The Windows laptop that proved PCs could match MacBook Air’s design excellence with the near-borderless InfinityEdge display.
Design Revolution
Unveiled at CES 2015, the XPS 13 featured an “InfinityEdge” display with 5.2mm bezels—virtually no borders around the screen. This allowed a 13” screen in an 11” laptop body. Reviewers praised the aluminum and carbon fiber build quality, saying Dell had finally created a Windows laptop that could stand beside the MacBook Air aesthetically. Starting at $799, it undercut Apple by $200+.
Enduring Excellence
Dell iterated the XPS 13 annually without major redesigns, continuously refining internals: 7th-gen Intel (2016), 8th-gen quad-core (2018), 10th-gen (2019), 11th-gen (2020), and eventually 12th-gen (2022). The formula remained consistent: thin, light, premium materials, excellent keyboard, great display. Tech reviewers’ “best Windows laptop” recommendations almost always included XPS 13.
Legacy and Competition
The XPS 13 proved Windows laptops could command Apple-level pricing ($1,000-1,800) if build quality matched. It forced Lenovo, HP, and Asus to elevate their premium lines. The 2020 redesign with 16:10 display and Dell’s shift to XPS 13 Plus (2022) showed the line’s continued evolution. By 2023, the XPS 13 had sold millions of units and maintained its reputation as the MacBook Air’s closest Windows equivalent.
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