Dell Takes Aim at MacBook Neo with Revamped XPS 13 Starting at $599
Dell is officially announcing the new XPS 13, following up on its tease from CES earlier this year. The laptop returns as a budget-friendly option and is set to launch in July with a promotional student price of $599. That introductory deal runs only until September for back-to-school shopping, after which the standard price will be $699 for everyone else.
Student Pricing and Back-to-School Strategy
The $599 promotional price exactly matches the starting price of Apple’s MacBook Neo. However, students can actually get Apple’s budget laptop for $100 less, meaning Dell has its work cut out proving that the XPS 13 is worth the extra money. The limited-time offer is clearly timed to capture the back-to-school shopping season, which runs through September.
Specs and Availability
Dell has not yet released full specifications for the new XPS 13, but the company confirmed the July launch date during its CES teaser. The budget-friendly positioning marks a shift for the XPS line, which has historically been positioned as a premium ultrabook series. The $699 standard price places the laptop in direct competition with other entry-level Windows machines and Apple’s MacBook Neo.
Competition with Apple
By pricing the student promotion at exactly $599, Dell is directly targeting the MacBook Neo’s starting price point. But Apple’s student discount knocks an additional $100 off, bringing the MacBook Neo down to $499 for eligible buyers. This pricing gap means Dell must rely on the XPS 13’s design, performance, and Windows ecosystem to justify the higher cost for students.
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