New Windows PC Challenges MacBook Neo's Market Dominance
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Does it dethrone the MacBook Neo? No way. But it is one of the best Windows PCs in this price range, and absolutely raises the bar for competing "budget" devices. Sure, there are other PCs in this price range that offer better performance -- take the Acer Aspire 14 AI for example, a solid budget laptop and personal pick -- but the XPS 13 is just such an elegant statement (and its display is so much better) that it's an easy sell.
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EngadgetDell XPS 13 (2026) Dell responded quickly when Apple debuted the MacBook Neo earlier this year, but the new XPS 13 doesn't offer enough performance in its base configuration. "With the Neo as the new budget baseline, it'll be interesting to see how Dell keeps evolving the XPS 13 into the ideal budget-yet-premium notebook," senior reviews writer Devindra Hardawar said. "In its current iteration, I wouldn't recommend committing yourself to years of pain with an 8GB XPS 13, but if you can shell out for the 16GB model, it'll likely serve you well."
WiredPrices are constantly shifting, however, largely because of the ongoing memory shortage. We are starting to see the return of 8 GB in laptops like the MacBook Neo and Dell XPS 13, but I recommend opting for 16 GB if at all possible.
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The same can be said for the physical build, which doesn't feel cheap or disposable, but is very thin and light, leading me to wonder about its durability after a barrage of inevitable bumps, drops, and falls on campus. These two things together point to a laptop that might not have the lasting power of a flagship XPS, but also comes down to how it's treated.
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WiredSpecs are only half the battle, though. Based on our years of testing, laptop manufacturers tend to make compromises in display quality and touchpad quality. You can't tell from the photos or listed specs online, but once you get the laptop in your hands, you may notice that the colors of the screen look a bit off or that the touchpad feels choppy to use. It's nearly impossible to find laptops under $500 that don't compromise in these areas, but this is where our reviewers and testers can help.
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01 Engadget With a 1TB MacBook Pro M5 rising in price by about $300, it's no small amount either. So, after kicking yourself for not buying one earlier this year, you might be wondering if you should just pay the extra money now or wait. The bad news? Pricing is likely not coming down any time soon, so waiting probably isn't going to yield any savings. The good news? Apple has new products coming, and if you need to upgrade anyway, you might as well wait to get the most bang for your buck.
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02 ZDNet The arrival of the TCL Tab A1 Plus Nxtpaper in time for back-to-school shopping is more than opportunistic -- it just makes good sense. TCL has continuously produced tablets that rival the iPad in performance while staying squarely in the $300 price range -- and I should know, I've tested multiple of them.
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03 Wired Updated August 2026: I've added the Dell XPS 13, HP OmniBook 3, and MSI Cyborg A15. I’ve also confirmed accuracy and up-to-date pricing throughout.
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Sources (3)
- zdnet
- wired
- engadget