Massive Windows 11 boost as popular PC brand makes a welcome return

Dell has confirmed that its XPS laptops will return to shelves later this year.

Twelve months ago, Dell made a major change to its PC lineup, with the company discontinuing its iconic XPS brand. The move didn’t go down well with technology experts or the paying public, with many criticising the decision. Dell has now confirmed that it made a mistake, and, after listening to reviewers and customers alike, the company is bringing the XPS back. Not only that, the tech giant is promising that the new experience will be “better than ever.”

These revived Windows 11 laptops have been rebuilt from the ground up and look pretty impressive. The overhaul begins with a bold new design, complete with the XPS name proudly stamped on the lid. Premium materials such as aluminium and durable Gorilla Glass 3 have been added to give the laptops a refined feel while ensuring they can withstand years of life on the move.

Dell has also introduced a redesigned keyboard with improved stability to reduce accidental key presses, alongside a seamless glass touchpad that blends cleanly into the palm rest. Beyond aesthetics, the redesign improves overall portability, with the company shaving down both weight and thickness.

The result is the new XPS 14 and larger XPS 16 are now Dell’s thinnest laptops yet, measuring just 14.6mm. That slim profile is partly thanks to a reengineered 4K webcam—the narrowest 8MP camera Dell has ever built into a laptop.

Performance has received a major boost as well. Powered by Intel’s latest Ultra processors, the new XPS models promise faster speeds, stronger graphics performance, and improved efficiency. A completely redesigned thermal system helps keep temperatures under control, even under heavy workloads.

There’s good news for graphics performance as well with Intel Arc graphics – featuring 12 cores – promising a 50% boost over the previous gen.

Battery life is another highlight, with high-density 900ED cells delivering up to 27 hours of use on a single charge, keeping the vivid display running all day and beyond.

Additional features include edge-to-edge touch displays, powerful Dolby Atmos speakers, and a generous selection of ports for connecting accessories.

Announcing the launch at CES 2026, Dell said: “Today, we unveiled the new Dell XPS 14 and Dell XPS 16. The iconic XPS laptops you know and love are here to stay. XPS has always been our benchmark for premium laptops, and these new models deliver striking design, powerful performance, stunning displays, and exceptional battery life—all in a compact device built to move with you.”