Windows Wrap: Dell resurrects XPS, HP redefines mini PCs, and Lenovo steals Surface’s lunch

It’s been a challenging period covering Windows 11 and Microsoft. Windows 11 faced significant issues in 2025, rising RAM costs are driving up the price of devices, and negative sentiment towards Microsoft—reflected in the trending hashtag ‘Microslop’—is growing online.

Good news for tech fans like me: CES 2026 offered a welcome break from negativity and a first look at the latest gadgets and technologies – for the most part.

There was some concern when rumors spread that Microsoft might lay off between 11,000 and 22,000 employees this month, but the company’s head of communications quickly denied them. Although layoffs are still possible later in 2026, those particular rumors were completely false.

Great news for fans of the Dell XPS! After a major refresh in 2025, Dell brought back the popular XPS line, acknowledging previous changes weren’t well-received. The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 aren’t just updates – they’ve been completely redesigned. Our Editor-in-Chief, Daniel Rubino, had a sneak peek at a brand-new XPS 13, but unfortunately, he couldn’t share any pictures or specifics just yet.

I’m particularly impressed with the new XPS laptops, but CES had a lot to offer overall. One interesting example was HP’s innovative mini PC, which is now built right into a keyboard.

The most interesting tech news I saw this week wasn’t actually about Windows. It was about a Mac accessory that does something Microsoft figured out how to do on Windows more than ten years ago.

I really enjoyed writing about a cool new accessory for Macs: the Intricuit Magic Screen. It’s a see-through touchscreen that easily connects with a USB-C cable, adding touch capabilities to macOS.

Okay, so the way Intricuit gets around this problem isn’t the prettiest, but honestly, it’s not their fault! Apple just hasn’t given us touchscreen support on Macs for ages, and Intricuit is trying to fill that gap.

I know some Apple fans prefer to avoid touching their laptop screen and use a mouse, keyboard, or trackpad instead. In fact, a recent Windows Central poll showed that 26% of readers feel the same way.

A recent survey found that nearly two-thirds of voters (68%) sometimes touch their laptop screens – 42% often and 26% occasionally. This suggests there’s enough interest to consider adding touch screen functionality to laptops as an option for users.

As Apple gets closer to using the same chips in both iPads and Macs, they’ll likely need to become more adaptable in how they design their devices.