The benchmark Windows ultrabook, refined again.
The Dell XPS 13 (9340) is the finest Windows ultrabook you can buy in 2026 — and after six weeks of testing alongside the Apple MacBook Air M3, LG Gram 13, and HP Spectre x360 13, our editors recommend the XPS 13 as the best Windows laptop for professionals, students, and creators who want the most premium build quality, sharpest display, and best-in-class portability the Windows ecosystem offers. The XPS 13 9340 is not a minor revision — it introduces the Intel Core Ultra 7 Meteor Lake processor with an integrated Neural Processing Unit, a redesigned 3.5K OLED panel with factory colour calibration, and a new machined aluminium lid that is the stiffest XPS chassis ever shipped.
What makes the Dell XPS 13 9340 stand out in 2026 is the combination of hardware excellence: no Windows laptop matches the XPS 13 for the combination of display quality, build rigidity, and ultra-portability at this price point. The OLED panel's blacks are absolute, the colour accuracy is exceptional for creative work, and the keyboard — redesigned with new key travel — is among the best on any ultrabook. For Windows users who refuse to compromise on fit and finish, the XPS 13 is the only choice.
What's actually new on the XPS 13 9340
Dell made five major improvements over the XPS 13 Plus (9320). First, Intel Core Ultra 7 Meteor Lake brings a dedicated Neural Processing Unit enabling on-device AI acceleration for Windows Copilot, background noise removal, and real-time camera effects — alongside substantially better integrated GPU performance from Intel Arc. Second, the new 3.5K OLED InfinityEdge display improves peak brightness to 400 nits, increases the touch-panel responsiveness, and ships factory-calibrated to Delta-E <2. Third, the new keyboard deepens key travel from 0.7mm to 1mm — a significant and very noticeable improvement over the controversial shallow keys of the XPS 13 Plus. Fourth, the MicroSD card slot returns after being removed on the previous generation — a practical win for photographers and content creators. Fifth, Dell's new Copilot key and AI-optimised firmware make on-device Windows AI features dramatically faster and more reliable.
The XPS 13 9340 isn't without compromises. It has just three ports total (2× Thunderbolt 4 and 1× USB-C 3.2), no USB-A, no HDMI, and no headphone jack without an adapter. The 55Wh battery delivers 12 hours under light loads but drops to around 7–8 hours under sustained workloads. And at $1,099, it's not cheap — the LG Gram 13 delivers better battery at lower cost, while the MacBook Air M3 offers more efficient performance at a similar price. But for design, display, and Windows premium feel, nothing else comes close. Read our full comparison tool to stack the XPS 13 against the MacBook Air M3 or HP Spectre x360.
The 3.5K OLED display
The display is the XPS 13's crown jewel. The 3.5K (3456×2160) OLED InfinityEdge panel covers 100% of DCI-P3 and ships with a factory calibration report achieving Delta-E <2 — meaning colours are accurate to professional photography standards out of the box, without any manual calibration. The blacks are true black — OLED's zero-backlight advantage — making dark-mode workflows, photo editing, and film watching genuinely cinematic. At 283 PPI the text is razor-sharp. The 400-nit peak is sufficient for indoor and moderately bright outdoor use. More details in our Electronics category page.
Who should buy the Dell XPS 13?
- Windows professionals who want premium build quality — the CNC-machined aluminium chassis and Corning Gorilla Glass lid rival Apple's build quality on Windows
- Frequent travellers — at 1.17 kg and 14.8mm thin, the XPS 13 is among the most portable premium laptops available; slides into any bag effortlessly
- Creatives and designers — 100% DCI-P3 OLED with factory calibration is the best display on any Windows laptop in this class
- Students and writers — the compact 13.4" form factor, excellent keyboard, and Windows 11 give access to the full Windows app ecosystem
- Developers — WSL2, 32GB LPDDR5x RAM, and fast NVMe SSD make it a capable development machine in a compact chassis
- MacBook Air refugees — if you need Windows but want MacBook Air-level build quality and display, the XPS 13 is the only Windows alternative worth considering
Skip the XPS 13 if you need more than three ports (get the XPS 15 or HP Spectre x360), if you need a USB-A port without a hub, if battery life above 12 hours is essential (LG Gram wins here), or if gaming performance matters (dedicated GPU options don't exist at this size). For anyone who needs Windows and refuses to settle for plastic build quality or mediocre displays, the XPS 13 9340 is the definitive recommendation. Visit Dell's official XPS 13 page →
