Dell's New Laptop Undercuts Apple's Cheaper Model—Here's What It Means

Dell announced a new XPS 13 laptop on May 31, 2026, priced at $699. It's a direct challenge to Apple's MacBook Neo, which starts at $599. Dell also offers a student discount that brings the XPS 13 down to $599, while Apple charges $499 for students. The key difference: Dell's version has a touchscreen, letting you tap the display like a tablet. Apple's MacBook Neo does not.

What Makes These Laptops Different

The main thing separating Dell and Apple here is the touchscreen. You can use a touchscreen to control the laptop directly with your finger, similar to how you interact with a smartphone or iPad. Apple has chosen not to put touchscreens on its laptops, preferring a trackpad and keyboard instead. Dell believes Windows users want the option to touch the screen.

On price, Dell's $699 model costs $100 more than Apple's $599 model for regular buyers. For students, the gap narrows: $599 versus $499. That $100 difference is important because it's the point where customers start seriously comparing what they're getting for the extra money.

Why Target Students

Dell is aiming specifically at students and young professionals. This group typically uses a laptop for four to six years, so winning them over now might mean they stick with Windows and Dell in the future. Apple has long focused on students too, offering aggressive discounts to attract them.

By announcing in late May, Dell is positioning itself early for the back-to-school shopping season in August and September. The company seems confident it has enough laptops built and ready to sell.

The Bigger Picture

This kind of competition isn't new. We have seen something similar before, when cheaper Chromebooks challenged both Windows and Apple laptops in schools by offering a much lower price. What is different this time is that Dell is competing within Windows, the same system that Google's Chromebooks disrupted. Dell is not bringing a third option to the table—just asking whether it can win on price and features within the Windows world.

Apple is sending a signal here too. By introducing the MacBook Neo at an unusually low price, Apple is acknowledging that budget laptops have gotten good enough to threaten its expensive models. For Apple, that is significant.

The Touchscreen Question

The touchscreen is both a potential selling point and a potential problem. It gives Windows users something Apple laptops don't have, which could appeal to people who like that kind of direct interaction. But touchscreens add cost, can be fragile, and may create extra maintenance headaches in schools or offices where hundreds of devices are managed at once.

Can Dell Make This Work

The real challenge for Dell is whether people actually care about the touchscreen enough to pay an extra $100. Windows laptops are also cheaper to make than Macs, so Dell has lower profit margins to work with. Apple owns the parts of its computers and controls the whole experience, which lets it charge more and make bigger profits.

Then there is the question of what people have already invested in. Students who use iCloud for photos, or who have an iPhone and iPad, face real friction if they switch to a Windows laptop. Those connections create "stickiness"—a reason to stay loyal to Apple.

Beyond Just Student Sales

The XPS 13 might also appeal to small business owners and people working remotely. A touchscreen can be useful when you are presenting to clients or collaborating with colleagues. That opens a door for Dell beyond just students.

Here is something worth noting: more touchscreens in laptops means more potential repair issues for companies managing large fleets of computers. On the upside, it creates new ways to use the machine. Both matter.

What This Competition Means for You

This price battle is good for anyone shopping for a laptop. When companies compete directly like this, consumers benefit through better prices and clearer choices. You get to pick between Apple's ecosystem—where everything connects nicely—and Dell's Windows approach with touchscreen convenience.

What matters most is what wins with real customers. If people buy the Dell in numbers, other Windows makers might add touchscreens and cut prices further. If Apple's ecosystem advantages prove stronger, expect Windows laptop makers to face tighter margins and less room to compete on price.

Either way, the gap between budget and premium laptops has shrunk significantly. Today's $600 laptop is far more capable than the cheap laptops from ten to fifteen years ago, which means the choice between them comes down to features, loyalty, and what works best for your life—not whether the affordable option is simply too weak to use.