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| The 2026 XPS 16 starts at $1750 for the base Core Ultra 5 Panther Lake configuration |
The premium chassis you wanted, at a price that finally makes sense.
If you have been holding out for a 2026 Dell XPS laptop that doesn’t require a flagship processor budget, your patience has officially paid off.
Since the launch of the revamped XPS 14 and XPS 16 in late January, Dell’s lineup has featured a conspicuous gap. While the flashy Core Ultra X7 358H (Panther Lake) SKUs were readily available, the more accessible Core Ultra 7 355 and Core Ultra 5 325 variants were notably absent. Buyers who coveted the new CNC-machined aluminum chassis, the 8MP webcam, and the 120Hz OLED options were forced to either overspend or wait.
According to updated listings spotted on Dell’s official storefront this week, the wait is over—and it ended early. Dell has begun shipping the "lesser" Panther Lake configurations, and they arrive with a price cut that makes the new design far more competitive.
The $1,600 Sweet Spot
The most significant news is the starting price. The Dell XPS 14 now kicks off at $1,599.99 with the Intel Core Ultra 5 325, while the Dell XPS 16 starts at $1,749.99.
Check the latest configurations and live inventory here:
👉 Shop Dell XPS 14 (Core Ultra 5) Starting at $1,599
👉 Shop Dell XPS 16 (Core Ultra 5) Starting at $1,749
This represents a savings of at least $400 compared to their Core Ultra X7 358H counterparts. For that discount, you are dropping the "X" series discrete graphics-level performance, but retaining virtually everything that makes the 2026 chassis desirable.
What You Get (And What You Lose)
Let’s look at the base spec. The entry-level model includes:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 5 325 (8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz)
- Memory: 16GB LPDDR5x (7467 MT/s)
- Storage: 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- Display: 14.0” (or 16.0”) Non-Touch, 2K, 1-120Hz VRR, 500 nits
Crucially, OLED is not locked behind the expensive CPU. Sources confirm that while the base model ships with a beautiful 2K LCD, buyers can still configure these mid-tier units with an OLED touch panel. You just won't have to buy the X7 chip to get perfect blacks.
However, there is a hard stop for power users. If you attempt to configure the system with 32 GB of RAM or more, the Dell builder automatically upgrades (and locks) the processor to the Core Ultra X7 358H. This is a classic tiering strategy: Dell is positioning the Core Ultra 5 and Ultra 7 (non-X) variants firmly as "efficient mainstream" devices, reserving the memory bandwidth for the enthusiast tier.
The Curious Case of the Core Ultra 9
Dell confirmed to us that the Core Ultra X9 388H SKUs are still "coming soon." However, the team offered a pragmatic warning for shoppers: the jump isn't what you think it is.
Unlike previous generational leaps, the gap between the Core Ultra 7 355 and the Core Ultra X7 358H is massive (the "X" denotes a significant Arc graphics and power ceiling upgrade). Conversely, the jump from the Core Ultra X7 358H to the Core Ultra X9 388H is marginal—typically a few hundred megahertz and a slightly higher thermal threshold.
Verdict: Unless you are a competitive benchmarker, the $400 you save by skipping the X7 and X9 models is far better spent upgrading the display or storage.
Early Impressions and Review Timeline
We have a Core Ultra 7 355 review unit of the XPS 14 currently running through our battery of tests. Initial hands-on time suggests the thermal management is significantly improved on these non-X SKUs; the 14-inch chassis doesn't get as warm under sustained loads since it isn't pushing the bleeding edge of Intel’s power envelope.
Expect our full review on the Core Ultra 7 355 configuration in the days ahead.
Source(s): Dell XPS 14 Product Page, Dell XPS 16 Product Page.