Dell is bringing back the XPS 13 as a MacBook Neo competitor — with a temporary discount to $599

Dell is launching a new XPS 13 in July with a temporary $599 student promotional price that runs through September, before rising to $699 for general buyers. The pricing directly targets Apple’s MacBook Neo, though Apple’s student discount can make its competing laptop $100 cheaper.

Dell is signaling a sharper push into the budget student laptop market, where price and portability matter more than premium positioning. The challenge is that matching Apple’s headline price may not be enough unless Dell can clearly differentiate on design, performance, or Windows ecosystem value.

Dell is aiming for students like Apple did with the MacBook Neo. | Image: Dell

Dell is making good on its tease from CES and finally announcing a new XPS 13. The XPS 13 returns as a budget-friendly option, launching in July at a promotional student price of $599 - though that introductory deal only runs until September for back-to-school shopping; it'll start at $699 for everyone else. The $599 promo exactly matches up with the MacBook Neo's starting price, but students can actually get Apple's budget laptop for $100 less. That means Dell has its work cut out proving that the XPS 13 is worth the extra money. This will be Dell's thinnest and lightest XPS to date, measuring 0.5 inches / 12.7mm thick and weighing just 2. … Read the full story at The Verge.