Dell XPS 13 (2026) vs MacBook Neo: I compared both budget laptops, here’s which one I’d buy

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The MacBook Neo was a complete disruption in the consumer PC landscape, bringing premium-level features to a competitive $599 price point. But its reign as king of the hill is being challenged. PC makers are responding with laptops that compete openly by amplifying the Neo’s weak points.

Case in point: The new Dell XPS 13 — starting at $599 for students and $699 for general consumers — is the thinnest and lightest XPS yet, lighter than the Neo, with a larger display and better connectivity (and a backlit keyboard to boot).

Also: Beware, Neo: Dell’s new XPS 13 costs $599 and retains premium features

How does it achieve this? The combination of lightweight hardware (from 8GB to 32GB of RAM) and Intel’s new “Wildcat Lake” Core Series 3 chips, battery-efficient processors designed for budget PCs that trade raw power for a more accessible price point.

Let’s break down the differences between the MacBook Neo and Dell’s new XPS 13, keeping in mind that I haven’t gone hands-on with the XPS 13 yet and these points are based on specifications only – not on general use over extended periods.

Specifications

Ports and I/O

Winner: XPS 13

The MacBook Neo has two USB-C ports, and they both support charging, but they’re both on the same side, and they’re USB 3 and USB 2. This means they are capped at 10 GB/s and 480 MB/s respectively. This is generally enough for the everyday user, but anything beyond that is going to feel slow.

Also: Apple’s $599 MacBook Neo hands-on: This budget laptop makes me worried about Windows

The XPS 13 also has two USB-C (3.2 Gen 2) ports, but it outdoes the Neo by having one on each side, and both are equally fast. Additionally, they both support charging and Display Port 2.1. Having a charging port on the right side can be a huge improvement in quality of life when you’re traveling – something both of these laptops will be doing.

However, note that the Neo has a 3.5mm headphone jack and the XPS does not. But upcoming configurations of the XPS 13 will also support a Kensington lock slot, which personally, I would prefer over the audio jack.

integration

Winner: MacBook Neo

MacBooks are way ahead of Windows laptops when it comes to pairing with your iPhone, and the Neo doesn’t sacrifice any of these features. It runs the same operating system as the latest, high-end MacBook Pro (MacOS 26 Tahoe) and offers users all the same capabilities: phone mirroring, FaceTime, messaging, and seamless file transfers with AirDrop or iCloud. If you’re already part of Apple’s ecosystem, the Neo is a budget device with fewer trade-offs.

good factor

Winner: MacBook Neo

Let’s face it, the reason the Neo hit the budget PC market so hard was because it brought some color and personality to a space dominated by gray, uninspired design. The Neo comes in four colors (when was the last time you saw a yellow laptop?) where the XPS 13 comes in gray and… dark brown. In fact, both the “Sky” and “Storm” colors are so similar that it is difficult to tell them apart.

customizability

Winner: XPS 13

The XPS lineup was already known for being highly customizable, and that’s still the case here. The XPS 13 comes with 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB of RAM and anywhere from 256GB to 1TB of storage. The Neo, on the other hand, is much more locked down: 8GB of integrated memory and either 25GB or 512GB of storage. However, note that none of these are upgradeable.

The XPS 13 is also not limited to lower-end “Wildcat Lake” processors; Additional configurations will launch later this year with more powerful Intel Core Ultra “Panther Lake” chips, potentially bringing even more memory, storage, or other hardware (OLED displays? Haptic touchpads?) options.

portability

Winner: XPS 13

Dell must have viewed the MacBook Neo’s dimensions as a personal challenge, as it one-upped every metric individually. The XPS 13 sports a slightly larger display (13 inches vs. 13.4 inches) despite being smaller in length and width. The XPS is also half a pound lighter, which is a testament to the superb build quality of the XPS line. However, note that both have the exact same thickness, 0.50 inches.

Also: Dell XPS 14 (2026) review: A Windows laptop I wouldn’t mind switching back to a Mac

All these metrics ultimately come down to millimeters. In practice, both of these laptops are exceptionally portable and lightweight, and will feel very similar in everyday use.

ZDNET’s shopping advice

The 2026 Dell XPS 13 was just announced, so I haven’t got my hands on it yet. However, based on the released specifications and experience with dozens of other XPS laptops, it’s safe to say that despite the low price, this will be a polished device with a premium build. However, the XPS 13 competing with the Neo is really just one configuration among several different options.

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the “cheapest” XPS 13 is a Neo competitor, where options with higher-end processors can potentially cost much more. The MacBook Neo may have fewer configuration options, but that’s also the point: It has a clear vision that’s easy to communicate. In that sense, the Neo is a more “true” budget laptop, and I would recommend it to consumers who want one.