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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Dell is bringing back the XPS brand name.
• The company has launched new Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16 devices. 
• The laptops feature form-factor tuning and the latest Intel processors.

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When Dell announced it was retiring its popular laptop lines for a consolidated "Pro/Plus/Premium" naming convention last year, consumers were more than a little confused. The XPS was a well-respected product line with a distinct identity -- wouldn't giving that up dilute the brand (especially for something that sounds like it came out of Cupertino)?

Well, Dell may have found the answer. Just a year later, the company is bringing back the XPS brand name with the new Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16, plus a 13-inch model that will be released later this year. 

Also: AI PCs aren't selling, and Microsoft's PC partners are scrambling

During a press conference in New York, Jeff Clarke, COO of Dell Technologies, acknowledged the company had made a mistake by discarding the XPS name and that the flagship lineup would be making a triumphant return in 2026. 

"This complicated brand we rolled out last year didn't do what we said it would do," Clarke explained. While discussing Dell's fiscal performance after the brand restructuring, Clarke confirmed numbers weren't where they wanted them to be, leading to a decision to bring back the XPS in Q3 of 2025. 

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

Clarke also hinted that Microsoft's overall shift to "AI PCs" hasn't exactly been the hit with consumers it was expected. This, combined with the elimination of trusted brand names, meant less people are buying.

Now at CES 2026, the XPS is back, refined, and, Dell confirmed, here to stay. In fact, the 2026 models even have an "XPS" logo on the laptop cover for the first time, a nod to the user base that has been requesting it for years.

Dell has also incorporated modular USB-C ports and an easier-to-remove keyboard design consistent with overarching innovations in repairability across the industry this year, with more modular, easy-to-fix parts that extend product lifetimes as consumers become aware of planned obsolescence upgrade cycles.

The new XPS: What's under the hood

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

The 2026 XPS lineup is being refreshed with Intel's latest Series 3 "Panther Lake" processors: Core Ultra 5, 7, X7, or X9. Instead of discrete GPUs, the XPS devices feature Intel Arc graphics with 12 Xe cores, providing up to 57% and 78% faster AI performance in the 14 and 16 models, respectively. Both the 14 and 16 will be available in 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB RAM configurations, with up to 4TB of storage.

With all this hardware, the XPS line isn't known for being the most featherweight of laptops on the block, but this year's 16-inch model in particular is its thinnest physical clamshell yet: 14.6mm (0.57 inches) thick. This approach carries over to the thinnest (but largest) fans in an XPS for what Dell said are vastly improved thermals.

Also: Dell's XPS 13 is one of the best laptops I've tested this year - here's why

Displays are similarly what you'd expect from a flagship lineup. On the XPS 14, you've got a 2K non-touch or 2.8K touch screen tandem OLED. On the 16, the high-end 3.2K tandem OLED scales to 500 nits peak brightness, with both screens offering 120Hz refresh. The Gorilla Glass 3 and ultra-thin bezels retain the premium, power-forward look the XPS is known for.

In terms of battery, both models feature a 70Whr battery that Dell says will provide up to 27 hours of streaming battery life on the 2K display.

Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET

The result is a premium laptop that resembles the XPS device users love. Dell didn't re-invent the wheel here, and that's precisely the point. Instead, there are thoughtful changes that reflect the ways people actually use their devices, with welcome improvements to repairability, form-factor tuning, and a refresh with the latest Intel processors. 

I'm not going to say "I told ya so," but there is something to be said about manufacturers taking brand recognition seriously. Reputations are not built overnight, and marketing executives should know better than anyone that you can't shift years of consumer attitudes with one idea. 

Also: Are premium Windows laptops worth it in 2025? This Dell settled the debate for me

The new XPS laptops will be available starting January 6 in the US and Canada, with the 13-inch model available later in 2026. As expected, there are multiple configurations for both models. Dell has listed the starting price for the XPS 14 at $1,649, while the XPS 16 will start at $1,849.