After attempting a major rebranding of several of its major PC lines last year, Dell appears to have changed course and is reviving the XPS brand at CES 2026.
“We are returning to our roots with a renewed focus on consumer and gaming,” Dell Technologies vice president and chief operating officer Jeff Clarke said in a statement. “XPS is back, better than ever.”
More than just a name: Dell’s redesign of the XPS is a welcome change
The new line is completely redesigned, with a focus on premium materials, interfaces and mobility. The new devices sport CNC aluminum and Gorilla Glass in their construction, along with a unibody base with structural sidewalls integrated into the body to increase rigidity and durability.
And, if only to make the point clear to consumers, the XPS logo is moving to the front cover of the device for the first time, replacing the Dell logo that has marked Dell PCs and laptops for many years.
The new Dell XPS design makes a number of changes that I’ve been expecting since the Dell 13 Plus launched a few years ago.
The ‘virtual’ function keys (actually a touch bar with small backlit labels) used on the latest generations of the XPS 13, XPS 14 and XPS 16, as well as last year’s 14 Premium and 16 Premium, have been replaced by physical keys.
What’s more, the touchpad isn’t hidden in the glass chin of the laptop’s keyboard like previous models, as the new XPS features subtle lines around the touchpad, letting you know where it is.
Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 Specifications
| Header cell: column 0 |
Dell XPS 14 |
Dell XPS 16 |
|---|---|---|
|
Processor |
Up to Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |
Up to Intel Core Ultra X9 388H |
|
Graphics |
Intel Arc Graphics, Intel Graphics |
Intel Arc Graphics, Intel Graphics |
|
Nuclear Nuclear Unit |
Up to 50 TOPS |
Up to 50 TOPS |
|
Memory |
Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-9600 |
Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-9600 |
|
Storage |
Up to 4TB PCIe 5.0 |
Up to 4TB PCIe 5.0 |
|
Show |
Up to 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) InfinityEdge OLED touchscreen, 400 nits typical, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 |
Up to 16-inch InfinityEdge OLED touchscreen 3.2K (3200 x 2000), 400 nits typical, 500 nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 |
|
Wireless |
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 |
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 |
|
Ports |
3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm universal audio jack |
3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm universal audio jack |
|
Battery |
70Wh |
70Wh |
|
webcam |
8MP/4K HDR with Windows Hello |
8MP/4K HDR with Windows Hello |
|
Dimensions (Width x Depth x Height) |
12.19 x 8.26 x 0.58 inches | 309.5 x 209.7 x 14.6mm |
13.88 x 9.35 x 0.58 inches | 352.6 x 237.47 x 14.6mm |
|
Weight |
3.0 lbs | 1.36 kilos |
£3.65 | 1.65 kilos |
The new Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 models will use Intel Core Ultra 300 series processors with integrated Intel Arc graphics with 12 Xe cores and will no longer have options for discrete graphics. That said, Dell claims that the new XPS models get more than 50% faster graphics than the previous generation. There is also a redesigned thermal system to improve airflow in the slimmer chassis to help keep systems cooler and quieter.
Both models are very thin, measuring just 14.6mm thick, and the XPS 14 weighs about three pounds, while the XPS 16 weighs about 3.6 pounds, according to Dell. For displays, there will be options for tandem OLED or 2K LCD panels.
Perhaps most importantly, Dell claims up to 27 hours of use, or more than 40 hours of local video playback on a charge. If true, this would put the XPS ahead of even most ARM-based Qualcomm Snapdragon X laptops and MacBooks on the market.
Initial configurations will go on sale in the US on January 6, starting at $1,649.99 for the XPS 14 and $1,849.99 for the XPS 16, with additional configurations and global availability to come. The Dell XPS 13 will be released later this year.
TechRadar will cover this year’s edition extensively CESand will bring you all the important announcements as they happen. Go to our CES 2026 News page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable screens to new phones, laptops, smart home devices and the latest in artificial intelligence.
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