Dell’s XPS Revival: A Refreshing Break From AI PC Hype
▼ Summary
– Dell has reversed its decision to discontinue the XPS laptop line, relaunching 14- and 16-inch XPS models after killing the brand in January 2025.
– The company’s previous rebranding effort replaced XPS, Latitude, Inspiron, and Precision lines with Dell Premium, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max series, which will continue alongside the revived XPS.
– The return of XPS restores a highly recommended consumer ultralight laptop series known for thin, lightweight designs with good value.
– New XPS 14 and 16 models correct unpopular 2022 design elements by restoring a physical function row and adding borders to the haptic touchpad.
– A more affordable XPS 13 model with a traditional chiclet keyboard is planned for later this year, while the new XPS 14/16 retain the lattice-free keyboard.
Dell has officially brought back its popular XPS laptop line, marking a significant reversal from its decision just a year ago to discontinue the brand. This move reintroduces a well-regarded series known for balancing premium design with strong performance, offering consumers a clear and familiar choice in the premium laptop market. The revival focuses on the XPS 14 and XPS 16 models, which launch with design refinements directly addressing user feedback on previous iterations.
The company’s leadership acknowledged the earlier strategy was a misstep. “It was obvious we needed to change,” stated Jeff Clarke, Dell Technologies’ vice chairman and COO, during a recent press event. In early 2025, Dell had eliminated not only the XPS name but also its Latitude, Inspiron, and Precision lines, replacing them with a simplified trio of Dell Premium, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max series. While the Latitude, Inspiron, and Precision brands remain retired, and Dell Pro models will stay on the market, the return of XPS signals a partial return to its heritage of distinct product families.
The comeback is particularly welcome for shoppers seeking high-quality consumer ultraportables. Before its discontinuation, the XPS series had built a strong reputation for delivering sleek, lightweight laptops packed with modern features at a competitive price point. The new models deliberately step back from some controversial design elements introduced in the 2022 XPS 13 Plus, which carried over into the non-XPS branded laptops sold in 2025.
Those devices featured a capacitive-touch function row without physical keys, a borderless haptic touchpad, and a flat, lattice-free keyboard. While intended to improve thermal management, the overall effect was a typing and navigation experience many found unintuitive and uncomfortable.
The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 directly address these criticisms. They restore a physical function row for tactile feedback. The haptic touchpad remains but now includes defined left and right borders, providing a more conventional and reassuring frame for users. The keyboards on these two new models retain the lattice-free design, but Dell plans to launch a more affordable XPS 13 later this year that will feature a traditional chiclet-style keyboard, a cost-saving measure that also appeals to users preferring a classic key feel.
This strategic revival positions the XPS line as a refined alternative, learning from past experiments to deliver the premium experience its name is known for.
(Source: Ars Technica)
