Dell XPS 13 2026 Review

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Main Features

Launched in June 2026

Display:13.4" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio

Max Brightness: 500 nits

External Dimensions:296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches)

Weight: 1 kg (2.21 lbs)

Operating System: Windows

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Dell XPS 13 2026 Overview

SCORING

Performance

Size

Display

Gaming

Connectivity

Launched in June 2026, Dell XPS 13 2026 is a Windows laptop with 13.4-inch display and 16:10 aspect ratio. It has the external dimensions of 296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm (11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches) and weighs 1 kg (2.21 lbs).

Click for Available Configurations of the
Dell XPS 13 2026

XPS 13 2026 is a member of Dell's series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Dell Series History

Model	Release Date	Screen Size	Weight
Dell Pro Precision 7 14 Compare	March 2026	14.0"	1.59 kg (3.51 lbs)
Dell Pro 14 Premium 2026 Compare	March 2026	14.0"	1.15 kg (2.54 lbs)
Dell Pro Precision 7 16 Compare	March 2026	16.0"	2.17 kg (4.78 lbs)
Dell Pro 7 13 Compare	March 2026	13.3"	1.19 kg (2.62 lbs)
Dell Pro 5 16 Compare	March 2026	16.0"	15.16 kg (33.43 lbs)
Dell Pro 7 14 Compare	March 2026	14.0"	1.27 kg (2.8 lbs)
Dell Pro 5 14 Compare	March 2026	14.0"	1.33 kg (2.93 lbs)
Dell Pro 3 14 Compare	March 2026	14.0"	1.31 kg (2.89 lbs)

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Dell XPS 13 2026 PROs and CONs

Now let's get in to more details of our Dell XPS 13 2026 review by analyzing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor laptop in its class.

PROs

Recent Model (June 2026)

Lightweight at only 1 kg (2.21 lbs)

High Screen to Body ratio of ~87.4%

Thin bezels around the screen

High Refresh Rate of 120 Hz

High PPI of 225 ppi

Touch Screen

Matte Screen reduces reflections

100% sRGB Color Space

500 nits Max Brightness

2 nm CPU Fabrication Process

3 nm GPU Fabrication Process

Fast Charging Feature

Charging Port both on left and right sides

LPDDR5X Type RAM

PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x) RAM

Upgradable Storage

NVMe Type SSD Storage

2.2 (2 tweeters and 2 woofers) Speaker Setup

Dolby Atmos Sound

1920 x 1080 Webcam Resolution

2x USB 4.0 USB Type C Ports

Keyboard Backlight

CONs

RAM is not Upgradable

No 3.5mm Audio Jack

No Built-in SD Card Reader

No HDMI Port

Body and Dimensions

The weight and external dimensions are two of the most important factors determining the physical portability of a laptop. Below you can find the external physical features of the Dell XPS 13 2026:

Physical Specs
Dimensions	296.9 x 200.66 x 12.7 mm
	11.69 x 7.9 x 0.5 inches
Weight	1 kg (2.21 lbs)
Surface Area	596 cm2 (92.4 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~87.4%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.1 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.07 kg/inch
	0.154 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver, Gray

Weight
The Dell XPS 13 (2026) weighs 1.00 kg / 2.20 lbs. Considering that average weight of the laptops with display size '13.0-13.9 inches' in our database is 1.22 kg, it will be fair to say that the Dell XPS 13 (2026) is a light laptop for its size class.

Weight Comparison

Display size : 13.0-13.9 inches

Dell XPS 13 2026

MIN

AVERAGE

MAX

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops here at Laptop Decision is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Dell XPS 13 2026 is 0.07 kg/inch. Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch (Compare)
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 13.3-inch: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)
Microsoft Surface Pro 9: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)

Body Thickness
Thickness of the Dell XPS 13 (2026) is 12.7 mm. Considering that average thickness of the laptops with display size '13.0-13.9 inches' in our database is 15.49 mm, it will be accurate to say that the Dell XPS 13 (2026) is a slim laptop for its class.

Thickness Comparison

Display size : 13.0-13.9 inches

Dell XPS 13 2026

MIN

AVERAGE

MAX

Side Bezels and Screen-to-Body Ratio
The average Side Bezel Thickness of the Dell XPS 13 2026 is 4.1 mm and the Screen to Body Ratio is 87.4%. These figures show that Dell XPS 13 2026 is best in class in terms of maximizing the total usable screen estate relative to the overall external dimensions. These figures show that Dell XPS 13 2026 is best in class in terms of maximizing the total usable screen estate relative to the overall external dimensions.

Display

Dell XPS 13 (2026) features a 13.4-inch sized IPS LCD type display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 225 ppi pixel density.

