Hands on: Dell XPS 14 2026 and XPS 16 2026

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As CES 2026 kicks off, right out of the gate, we have one of the biggest surprises of the show as far as laptops go, and that is the return of the Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16.

Last year, Dell underwent a major overhaul of its laptop lines, consolidating them under a kind of grid scheme of Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max laptops, each with a base model, a Plus model, and a Premium version for different sizes.

It was controversial, for sure, and whether that controversy prompted Dell to change course or there was something in the sales performance of the rebranded laptops that gave Dell pause, whatever it was has given us back the iconic Dell XPS laptops, and it’s more than just a return to the old name.

With the new redesign, the XPS laptop is losing a discrete graphics option for the foreseeable future, which is putting a lot of trust in Intel’s new chips to deliver the mix of creative and productivity performance users expect from the XPS brand.

Dell XPS 14 & Dell XPS 16: Price & availability

A Dell XPS 14 sitting on display — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

When is it out? The XPS 14 and XPS 16 go on sale January 6, 2026
How much is it? Starting at $1,649.99 for the XPS 14 and $1,849.99 for the XPS 16
Where can you get it? Only available in the US at launch, with global availability to follow

The Dell XPS 14 and Dell XPS 16 will go on sale in the US on January 6, 2026, with a limited number of configurations, starting at $1,649.99 for the XPS 14 and $1,849.99 for the XPS 16. Lower-priced configurations will be launching soon, as will wider availability in the UK and Australia, though no dates or pricing for those regions have been given yet.

Without knowing what the specific specs of the initial configurations are, it’s hard to tell how much the price of the new XPS laptops will vary from earlier models. With RAM prices being what they are, I would not be surprised if they come in somewhat higher, but Dell is also better able to absorb those price hikes or negotiate volume pricing down, thanks to its size, so we’ll just have to keep an eye on it over the next few weeks and months before I can give it a proper value assessment.

Dell XPS 14 & Dell XPS 16: Specs

Powered by Intel Core Ultra 300 series
No discrete graphics option

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Dell XPS 14 2026 & Dell XPS 16 2026 specs
Header Cell – Column 0	Dell XPS 14	Dell XPS 16
Processor	Up to Intel Core Ultra X9 388H	Up to Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
Graphics	Intel Arc Graphics, Intel Graphics	Intel Arc Graphics, Intel Graphics
NPU	Up to 50 TOPS	Up to 50 TOPS
Memory	Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-9600	Up to 64GB LPDDR5x-9600
Storage	Up to 4TB PCIe 5.0	Up to 4TB PCIe 5.0
Display	Up to 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED InfinityEdge touch display, 400-nits typical, 500-nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500	Up to 16-inch 3.2K (3200 x 2000) OLED InfinityEdge touch, 400-nits typical, 500-nits peak brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500
Wireless	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0	Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
Ports	3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm Universal Audio jack	3x Thunderbolt 4, 1x 3.5mm Universal Audio jack
Battery	70WHr	70WHr
Webcam	8MP / 4K HDR w/ Windows Hello	8MP / 4K HDR w/ Windows Hello
Dimensions (W x D x H)	12.19 x 8.26 x 0.58 ins \| 309.5 x 209.7 x 14.6mm	13.88 x 9.35 x 0.58 ins \| 352.6 x 237.47 x 14.6mm
Weight	3.0 lbs \| 1.36kg	3.65 lbs \| 1.65kg

Dell XPS 14 & Dell XPS 16: Design

New, thinner, and more modern design
Fixes most of the accessibility issues with previous gen XPS models

The biggest change here for the Dell XPS 14and XPS 16 is the design of the two laptops, which significantly improves things over earlier generations.

First, the laptop feels lighter and sturdier than its predecessors, and it definitely looks more modern. The move from the Dell logo to the XPS logo on the lid also makes the laptop feel less like an office product and more like a proper ultrabook.

From my limited time with the two laptops, the keys had good travel and felt comfortable enough in my testing, but having not typed on them extensively, I can’t say how they’ll feel after a few hours of work.

The three Thunderbolt ports along the sides and the headphone/mic jack are sufficient for most people, and while the lack of USB-A ports might annoy some, at this point, I can’t fault Dell for sticking with the faster, more intuitive USB-C interface.

4K HDR webcam, which is what I would expect for a laptop in this class, and the 10W audio is spread out between a number of hidden speakers along both sides of the laptop. Given the noise in the testing area, the audio was audible, but it was also really loud. I’ll reserve judgment on that until I can do more extensive testing with it.

The OLED displays looked great on the two laptops, with the XPS 16-inch feeling much more roomy as you’d expect, but the 14-inch display is also more than enough for most. The lighting in the testing space wasn’t the greatest, so I wouldn’t trust my eyes to judge the color accuracy without a longer look in better conditions, but I honestly can’t think of anything I’d fault them for.

The biggest changes, for me at least, are the return of physical Function keys and a more visible border for the trackpads. The old virtual Function key bar along the previous gen devices and the complete lack of a visibly defined trackpad on a smooth, glassy surface were accessibility headaches that simply weren’t necessary. The trackpad could be better defined, I’ll say, but I’m just happy that you can at least see it more clearly.

Nvidia RTX 4050, like the Dell 14 Premium I tested last year.

That said, I haven’t fully tested the new Intel Panther Lake chips yet, so the new XPS’s performance might end up surprising me. We’ll know soon enough.

Dell XPS 14 & Dell XPS 16: Final thoughts

A Dell XPS 14 in a man's hand — (Image credit: Future / John Loeffler)

I personally didn’t lose much sleep over the XPS rebranding last year, the way many of my colleagues did, but I’m sure the XPS’s triumphant return from exile will make plenty of people happy.

What I care far more about, though, is the redesign of these two laptops, particularly the Function keys and the trackpad. Those fixes alone make this the one laptop I’m most excited to test out in the next few weeks, and if Intel Panther Lake can live up to its hype, these two models just might be the laptops to buy in 2026.

CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2026 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from wireless TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.