Dell has pulled the XPS 13 name from the premium shelf and repositioned it as an affordable weapon against Apple’s MacBook Neo. The move comes at Computex 2026 in Taipei. It signals a sharp pivot for a brand once defined by high prices and striking design. The new machine starts at $699. Students pay $599 through September for back-to-school promotions. That matches the MacBook Neo’s regular price exactly. Education buyers at Apple pay even less at $499. Dell’s COO Jeff Clarke named the MacBook Neo directly in briefings. No mincing words there. At one kilogram and 12.7 millimeters thick the laptop earns its claim as the thinnest and lightest XPS yet. A CNC-machined aluminum chassis gives it a premium look and feel that belies the price. The 13.4-inch touchscreen delivers 2560 by 1600 resolution. It runs at up to 120Hz with variable refresh. Brightness reaches 500 nits. Full DCI-P3 coverage and DisplayHDR 400 support round out the panel. Every configuration gets this same high-quality display.…