Dell Technologies announces XPS return – CES 2026
Big news from CES 2026 – XPS is back and better than ever! We have reimagined the XPS lineup with you in mind. Iconic, high-quality design. Refined interfaces. Optimized performance. Stunning displays. More portable than ever. Meet the new Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16, plus preview what’s coming next for the XPS portfolio.
Today at CES 2026, we unveiled the new Dell XPS 14 and Dell XPS 16. That’s right, the iconic XPS laptops that you know and love are here to stay.
XPS has always been our benchmark for premium laptops. The new laptops are rebuilt from the ground up, delivering striking design, speedy performance, impressive displays and exceptional battery life. All in a compact device, built to move with you.
Thoughtful Design for Seamless Creativity
A great tool should feel like an extension of yourself. That’s the philosophy behind the new XPS lineup, crafted from premium materials like CNC aluminum and durable Gorilla Glass. This refined, minimal design enhances strength and eliminates visual clutter with minimal parting lines and a calming tonal color palette. These laptops feel solid, sleek and reliable to power your creative workflows.
For the first time, the XPS logo takes its place on the front cover – a change that reviewers and XPS fans have been requesting for years. It’s a small detail that makes a statement: this is XPS.
This commitment to detail carries through to the minimalist yet practical design. Every element is crafted to help you focus and work effortlessly. We’re bringing back the traditional function row for reliable, tactile feedback. We’ve included subtle etching around the active area of the seamless glass touchpad. And we’ve optimized key travel and tactile feedback to deliver a more accurate, faster typing experience. These may seem like small details, but they make a real difference in how the laptop feels to use every day.
Beyond functionality and a sleek interface, we crafted these models with sustainability at their core. They include easy-to-remove keyboards and are the first XPS devices to feature modular USB-C ports, making repairs simpler and extending the life of your PC. We’ve incorporated recycled steel in the hinges, plus recycled cobalt and recycled copper in the batteries[i]. These devices meet the latest EPEAT 2.0 standards[ii], reflecting Dell’s commitment to more sustainable innovation and circular design.
Power and Mobility Without Compromise
With Intel® Core™ Ultra Series 3 processors and built-in Intel® Arc graphics featuring 12 Xe cores – Intel’s highest performing integrated graphics – the XPS 14 and XPS 16 deliver up to 57% and 78% faster AI performance, respectively,[iii] and more than 50% faster graphics performance vs. previous[iv]. These processors also power Copilot+ PC experiences while enabling faster image editing, smooth video playback and lag-free gameplay.
We completely redesigned the thermal system to support this performance. Our new fans are our largest and thinnest yet[v], delivering better airflow for cooler performance. The result? All that performance while staying cooler, quieter and offering better battery life. It’s the engineering decision that made everything possible.
And then there’s mobility. The XPS 14 and XPS 16 are our thinnest laptops[vi], measuring just 14.6mm. We’ve engineered the thinnest and narrowest 8MP/4K camera ever integrated into a Dell laptop and we’re the first to implement 900ED (energy density) battery cells[vii], which are smaller and lighter while delivering more power. These deliberate choices in innovative technology let us push the boundaries of narrow bezels, prioritizing ultra-thin designs and enhanced mobility.
Here’s what that delivers: the XPS 14 weighs roughly three pounds – more than half a pound lighter than the previous generation. The XPS 16 comes in at 3.6 pounds, almost a full pound lighter than its predecessor. The XPS 14 is now more compact than the MacBook Air 13, taking up less desk space while giving you more screen space[viii].
With this balance of portability and performance, the XPS lineup keeps up with your life, wherever it takes you.
Unbeatable Experiences: Remarkable Displays and All-Day (and Night) Battery Life
Your screen is your window to your digital canvas. The new XPS laptops feature InfinityEdge displays that draw you in, whether you are creating, working or streaming.
In 2024, we debuted the world’s first tandem OLED laptop, setting a new standard for display technology. This year, we’re bringing tandem OLED as an option to the XPS 14 and XPS 16, delivering cinematic quality with enhanced brightness, better efficiency, longer lifespan and improved color stability. These cutting-edge panels offer richer, more vibrant colors with ultra-high resolution, creating lifelike visuals.
For those who prioritize mobility and longer sessions away from an outlet, our standard 2K LCD panels deliver crisp clarity and exceptional battery efficiency. They deliver up to 27 hours[ix] of Netflix streaming or 40+ hours with local video playback[x].
This incredible endurance means that you can manage work tasks at the office, continue projects from home and enjoy uninterrupted streaming, day and night.
This isn’t marketing spin. It’s the result of specific innovations:
- The LCD display has smart power management you’ll never notice, except when it comes to how long your battery lasts. As the first to market with a 1 to 120Hz variable refresh rate[xi], our panel drops to 1Hz for static content, like reading emails, and ramps to 120Hz when you’re scrolling or watching video.
- And the thermal redesign we mentioned earlier? That’s not just about performance. Running cooler means using less power, which translates directly to longer battery life.
These smart optimizations ensure a premium visual experience while extending battery life.
But wait, there’s more!
If this wasn’t enough good news, here’s one more thing. Later this year, the XPS portfolio expands with new products across different price points and form factors – same commitment to craftsmanship and innovation, more ways to get it.
First up: the XPS 13, expected to be our thinnest and lightest XPS laptop ever at less than 13mm. Same premium build quality. Same caliber InfinityEdge screens. The difference? This is our most accessible XPS price point yet, bringing XPS craftsmanship to more people.
The message is simple – XPS is here, and this is just the beginning. 2026 is going to be a big year!
PRICING AND AVAILABILITY
The XPS 14 and XPS 16 mark an exciting new chapter for XPS. Availability will start from end of January 2026 in Australia and New Zealand.
Additional configurations, including a new entry-level configuration, will be available in February. Both models will initially be available in Graphite, with the Shimmer color option becoming available later this year. Additionally, the XPS 14 will also be available with Ubuntu 24.04 later this year.
The new XPS 13 will be available later this year.
Complete your XPS ownership experience with Dell Care Premium: 24/7 expert support, on-site repairs and coverage for accidents—keeping your PC protected, optimized and always ready to perform.
About the Author
Adrian Gunning Adrian lives in Melbourne Australia and has a huge passion for gaming, technology and pop culture. He recently finished his a Bachelor of Journalism and is currently focusing on games journalism. When not writing and playing video games, Adrian can be found in Comics 'R' Us debating the pros of the DC Universe and cons of the Marvel Universe.
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