CES 2026 delivered no shortage of headlines, but for laptop enthusiasts, creators, and professionals alike, one announcement stood above the rest: Dell has officially reaffirmed its commitment to XPS. Not only is the iconic lineup here to stay, it has been reimagined from the ground up.

Introducing the new Dell XPS 14 and Dell XPS 16 — thinner, lighter, more powerful, and more refined than any XPS before them. Alongside these launches, Dell also offered a glimpse into what’s coming next for the broader XPS portfolio, making one thing abundantly clear: 2026 is shaping up to be a defining year for XPS.

From striking industrial design and thoughtfully refined interfaces to major performance gains, stunning display technology, and industry-leading battery life, the new XPS family sets a new benchmark for premium Windows laptops.

XPS: A Benchmark Rebuilt From the Ground Up

For years, XPS has represented Dell’s vision of what a premium laptop should be — a balance of performance, craftsmanship, portability, and innovation. With the 2026 refresh, Dell didn’t simply iterate. Instead, it rebuilt XPS entirely, rethinking everything from internal architecture to user interaction.

The result is a pair of laptops that deliver:

• Iconic, high-quality design

• Refined, more intuitive interfaces

• Optimised performance with next-generation AI acceleration

• Gorgeous InfinityEdge displays

• Exceptional battery life

• And a noticeably more portable footprint

All of this is packed into compact devices designed to move seamlessly with modern, hybrid lifestyles.

Thoughtful Design for Seamless Creativity

At the heart of the new XPS 14 and XPS 16 is a fully reengineered unibody chassis. Dell has integrated structural side walls directly into the base, significantly increasing rigidity and long-term durability without adding bulk. The laptops feel solid and reassuring in the hand — exactly what you expect from a flagship device.

Premium Materials, Minimal Distractions

Dell’s design philosophy here is simple: your laptop should feel like an extension of yourself. To achieve that, the new XPS models are crafted from premium CNC-milled aluminium paired with durable Gorilla Glass. The exterior is clean and modern, with minimal parting lines and a calming, tonal colour palette that eliminates visual clutter.

For the first time, the XPS logo now proudly sits on the front lid — a small but meaningful change that has long been requested by fans and reviewers alike. It’s subtle, confident, and unmistakably XPS.

A Return to Practical Minimalism

Dell has also listened carefully to user feedback when refining the interface:

• The traditional function row is back, offering reliable, tactile controls instead of experimental alternatives.

• The seamless glass touchpad now features subtle etched borders, making it easier to locate the active area without breaking the minimalist aesthetic.

• Keyboard travel and feedback have been carefully tuned for faster, more accurate typing over long sessions.

Individually, these changes may seem minor. Together, they significantly improve the day-to-day experience, reinforcing the idea that great design is as much about feel as it is about form.

Designed With Sustainability at Its Core

Beyond aesthetics and performance, Dell has embedded sustainability deeply into the new XPS lineup.

Both the XPS 14 and XPS 16 introduce modular USB-C ports, a first for XPS, making repairs easier and extending the usable lifespan of the device. Keyboards are also easy to remove, further simplifying servicing.

Internally, Dell has incorporated:

• Recycled steel in the hinges

• Recycled cobalt and recycled copper in the batteries

These laptops meet the latest EPEAT 2.0 standards, reinforcing Dell’s broader commitment to circular design and more responsible innovation — without compromising on premium build quality.

Power and Mobility Without Compromise

Under the hood, the new XPS models are powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors, paired with built-in Intel Arc graphics featuring 12 Xe cores — Intel’s highest-performing integrated graphics to date.

AI-Ready Performance

Compared to the previous generation, Dell claims:

• Up to 57% faster AI performance on XPS 14

• Up to 78% faster AI performance on XPS 16

• Over 50% faster graphics performance overall

These gains translate directly into smoother creative workflows, faster image and video editing, responsive multitasking, and even surprisingly capable casual gaming. The new processors also enable Copilot+ PC experiences, bringing AI-assisted productivity into everyday use.

A Completely Redesigned Thermal System

To sustain this level of performance, Dell rethought cooling entirely. The new thermal design features the largest and thinnest fans ever used in an XPS, delivering improved airflow while reducing noise.

