Dell Reintroduces XPS Laptop Brand with New XPS 14, XPS 16 Models; XPS 13 Expected Later in Year

Dell has announced the reintroduction of its XPS laptop brand at CES 2026, marking a reversal of its 2025 rebranding strategy. The company unveiled new XPS 14 and XPS 16 models, which feature updated designs, enhanced specifications, and a focus on core XPS branding. Dell also provided preliminary details on an upcoming XPS 13 model, anticipated for release later in the year.

Reintroduction of XPS Brand

Dell's decision to reintroduce the XPS brand follows a 2025 strategy that transitioned its premium laptop lineup to a "Dell Premium" designation, replacing established names like XPS, Inspiron, Precision, and Latitude with a tiered Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max naming scheme. The company cited sustained customer interest in the XPS name as a factor in this reversal. The return of XPS positions it as the high-end consumer tier, replacing Dell Premium, while Dell Pro will continue for commercial PCs with new sub-tiers, and Dell Pro Max will be discontinued. Dell COO Jeff Clarke stated that the move demonstrates the company's "ability to course-correct" and "be humble." The earlier rebranding had coincided with a reported decline in Dell's PC market share in 2025.

New XPS 14 and XPS 16 Models Unveiled

The revamped XPS 14 and XPS 16 laptops were unveiled at CES 2026, featuring a unibody design crafted from aluminum and Corning Gorilla Glass. Both models are initially available in a graphite color, with a "shimmer" variant expected later in the year.

The new models incorporate several design changes:

• The XPS logo is now integrated onto the laptop lids.
• The capacitive touch function row has been replaced with a traditional physical function key row.
• The seamless glass touchpad includes etched lines to define its active area, a change from previous "invisible" trackpad designs.
• The keyboard design retains a latticeless appearance and is stated to be removable for repairs, featuring slightly deeper keys.
• The internal thermal system has been redesigned, featuring larger and thinner fans.

Both new XPS models are equipped with Intel’s new Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 processors, with configurations extending up to an Intel Core Ultra X7 processor at launch and Core Ultra X9 variants to follow. They feature Intel Arc integrated graphics.

Standard configurations include:

• 1920 x 1200 IPS displays (referred to as 2K LCD displays in some reports).
• 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM (upgradable to 64GB).
• A 512GB SSD (upgradable to 4TB).

Upgrade options include extra-bright tandem OLED displays: a 2880 x 1800 resolution for the 14-inch model and 3200 x 2000 for the 16-inch model. The base IPS and OLED displays support a variable refresh rate from 120Hz down to 1Hz for static content, a feature Dell states is designed to conserve power.

Both the XPS 14 and XPS 16 include three USB-C / Thunderbolt 4 ports, a headphone jack, and 10W speakers. An 8MP camera is also integrated.

Dell attributes the laptops' battery performance to 70Whr cells and the variable refresh rate displays. The company claims the LCD variants of the new XPS devices will offer extended battery life, with up to 27 hours for Netflix streaming and over 40 hours for local video playback per charge.

The new models exhibit reduced weight and thickness compared to their predecessors:

• The XPS 14 weighs approximately 3 pounds (1.36 kg), a reported reduction of half a pound.
• The XPS 16 weighs between 3.6 and 3.65 pounds (1.63-1.65 kg), a reported reduction of one pound.
• Both models have a starting thickness of 0.58 inches (approximately 14.73mm). XPS 14 and XPS 16 models with OLED displays are as thin as 14.62mm.

Select configurations of the XPS 14 and XPS 16 became available for purchase on January 6th. Entry-level and higher-end configurations, including additional variants at prices under $2,000, are scheduled for release in February. Dell also announced plans for an XPS 14 model running Ubuntu 24.04 later in the year.

Reported starting prices for the new models include:

• XPS 14: $2,049 or $2,049.99 (earlier reports indicated $1,650).
• XPS 16: $2,199.99 (earlier reports indicated $1,850).

Note: Pricing information was updated prior to embargo time to reflect higher figures.

Upcoming XPS 13 Model

Dell has announced plans to release a new XPS 13 model "later this year." This upcoming device is projected to be the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop produced to date, with an anticipated thickness under 13mm (0.51 inches). The company states it aims for this model to feature its "most accessible XPS price yet," with cost efficiency cited as a factor in some design decisions.

Preliminary details suggest the new XPS 13 will mark a return to a traditional chiclet-style keyboard and physical keys for the function row. Visuals shared indicate design similarities with the MacBook Air, notable for not incorporating a display notch. The device is suggested to feature a limited selection of ports. Further details for the XPS 13 are expected in the coming months.