Dell XPS 13 Beats $699 MacBook Neo as Better Budget Laptop Under $1,000
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Aug 19
Dell XPS 13 Beats $699 MacBook Neo as Better Budget Laptop Under $1,000
3 articles · Updated · WIRED · Aug 19
Summary
$699 Dell XPS 13 emerged from side-by-side testing as the stronger budget laptop, with the review calling even its 8GB model better than Apple’s MacBook Neo in most everyday trade-offs.
13.4-inch XPS hardware drove that edge: it is 2.2 pounds, adds a touchscreen and 120Hz display, includes a backlit keyboard, and offers two USB-C ports that both support 4K output and 10 Gbps transfers.
512GB of storage on the base XPS 13 also undercuts a key Neo compromise, since Apple starts at 256GB and reserves 512GB storage plus Touch ID for a $100 step-up model.
8GB of RAM proved a weakness on both machines, with six Chrome tabs and a YouTube video pushing memory use above 90%, making the XPS 13’s $900, 16GB configuration the stronger long-term buy.
Under that broader value test, the MacBook Neo still keeps a headphone jack, slightly better webcam processing, and silent fanless operation, but the review says Dell now matches Apple’s premium feel at entry-level pricing.