It was only a few months ago that Dell quietly announced the sunsetting of its beloved XPS brand—a name synonymous with sleek design and cutting-edge performance. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves staring at two new contenders in Dell’s lineup: the Dell 14 Premium and Dell 16 Premium, built to replace the XPS 14 and XPS 16 almost in name alone. Despite sporting Intel’s latest Core Ultra Series 2 Arrow Lake processors and a tweaked lid logo, these “Premium” machines feel more like a case of fresh name, same game.

Dell’s decision to retire XPS was part of a broader strategy to simplify its PC portfolio in preparation for a future dominated by AI-powered devices. Back in January 2025, the company laid out plans to consolidate its consumer lines under the singular “Dell” brand umbrella, creating clear tiers from basic to premium, which include the Dell laptop line, the Dell Pro series, and the high-end Dell Pro Max workstations. In a blog post announcing the new Premium models, Kevin Terwilliger, Dell’s VP/GM of PC Product Management, summed it up neatly: “The new name signals a fresh chapter—one that makes it easier than ever to find the right PC while providing the same exceptional quality, design, and performance.”

On paper, this simplification makes sense: one brand, clear sub-tiers, no more juggling Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, and XPS. In reality, swapping XPS for Premium feels anticlimactic, especially for long-time fans who identified with the XPS badge. The end result? Two laptops that are near-carbon-copies of last year’s models, save for a few internal tweaks and that rebrand nobody was asking for.

Let’s talk specs. Both Premium laptops ditch last year’s processors in favor of Intel’s Core Ultra 200H Series 2 Arrow Lake chips—essentially the same silicon boosting efficiency and performance across Dell’s 2025 lineup. Beyond that, you’ll find:

• Dell 14 Premium
  • Starts at $1,649.99 USD
  • Configurable with up to 64 GB of LPDDR5 RAM (up from 32 GB)
  • Wi-Fi 7 support standard
  • Integrated Intel graphics or optional NVIDIA RTX 4050
  • Same 14.5-inch InfinityEdge display options (including up to 4K OLED at 120 Hz)
• Dell 16 Premium
  • Starts at $2,699.99 USD
  • NVIDIA RTX 5060 GPU at launch, with RTX 5050, RTX 5070, and Intel Arc graphics “coming soon”
  • RTX 5070 models include Thunderbolt 5 support
  • Identical display choices: up to 16.3-inch 4K OLED, 120 Hz, InfinityEdge bezels

That’s it. No radical redesign, no dramatic new features—just incremental bumps in memory ceiling and connectivity options. In other words, last year’s XPS machines, but with Arrow Lake chips and a “Premium” badge slapped on top.

If you were hoping for refreshed aesthetics, you’ll be disappointed. Dell has retained the minimalist metal chassis, slim profile, and gapless “zero-lattice” keyboard with capacitive touch function row that debuted on the XPS lineup. Those capacitive keys, which once felt futuristic, have since earned mixed reviews for lacking the satisfying click of a mechanical counterpart, especially when compared to Dell’s own older XPS 15 or rival MacBook Pro keyboards.

Color options stick to the legacy playbook: Platinum (silver) and Graphite (dark gray), both safe bets for classrooms, coffee shops, and cubicles alike. They’re understated, sure—but perhaps a little too safe for a brand that once prided itself on pushing design boundaries.

Dell’s XPS lineup has a storied history, dating back to the mid-2000s when it challenged Apple’s dominance in design and build quality. Over the years, XPS machines set benchmarks for thinness, display innovation, and performance in a compact package. By merging XPS into a broader Premium sub-tier, Dell hopes to streamline its product matrix as it ramps up AI-first PCs and Copilot+ integrations. The company’s Pro Max workstations—targeted at AI developers and creators—are pushing into new territory with NVIDIA Blackwell GPUs and neural processing units, while entry-level Inspiron models cater to casual users.

Yet this brand simplification comes at the cost of heritage. Enthusiasts crave continuity and recognition; a sudden name swap can feel like erasing a chapter of design lore. Dell will no doubt back this up with marketing blitzes and in-store displays, but the question remains: will “Premium” resonate the same way “XPS” once did?

At the end of the day, the Dell 14 Premium and Dell 16 Premium are solid machines with class-leading displays, capable performance, and refined aesthetics. They carry forward everything that made XPS popular—just under a different banner. For buyers looking for reliable Windows laptops with top-tier specs, they hit the mark. But for long-time XPS fans hoping for a bold leap forward, the rebrand might feel like a missed opportunity.