Skip the $700 XPS 13, Get the 16GB Model
Engadget says buyers should skip the $700 base Dell XPS 13 and pick the midrange 16GB configuration instead. In testing published Sept. 29, 2026, the publication held back the 8GB base model from a higher review score because of memory capacity, saying Windows 11 does not run well on only 8GB in 2026. Engadget
The comparison keeps processor and storage the same. Both configurations tested used the same Intel Core 5 320 chip and 512GB SSD, so the step from 8GB to 16GB was the only hardware difference. Dell lists that configuration with a 6-core Core 5 320, 16GB of LPDDR5X, the fast low-power memory used in thin laptops, and 512GB of storage. Dell
Engadget's 16GB test unit showed 56 percent memory use with no other apps open. After installing a Windows Update and restarting, use was still around 40 percent. On an 8GB system, that same background load leaves little room for browser tabs, Electron apps, local inference, or build tools before paging starts, when the system uses the SSD as slower backup memory.
Benchmarks showed a wider gap than responsiveness alone. Engadget measured PCMark 10 scores of 6,904 for the 16GB XPS 13, compared with 5,319 for the 8GB base model. Battery life in PCMark 10 Modern Office also favored the 16GB configuration, at 17:40 versus 15:56. Average frame rates in games including Teamfight Tactics were 5 to 10 percent higher on the 16GB system.
With shared LPDDR5X and no discrete VRAM, or separate video memory, available capacity and speed affect multitasking, iGPU frame buffers, and power use when the system spills over to disk. Soldered memory, which is permanently fixed to the board, cannot be upgraded later, so the purchase choice sets paging behavior for the life of the machine.
Prices for the line have changed over time. In its 2020 review, Engadget reported the Dell XPS 13 started at $999, with a midrange 16GB configuration selling for $1,750. Engadget In January 2015, the nearly bezel-less XPS 13 was available starting that day for $800. Engadget At CES 2025, Dell announced a major rebrand for all of its PCs, which included the XPS name. Engadget By January 2026, Dell planned an all-new XPS 13 described as the thinnest and lightest model to date. Engadget
Dell's current lineup covers several memory tiers. The company offers the XPS 13 9345 with 16GB, 32GB and 64GB LPDDR5X integrated memory options up to 8448MT/s, a measure of memory speed. Dell Dell has also stated its new XPS 13 is powered by Intel Core Series 3 or Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors with up to 32GB of LPDDR5X memory. Dell
The broader context here is that 16GB has become the practical floor for a Windows ultraportable, not a premium upgrade. In my view, the $700 entry price still works as a way to draw buyers in, but most professionals will get that extra cost back in avoided friction. I have watched my own children blow through 8GB without thinking about it, with dozens of tabs, chat clients, and background updaters running at once. What once took deliberate heavy use is now just normal use, and the 16GB model lets the Core 5 320 and fast LPDDR5X do sustained work without running into capacity limits.
