The Dell XPS 13 2026 is a new laptop from Dell, aimed at users who want a lightweight and stylish device for everyday use. It is part of the XPS line, known for its premium design, and is positioned as an entry-level model in the ultraportable category. The laptop uses an Intel Core 5 320 processor, which is a mid-range chip from the Wildcat Lake generation, and features 16 GB of RAM and a 512 GB SSD in the tested version. It starts at 1150 € for the 8 GB RAM version, with a student discount of 350 €, making it more affordable than the 2024 version. The XPS 13 2026 is extremely compact, measuring 29.6 x 20 x 1.27 cm and weighing exactly 1 kg, making it one of the most portable laptops on the market. The keyboard has well-spaced keys, a design change from the gapless keyboards of earlier XPS models, which should be more comfortable for many users. Typing feels responsive, though the touchpad lacks haptic feedback and is only clickable — a feature that the similarly priced MacBook Air includes. Connectivity is limited to two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, and there is no headphone jack, which might be a disappointment for students who often need to connect to external speakers or headphones. Performance-wise, the XPS 13 2026 is modest. The Intel Core 5 320 processor can handle basic tasks like web browsing, office work, and light multimedia use, but struggles with more intensive tasks like 3D modeling or 4K video editing. It performs slightly better than the Apple MacBook Neo in these areas but lags behind the MacBook Air M5, which is significantly more powerful. The laptop's integrated graphics are also not suitable for gaming, with performance in the Shadow of the Tomb Raider benchmark barely reaching 16 frames per second. The display is a highlight of the XPS 13 2026, featuring a 2.5K IPS screen with a 120 Hz refresh rate, matte finish, and good brightness. It reflects only 28% of ambient light, making it usable outdoors, though color accuracy is slightly off with a delta E of 2.9. The laptop's battery lasts about 7 hours in real-world use, which is decent but not the best in its class. Inside the chassis, components are tightly packed, with limited upgradability due to soldered RAM. While the XPS 13 2026 has a strong build and practical design, its limited connectivity and performance might make it a less appealing choice compared to the MacBook Air or other alternatives like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x Gen 11, which offers an OLED display and better overall performance.