The benefits are threefold:

• Cooler operating temperatures

• Quieter performance under load

• Better battery efficiency

This thermal redesign isn’t just an engineering footnote — it’s the foundation that allows XPS to be thinner, faster, and longer-lasting all at once.

Thinner, Lighter, and More Portable Than Ever

Portability has always been a core XPS strength, and Dell pushes it even further in 2026.

Both the XPS 14 and XPS 16 measure just 14.6mm thick, making them the thinnest laptops Dell has ever produced. Achieving this required several industry-first innovations:

• The thinnest and narrowest 8MP / 4K webcam ever integrated into a Dell laptop

• 900ED energy-density battery cells, which are smaller and lighter while delivering more power

These choices allow Dell to shrink bezels even further, maximise screen-to-body ratio, and reduce overall weight without sacrificing endurance.

Real-World Gains

• XPS 14 weighs approximately 3 pounds, over half a pound lighter than the previous generation

• XPS 16 comes in at 3.6 pounds, nearly a full pound lighter than before

Remarkably, the XPS 14 is now more compact than the MacBook Air 13, occupying less desk space while offering more usable screen real estate.

Unbeatable Experiences: Displays That Impress, Battery Life That Endures

The display is the window into everything you do, and Dell continues to lead here.

Both XPS 14 and XPS 16 offer two display options:

• OLED for cinematic visuals, vibrant colours, and deep contrast

• 2K LCD for outstanding efficiency, sharp clarity, and maximum battery life

Tandem OLED Comes to XPS

In 2024, Dell introduced the world’s first tandem OLED laptop display, and in 2026, this cutting-edge technology arrives as an option on the XPS 14 and XPS 16.

Tandem OLED delivers:

• Higher brightness

• Improved power efficiency

• Longer panel lifespan

• Enhanced colour stability

The result is ultra-high-resolution visuals with rich, lifelike colours that are equally suited to creative professionals and media consumption.

Industry-Leading Battery Life

For users prioritising endurance, the standard 2K LCD panels are the real stars. Dell claims the best battery life in the industry, with up to:

• 27 hours of general use

• 40+ hours of local video playback

This isn’t marketing hype — it’s the result of specific, tangible innovations:

• Variable refresh rate technology (1–120Hz) enables the display to drop to 1Hz for static tasks, such as reading emails, while conserving power, and then ramp up smoothly when scrolling or watching a video.

• The improved thermal system reduces wasted energy, directly extending battery life.

The outcome is a laptop that comfortably lasts from morning meetings through evening streaming — and often well into the next day.

What’s Next for XPS?

If the XPS 14 and XPS 16 weren’t enough, Dell closed its CES presentation with a preview of what’s coming next.

Later this year, the XPS portfolio will expand with new models across multiple price points and form factors, all maintaining the same commitment to craftsmanship and innovation.

A First Look at the New XPS 13

Leading the charge will be the new XPS 13, expected to be:

• Dell’s thinnest and lightest XPS ever

• Less than 13mm thick

• Featuring the same premium materials and InfinityEdge displays

Crucially, it will also represent the most accessible XPS price point to date, bringing the XPS experience to a broader audience without diluting what makes it special.

Pricing and Availability

The XPS 14 and XPS 16 mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Dell’s flagship lineup.

• Limited launch configurations will be available starting January 6

• Pricing for launch configurations: Coming soon

• Additional configurations, including a new entry-level option, will arrive in February

Both models will initially ship in Graphite, with Shimmer becoming available later in 2026. The XPS 14 will also be offered with Ubuntu 24.04 later this year.

The new XPS 13 is expected to launch later in 2026.

Final Thoughts: XPS Is Here — And This Is Just the Beginning

Dell’s message at CES 2026 was clear and confident: XPS isn’t going anywhere. Instead, it’s evolving — becoming thinner, lighter, smarter, and more refined than ever before.

With the XPS 14 and XPS 16, Dell has delivered a compelling blend of design excellence, next-generation performance, exceptional displays, and class-leading battery life. And with more models on the horizon, the XPS story is far from over.