The Windows pick for our home, email, and browsing tier, for anyone who wants the MacBook Neo's portability without moving into the Apple ecosystem.
Why this made the list
We wanted this tier to have a real answer for people who aren't buying a Mac, not just a MacBook Neo with an asterisk. The XPS 13 earns that spot on its own merits: a 13.4-inch 2.5K touchscreen, a 2.2-pound build, and Intel's Core 5 320 chip, all landing at essentially the same price as the Neo.
What it actually does
The 2.5K InfinityEdge touchscreen is sharper than most laptops at this price bother with, and independent testing clocked battery life around 14 and a half hours, ahead of the Neo's already-strong number. Wi-Fi 7 and a backlit keyboard round out a spec sheet that doesn't feel cut down for the price point the way budget Windows laptops often do.
Who this is actually for
Someone who wants a genuinely nice everyday laptop, email, browsing, documents, video calls, and specifically wants Windows rather than macOS. It's also the better pick for anyone whose other devices and software are already Windows-first.
What to weigh before buying
- The base configuration we're linking is 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, the same real ceiling the MacBook Neo has. Higher configurations exist at higher prices if you need more of either.
- Intel's Core 5 320 is a capable everyday chip, not a performance chip. Treat this tier's laptops as browsing and productivity machines, not multitasking workhorses.
The verdict
A legitimately strong non-Apple option for this tier, not a consolation prize. If you want this laptop's category of usefulness without buying into macOS, this is the one to get.