Is the Dell XPS 13 the better budget laptop than Apple's MacBook Neo? WIRED's Luke Larsen tested both side by side, and the results surprised him. "The answer surprised me when I dug into the testing," Larsen wrote. For technology procurement teams hunting for a ~$700 Windows machine that delivers premium feel at a lower cost, the test produced concrete data on price, weight, display, and keyboard trade-offs.
The $699 Benchmark
The MacBook Neo was announced this spring at a base configuration price of $599, according to WIRED. Apple had never in its history brought the MacBook to such a low price, and even at its new $699 starting price the machine sits in unprecedented territory for the company. The Dell XPS 13 matches that price exactly: $699 base, or $599 for students. Larsen said he had been hunting for a Windows laptop "with the same goal as the MacBook Neo—hiding its compromises and delivering an otherwise premium laptop at a lower cost"—and the XPS 13, he wrote, understood the assignment.
Design and Portability
Both laptops are exactly the same size at half an inch thick, per WIRED. The XPS 13 weighs 2.2 pounds, half a pound lighter than the MacBook Neo; holding both, Larsen said the difference is noticeable. When the lid is open, the MacBook Neo sits taller than the XPS 13 because the XPS 13's 13.4-inch display is surrounded by much smaller bezels, particularly on the bottom. Larsen prefers more screen real estate and smaller dimensions, especially for airplane travel. The MacBook Neo's white keyboard and flashier color options have appeal, while the XPS 13 comes in only two shades of silver.
Display: Where the XPS 13 Pulls Ahead
The MacBook Neo's display reaches 509 nits (as tested) with decent color reproduction, WIRED reported. The XPS 13 beats it in three ways:
- It has a touchscreen, which MacBooks don't yet offer.
- It has a 120-Hz refresh rate, a feature Larsen called "exceedingly rare to find on a budget-level laptop" and one not even the MacBook Air has.
- It has better color saturation, specifically on the Adobe RGB and P3 color scales.
Larsen called the XPS 13's panel "one of the better IPS screens I've tested on a laptop," and as sharp as the MacBook Neo.
Keyboard, Trackpad, and Ports
Both laptops have excellent keyboards and trackpads, according to Larsen, who noted trackpads in particular can be a sore spot for budget Windows laptops. Dell avoided that trap. Apple made the keyboard compromises instead: the base MacBook Neo has no Touch ID and no keyboard backlighting, while the XPS 13 includes backlighting. Both devices have two USB-C ports.
| Spec | Dell XPS 13 | Apple MacBook Neo |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $699 ($599 for students) | $699 (launched at $599) |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs | Half a pound heavier |
| Thickness | Half an inch | Half an inch |
| Display size | 13.4 inches | 13 inches |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | Not specified |
| Touchscreen | Yes | No |
| Keyboard backlight | Yes | No |
| Touch ID | Not specified | No (base model) |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 2 |
| Color options | Two shades of silver | White keyboard, flashier colors |
WIRED's side-by-side testing produced a surprising result, according to reviewer Luke Larsen.
Competitive Context
For comparison, Larsen cited the HP OmniBook 5 (with the Snapdragon X Plus) as a budget Windows laptop he likes, but its touchpad remains a weak point. That gap is what the XPS 13 aims to close.
What the Test Means for Procurement
For technology buyers, the measurable takeaways from WIRED's test are:
- Weight: The XPS 13's half-pound advantage is meaningful for travel-heavy employees.
- Display quality: A 120-Hz touchscreen at $699 is exceedingly rare, per Larsen.
- Security configuration: The base MacBook Neo's missing Touch ID means authentication options differ between the two machines.
The broader dynamic also matters for enterprise purchasing: WIRED reported that the MacBook Neo's entry "encroached on the territory of Windows laptops, where it has traditionally had a monopoly." Dell's XPS 13 counters Apple at the same price point, giving Windows-first procurement teams a budget machine with premium specs.
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