Dell XPS 13 vs. MacBook Neo: A Surprising Upset

A new comparison between Dell’s XPS 13 and Apple’s MacBook Neo finds that the Windows laptop outperforms its rival in several key areas, despite both devices launching at the same starting price. The XPS 13 matches the Neo’s $699 entry point, with a $599 option for students, and is aimed at the same budget-conscious buyers. The MacBook Neo originally debuted at $599, a record low for Apple, before moving to its current $699 price.

The XPS 13 is lighter than the Neo, weighing 2.2 pounds compared to the MacBook’s weight, and is the same half-inch thickness. Its 13.4-inch display has smaller bezels, giving it a more modern look and more screen space despite a slightly smaller diagonal measurement than the Neo’s 13-inch screen. The Dell model also includes a touchscreen and a 120-Hz refresh rate, features the MacBook lacks, and it offers better color saturation on the Adobe RGB and P3 scales.

The keyboard and trackpad on both laptops are strong, but Dell includes backlighting and an IR camera for password-free login, while the base MacBook Neo omits Touch ID and a backlit keyboard. The XPS 13 also splits its two USB-C ports between sides, and both support 4K output and 10 Gbps transfer speeds, whereas one Neo port is slower USB 2. The MacBook Neo does retain a headphone jack, which the XPS 13 does not.

Storage is another differentiator: the base XPS 13 comes with 512 GB, while the Neo starts with 256 GB. The Dell also uses faster storage. Both webcams are 1080p, though the Neo’s image processing is slightly better.

Performance testing showed both 8 GB RAM machines exhausting memory quickly, with six Chrome tabs and a YouTube video using over 90 percent of available RAM. The XPS 13 has an internal fan that becomes audible under heavy load, while the Neo is passively cooled and silent. Battery life on both is sufficient for a full day.

The most significant difference is configuration options. The Neo offers one $100 upgrade adding 512 GB and Touch ID. The XPS 13 has a $900 version that ups RAM to 16 GB, making it the better value for those needing more memory. Even the base 8 GB XPS 13 beats the Neo in numerous small ways, positioning it as a strong budget alternative for US consumers.