Dell has introduced its most budget-friendly laptop offering on Sunday, launching the XPS 13 at $699 as the computer manufacturer works to gain ground against Apple’s MacBook Neo by targeting students and young working professionals.
Priced at $699 for general consumers and discounted to $599 for students 16 years and older during back-to-school promotions, the XPS 13 aims to deliver enhanced performance compared to Apple’s MacBook Neo, according to Dell.
This bold move into budget-friendly computing demonstrates Dell’s strategy of following Apple’s approach to expand market presence in a cost-conscious sector experiencing memory chip supply constraints.
According to Dell, the XPS 13 represents the company’s slimmest and most lightweight design to date, weighing approximately half a pound less than Apple’s MacBook Neo while incorporating a bigger screen.
Apple launched its MacBook Neo series in March with a starting price of $599, which contributed to stronger fiscal second-quarter performance the following month. The Neo retails for $500 to students and rivals Chromebooks along with budget-friendly Windows computers.
“I’ll give them (Apple) credit. It’s a good product and it validates the market we’ve been talking about. Students and consumers deserve better options at accessible price points, and we agree,” Dell Chief Operating Officer Jeff Clarke said.
This laptop introduction follows Dell’s January announcement at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, where the company expressed intentions to compete across multiple price ranges in the consumer computer market and revealed plans for the XPS 13 launch.
The company also reintroduced its well-received XPS laptop series in January. These initiatives are designed to offset anticipated declines in computer unit sales during the year’s second half due to increasing memory chip expenses.
The XPS 13 featuring Intel Core Series 3 processors will become available shortly, while the version equipped with Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and Storm color option is scheduled for release later this summer.
