What the New Dell XPS 13 Is and Who It’s For
The new Dell XPS 13 is a 13.4‑inch ultraportable laptop under 700 dollars that combines a premium 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen, Wi‑Fi 7, and quad speakers in a 2.2‑pound chassis, aiming to offer features usually missing at this price. This model targets students, frequent travelers, and anyone who wants a compact Windows machine that feels high‑end without a four‑figure bill. Dell positions it as a direct response to rivals that cut display quality, ports, or audio in entry configurations. The XPS 13 weighs 2.2 lbs and measures 12.7mm thick, making it the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop so far, while keeping CNC‑machined aluminum and dual‑fan cooling. If you have been eyeing a lightweight laptop at 2.2 lbs but thought you had to sacrifice screen quality or sound, this XPS is designed to challenge that assumption.
Pricing: Value Positioning in the Sub-$700 Segment
For an ultraportable laptop under 700, the Dell XPS 13 price is aggressive. The base model starts at USD 699 (approx. RM3,270) for general buyers and USD 599 (approx. RM2,800) for students aged 16 and above. That entry version includes an Intel Core 5 320 processor, 8GB of LPDDR5x RAM, and a 512GB PCIe 4.0 SSD, a configuration that rivals more expensive machines. According to Smartprix, “the company has even followed a two-tier pricing strategy: $699 for standard buyers and $599 for students aged 16 and older.” Many competitors in this range ship with 8GB RAM and 256GB storage, or pair decent internals with basic 60Hz 1080p panels. Here, the value story is not only the low starting price but also how few corners are cut: modern CPU, fast storage, and meaningful student pricing make it one of the most compelling deals in its class.
Display, Design, and Portability: Premium Hardware at Budget Levels
The XPS 13’s headline feature is its 13.4‑inch 2.5K 120Hz touchscreen, rare even among 120Hz touchscreen laptop options well above this price. The panel offers 2560×1600 resolution, 30–120Hz variable refresh rate, 500 nits brightness, and 100% DCI‑P3 coverage, plus Dolby Vision and DisplayHDR 400. This makes it suitable for both content streaming and light creative work. Physically, the laptop weighs 2.2 lbs and measures only 12.7mm thick, earning its place as Dell’s thinnest and lightest XPS to date. The CNC‑machined aluminum body and dual‑fan cooling give it a premium feel and better sustained performance than many fanless rivals. As a lightweight laptop at 2.2 lbs, it undercuts several mainstream competitors that approach or exceed 2.7 lbs while still lacking high‑refresh displays or touch support at comparable prices.
Connectivity, Audio, and Everyday Experience
What sets this model apart from other ultraportable laptops under 700 is how few essentials are missing. Even the entry configuration is a Wi‑Fi 7 laptop with Bluetooth 6.0, backed by dual USB‑C 3.2 Gen 2 ports (with Thunderbolt 4 on the later Core Ultra version). Multi‑monitor support, a backlit keyboard, and a 1080p IR webcam for Windows Hello are all present. Audio is another differentiator: the XPS 13 includes four speakers (8W total) with Dolby Atmos, whereas many competitors at this price still ship with basic stereo setups. Dell claims up to 17 hours of video streaming on the 52Wh battery, placing it comfortably for a full work or school day. Together, these features mean you do not have to give up fast wireless, usable speakers, or a good webcam to hit the lower price tier.
Configurations and How It Compares to Rivals
Beyond the base model, the Dell XPS 13 can be configured with 16GB of LPDDR5x RAM on the same Intel Core 5 platform, a flexibility some rivals and even high‑profile competitors lack at launch. A higher‑end Intel Core Ultra 7 configuration with 32GB RAM and 1TB SSD is planned for later, though that will sit above the sub‑700 bracket. For shoppers focused strictly on value, the key is that even the entry unit combines a 120Hz touchscreen, quad speakers, Wi‑Fi 7, 512GB storage, and premium build quality. Many competing machines at similar prices trade away display resolution, refresh rate, or audio quality to meet budget targets. In that context, the new XPS 13 stands out as a feature‑rich alternative: it is one of the few laptops where the spec sheet at this level looks more like a mid‑range or premium device than a compromise‑driven budget model.
