logo is now prominently displayed on the laptop lid. The touchpad has a textured surface to help with precision, and the keys have been optimized for quicker, more accurate typing.

Dell prioritized sustainability in these new laptops, using features like easily replaceable USB-C ports and keyboards, as well as hinges made from recycled steel. The batteries also incorporate recycled cobalt and copper. Both models are certified to meet the latest EPEAT 2.0 environmental standards.

And yes, they do look a bit Apple-ish, but all I can say is in person, they’re gorgeous.

Performance meets efficiency: Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and a major thermal overhaul

The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 laptops are powered by Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors, which include Intel Arc graphics. Dell says these laptops offer significantly improved performance – up to 57% faster AI processing for the XPS 14 and 78% faster for the XPS 16 – and graphics speeds that are over 50% quicker than the previous models.

This is a key point: Dell is heavily investing in Intel’s latest graphics technology. They believe it’s powerful enough to take the place of the NVIDIA RTX 4050 that was used in last year’s XPS 14 and the new Dell 14 Premium.

It’s a bold strategy, Cotton. Let’s see if it pays off for ’em.

The real improvement comes from the cooling system. Dell created its biggest and thinnest fans yet, used new insulation, and reorganized the internal layout to reduce power consumption by half. This means the new machines run cooler, are quieter, and have much longer battery life.

And battery life is where Dell is flexing the hardest

Record‑setting battery life and smarter displays

Dell claims their new XPS laptops have exceptional battery life, offering up to 27 hours of Netflix streaming or over 40 hours of locally stored video playback. And they really mean it!

Much of the improvement is due to the new screen, which can adjust its refresh rate from 1 to 120 times per second. This means it can slow down to 1Hz for still images to save power, and speed up to 120Hz for smooth scrolling and video playback. It’s a first-of-its-kind display for laptops.

As a researcher in display technology, I’m excited to see the return of tandem OLEDs this year. We first saw this technology in 2024, and it’s a significant improvement over standard OLEDs. Essentially, tandem OLEDs deliver a brighter picture, use energy more efficiently, and are built to last longer.

Mobility: thinner than ever, lighter than expected

Both laptops are incredibly thin, measuring just 14.6mm. The XPS 14 is around 3 pounds, making it half a pound lighter than the previous model, and it’s now more compact than the 13-inch MacBook Air, despite having a larger screen. The XPS 16 starts at 3.6 pounds, which is almost a pound less than the older version.

That’s what happens when you ditch NVIDIA, by the way.

Dell has created its slimmest 8MP/4K laptop camera to date and is the first to utilize new 900ED battery cells. These new cells are 23% smaller and 12% lighter than previous generations.

A lot of people, myself included, initially mistook the new XPS 14 for the XPS 13. It’s incredibly thin and compact – though it weighs a noticeable 3.05 pounds, it feels solid, probably because of its large 70WHr battery.

The surprise comeback: XPS 13 returns later this year

Interestingly, the new XPS 13 wasn’t planned just four months ago. However, after customers reacted negatively to last year’s changes, Dell quickly prioritized bringing it back. This version will be the slimmest XPS laptop yet – less than 13mm thin – and will also be available at the lowest price point ever for an XPS.

In other words: Dell is rebuilding the entire XPS portfolio, not just refreshing two models.

I did get to see a prototype of the XPS 13, but we weren’t allowed to take pictures because it was very early in development and not the final version. However, it looked fantastic! Dell was hesitant to create an XPS 13 in the first place. They already had the new XPS 14, which is about the same size as a 13-inch MacBook Air, and they worried the two laptops would be too similar.

Alas, it said it figured out how to solve that, and it’s going to be one hot seller, is my guess.

Let’s talk about the processor. Dell hasn’t officially said whether the new model will use Intel, AMD, or Qualcomm chips, but they spoke very positively about Qualcomm’s technology. Since the XPS 13 already has a version with a Snapdragon X Elite processor, it’s likely the new model will feature the updated Snapdragon X2 Elite. We’ll have to wait for confirmation, but I’m hoping they do!

I noticed something interesting while looking at Dell’s lineup – they had spaces reserved for *two* more XPS laptops beyond what’s currently available. That’s all the information I have right now, but it definitely hints at some new XPS models on the way. I’m curious to hear what people are hoping for or expecting!

I recently learned that Dell is launching a big global marketing campaign in February to revitalize the XPS brand. They’re really making a strong effort to attract customers again, which was a welcome change – it’s nice to hear a PC company focus on everyday users instead of just businesses for once!

Pricing and availability

I noticed the XPS 14 is starting at $1,649.99, and the XPS 16 is a bit more at $1,849.99. They’re going to have a limited number of setups available starting January 6th in the US and Canada.

Additional configurations, including a more affordable version, will be available in February. Options with Ubuntu and the new XPS 13 will be released later in the year.

Dell’s reset moment

Dell’s attempt to refresh its brand in 2025 didn’t quite hit the mark. Now, the company appears to be refocusing on the qualities that originally made its XPS line so popular – a sophisticated look, powerful performance, and a distinct brand personality.

Dell is really taking customer feedback to heart, and the new XPS laptops are proof of that. I’m genuinely enthusiastic about what they’ve created, and I expect these laptops to be a standout success in 2026 – assuming RAM prices don’t climb too high.

As I hinted earlier, Dell has big plans for the XPS line, including adding more products and making them more affordable.

You might be wondering about Dell’s other brands. For general consumers, XPS is their leading line, while Alienware Area 51 is their top choice for gaming. They also continue to offer the standard Alienware range for gamers.

However, Dell isn’t completely abandoning its original branding. It will continue using “Dell” for its more affordable and mainstream laptops, and “Dell Pro” will remain for business customers. So, it hasn’t fully gone back to its previous approach, at least not right now.

Dell did something unusual for a computer company: they acknowledged a misstep and reversed a big branding change. With the improved XPS line now available – it’s slimmer, lighter, and better overall – I’m interested in your thoughts.

• Did Dell make the right call bringing back the XPS name?
• Did the 2025 “Dell 14 Premium” era ever make sense to you?
• And are these new designs enough to win back trust?

Share your honest opinions in the comments! Dell claims they’re really listening now, so let’s see if that’s true. Feel free to be open and even a little messy with your feedback.

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2026-01-06 02:17