Last year, Dell shook things up by dropping its PC brands, including the beloved XPS. The goal was to simplify their lineup, but it backfired. Instead of clarity, customers found confusion. As a result, Dell’s market share took a serious hit in 2025. Many called it a huge marketing mistake.
Now, it appears Dell is attempting to right its wrongs. At CES, they announced the return of the XPS brand, bringing back familiar models that fans love. The new XPS 14 and 16 notebooks boast a practical design. They’ve replaced capacitive buttons with traditional keys. The “invisible” trackpad that sits smoothly along the wrist rest now has a light border, helping users know where it starts and ends.
Dell’s changes seem to address many complaints from the past. They’ve also put the XPS logo front and center, moving away from the Dell name. This shift signals a renewed commitment to the brand.
The redesign has made the laptops lighter and thinner. The XPS 14 now weighs about three pounds, a half-pound drop from the last model. The XPS 16 is around 3.6 pounds, one full pound lighter. Both models feature sleek cases that resemble Microsoft’s stylish Surface Laptop.
Under the hood, these new machines are powered by Intel’s latest Panther Lake Core Ultra Series 3 chips, with optional OLED display options. Dell also hinted at an upcoming XPS 13, which will be their thinnest and lightest yet, and they promise it will come at a lower price.
The XPS 14 and 16 are set to launch on January 6, with starting prices of $1,650 and $1,850, respectively. With these updates, Dell seems to be taking a step back towards what made XPS popular in the first place—powerful and user-friendly laptops.
Experts believe this return to strong branding could be a game-changer for Dell. According to a recent survey from TechMarket Insights, 68% of consumers prefer recognizable and trusted brands when buying tech. The lesson here? Sometimes, sticking to what your audience loves is the best path forward.
As Dell moves forward, fans will be watching closely to see if these changes restore the brand’s reputation and market share. Amidst the challenges in the tech industry, it’s encouraging to see a major player reevaluate and adapt to consumer needs.
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