The premium laptop market has just become even more thrilling. At CES 2026, Dell brought back its renowned XPS series, the XPS 14 and XPS 16, now featuring Intel’s newest Core Ultra Series 3 processors. These advanced chips offer a combination of robust performance, smart AI acceleration, and remarkable battery efficiency. Let’s dive deeper into what these updated XPS laptops have to offer.
Sleek Design, Stunning Visuals
Both the XPS 14 and XPS 16 continue Dell’s minimalist design language, featuring precision-machined aluminum bodies and edge-to-edge OLED displays. The focus remains on immersive visuals, accurate color reproduction, and seamless premium finishes that define the XPS identity.
- Dell XPS 14: Sports a 14-inch 2.8K OLED InfinityEdge panel with support for Dolby Vision and HDR. This ensures deep blacks, vivid highlights, and exceptional clarity, ideal for creators and media enthusiasts.
- Dell XPS 16: Steps up with a larger 16-inch 3.2K OLED touchscreen featuring a variable refresh rate ranging from 20Hz to 120Hz. Whether you’re editing videos or scrolling social feeds, the smooth refresh rate adapts to your task for a more fluid visual experience.
Power Meets Efficiency
Dell maintains its reputation for performance flexibility. Both models come with up to 64GB LPDDR5X RAM and options for up to 4TB PCIe Gen 5 SSD storage, ensuring fast data access and multitasking power.
The XPS 14 includes a 70Wh battery, offering a balance between portability and endurance. Even with an OLED display, Dell claims you can expect all-day productivity without compromise.
The XPS 16, though larger, optimizes energy efficiency with the adaptive refresh display and advanced cooling design, making it suitable for creators, editors, and power users who need performance on the go.
New-Gen Power: Intel Core Ultra 3 Series
The biggest upgrades in 2026’s XPS lineup lie under the hood. Dell has opted for Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 3 processors, which integrate advanced NPU (Neural Processing Unit) cores to handle AI workloads more efficiently.
XPS 14 Processor Options:
- Intel Core Ultra X7 385H
- Intel Core Ultra 7 355
- Intel Core Ultra 5 325
XPS 16 Processor Options:
- Up to Intel Core Ultra X9 388H
These chips deliver a strong leap in performance over the previous Ultra Series 2, merging powerful CPU speeds with built-in AI acceleration for immediate optimization, improved image processing, and enhanced productivity workflows.
Connectivity and Audio Experience
In 2026, Dell is preparing for the future of connectivity. The XPS 14 and XPS 16 are both fitted with Thunderbolt 4 ports, DisplayPort 2.1, Bluetooth 6, and cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 technology. This configuration guarantees fast wireless performance, seamless connections to peripherals, and compatibility with 8K monitors.
Where the XPS 16 stands apart is its quad-speaker system tuned with Dolby Atmos, providing a rich spatial audio experience that’s ideal for streaming, editing, and immersive listening. Meanwhile, the XPS 14 maintains a clean, lightweight audio setup perfect for portability.
Pricing and Availability of Stunning Dell XPS 14 & XPS 16
The Dell XPS 14 has a starting price of approximately $2,049.99 (approximately ~Rs. 1,84,769 in Indian Rupees), whereas the XPS 16 starts at $2,199.99 (approximately ~Rs. 1,98,289 in Indian Rupees), positioning them solidly within the premium ultrabook and creator laptop market.
Dell has announced that these models will be globally available soon after CES 2026, with pre-orders set to begin later this month.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 Dell XPS update strongly emphasizes AI performance, outstanding display quality, and state-of-the-art connectivity. The XPS 14 is perfect for professionals who value both portability and style, whereas the XPS 16 is designed for creators and power users who require top-notch performance. With Intel’s Core Ultra 3 series leading the way, Dell’s newest XPS models are set to become the standards for contemporary laptops this year.
