Dell XPS 14 16 Relaunch 2026: The Return of a Premium Icon

Dell's identity crisis is finally over. Just a year after ditching the iconic XPS moniker for the generic 'Dell Premium' line, the American tech giant has performed a complete U-turn. At CES 2026 on January 6, 2026, Dell announced the revival of the XPS brand with its thinnest and longest-lasting laptops yet.

Dell XPS 14 16 Relaunch 2026 Design and Specs

The revamped XPS 14 and XPS 16 are more than just a name change; they represent a direct response to consumer feedback. Dell has scrapped the controversial capacitive touch function row, replacing it with a traditional physical function row. The laptops feature a stunning unibody aluminum design, coming in at a mere 0.58 inches thin—making them thinner than the latest MacBook Pro models.

Internal specs are equally impressive. Configurable with up to an Intel Core Ultra X7 and 64GB of RAM, these machines are built for performance. However, the headline feature is the battery life. Dell claims the LCD variants can achieve more than 40 hours of local video playback. This is largely attributed to the new 1 to 120Hz variable refresh rate technology, a first for the laptop industry.

Course Correction After Rebranding Backlash

The decision to bring back XPS stems from data showing that customers were still searching for 'XPS' long after it was replaced. The 2025 'Dell Premium' naming scheme was widely criticized for being confusing and derivative of Apple's structure. "I hope it demonstrates our ability to course-correct, to be humble," said Jeff Clarke, Dell's COO, during a media presentation.

Starting at $1,649.99 for the 14-inch and $1,849.99 for the 16-inch model, the new line is available starting Tuesday. A budget-friendly XPS 13 is expected to follow later this year, measuring less than 13mm thick.