Dell Brings XPS Laptops Back from the Dead at CES 2026

If you were once a fan of Dell’s XPS lineup, but wondering if it will ever be back, the company has some good news for you. At the ongoing CES 2026 event, Dell has brought XPS back from the dead. The company, in its announcement blog post, mentions, “XPS is back and better than ever! We have reimagined the XPS lineup with you in mind. Iconic, high-quality design. Refined interfaces. Optimized performance. Stunning displays. Best battery life in the industry.ᴵ More portable than ever. Meet the new Dell XPS 14 and XPS 16, plus preview what’s coming next for the XPS portfolio.”

New XPS 14 and XPS 16 focus on a thinner design and real usability upgrades

The revived XPS 14 and XPS 16 land with noticeable design and usability changes. Most importantly, Dell has ditched the controversial capacitive touch function row in favor of a proper physical function key row. It’s a welcome change that XPS fans and reviewers have been asking for years.

For the first time, the XPS logo also appears directly on the lid, another small but meaningful nod to long-standing user feedback. Both laptops feature redesigned unibody chassis made from aluminum and Gorilla Glass, which makes them Dell’s thinnest laptops in their respective size category.

The XPS 14 and XPS 16 start at just 0.58 inches thick. The 14-inch model weighs as little as 3 pounds, while the 16-inch variant starts at 3.65 pounds. Dell has also reworked thermals with larger, thinner fans to improve cooling without adding bulk.

Familiar power, better displays, and big battery claims

Under the hood, Dell uses the Intel Core Ultra X7 processors at launch, with Core Ultra X9 options coming later down the line. You also get Intel Arc graphics, up to 64GB of RAM, and up to 4TB of SSD storage. Notably, there are no discrete GPUs this time around.

As far as display specs are concerned, you will get a base 2K LCD panel with a 1–120Hz variable refresh rate, which Dell claims will boost the battery life. There’s also an optional 2.8K tandem OLED touchscreen for those who want richer visuals. Dell claims up to 27 hours of Netflix streaming and more than 40 hours of local video playback.

Select configurations go on sale January 7, starting at $2,049.99 for the XPS 14 and $2,199.99 for the XPS 16. More affordable versions, priced under $2,000, are expected in February. Dell has also confirmed that a thinner and cheaper XPS 13 is coming later in 2026.