Display Specifications
Display Resolution	2560 x 1600 pixels
Display Size	13.4 inches
Display Type	IPS LCD
Refresh Rate	120 Hz
PPI	225 ppi

Pixel Density / PPI

Below is a chart depicting how 225 ppi pixel density of the Dell XPS 13 2026 compares with the Min, Max and Average densities in its display size class (13.0-13.9 inches).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Display size : 13.0-13.9 inches

Dell XPS 13 2026

MIN

AVERAGE

MAX

Refresh rate of 120 Hz ensures a smoother motion on the screen compared to typical rate of 60Hz which reduces the eye strain and provides more pleasing experience. If your main use is gaming, you may like to check screens with refresh rates higher than 120Hz though.

CPU

Dell XPS 13 (2026) comes with only one CPU option which is the Intel Core 5 320.

Intel Core 5 320 is an Intel Core 3xx processor, offering good performance for everyday computing tasks. For the latest features and performance, consider Ultra series processors.

CPU Specifications
CPU Name	Intel Core 5 320
Base Frequency	1.5 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.6 GHz
Number of Cores	6 (2P + 4E)
Number of Threads	6
L3 Cache	6 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Xe3 Graphics (2-Core)
CPU Fabrication Process	2 nm

GPU

Dell XPS 13 (2026)-Intel Core 5 320 comes with only one GPU option which is Intel Xe3 Graphics (2-Core). This is a Integrated type GPU with 1.30 TFLOPS floating point performance and its memory is system shared type. Integrated GPUs help to reduce the total cost and energy consumption compared to dedicated GPUs, however they are not the best options for graphic heavy applications such as video rendering and gaming.

** Since the GPU in Dell XPS 13 2026 is integrated, the TGP value (25 W) is provided with considerable certainty, although there are varying opinions on its exact measurement.

GPU Specifications
GPU Name	Intel Xe3 Graphics (2-Core)
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz
Boost Clock Frequency	2500 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	25 W
Type	Integrated
FLOPS	1.30 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR5X
Memory Speed	7.47 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	256
Texture Mapping Units / TMUs	16
Raster Operations Pipelines / ROPs	8

Dell XPS 13 2026's 1.300 TFLOPS performance is quite low compared to best GPUs in its class. Below you can find the average and max TFLOPS level among the laptops with 13.0-13.9inch displays.

FLOPS Comparison

Display size : 13.0-13.9 inches

Average

Max

Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Asus ROG Flow Z13 2025 GZ302 with : 29.70 TFLOPS (Compare)
Asus ProArt PX13 HN7306 with GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile: 15.00 TFLOPS (Compare)
HP Pavilion Aero 13 2024 with : 8.12 TFLOPS (Compare)
Microsoft Surface Laptop 8 13.8 with : 7.70 TFLOPS (Compare)
Framework Laptop 13 Pro with : 7.70 TFLOPS (Compare)

RAM

Dell XPS 13 2026 comes with 2 RAM options: 8GB and 16GB. The current setup we are reviewing is the 8GB.Unfortunately, the RAM on the Dell XPS 13 2026 is not Upgradable. For this reason, we recommend you to get the version with the highest RAM that you can afford to make your laptop more future-proof. In any case, the minimum RAM size we recommend is 16GB.The RAM type of the Dell XPS 13 2026 is LPDDR5X, whereas the latest type in the market is DDR5.DDR5 type RAMs provide speeds of at least 4800 MHz, whereas the previous generation supports a maximum of 3200 MHz.

Additionally, the RAM type also includes an LP (Low Power) prefix, indicating low power consumption but also lower performance. You should consider the trade-off between reduced power consumption when unplugged and potential performance loss.

RAM Specifications
RAM	8GB 16GB
Channels	1x8 GB
Clock	7467 MHz
Type	LPDDR5X (latest)
Upgradable	No
Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) this laptop could support, based on its hardware specifications. It's meant to help you decide whether it's suitable for running AI models locally.

Selected Configuration:
CPU/NPU: Intel Core 5 320RAM: 8 GBGPU: Intel Xe3 Graphics (2-Core)

Available for LLM: ~3.5 GB RAM (3 GB OS overhead, 2 GB reserved for graphics), up to ~3.5 GB (max)

Available for LLM: 3.5 GB / Total: 8 GB

Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B

✔ Modest Speed
2B model with Q4 quantization (recommended):
Requires ~2 GB memory - fits in your 3.5 GB RAM
Suitable, but iGPU typically falls in "Modest Speed" category.
(See performance table below for details)

Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B

✖ Not Supported
7-8B model with Q4 quantization (recommended):
Requires ~5 GB memory - exceeds available RAM (not supported)
This config supports Small (1-3B) models. For 7-8B or larger, consider more RAM or a dedicated GPU.
(See performance table below for details)

Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B, Dense 30B

13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B)

✖ Not Supported

13-15B model with Q4 (recommended):
Requires ~9 GB memory - exceeds available RAM (not supported)
This config supports Small (1-3B) models. For 7-8B or larger, consider more RAM or a dedicated GPU.
(See performance table below for details)

16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB)

✖ Not Supported

16-24B model with Q4 (recommended):
Requires ~14 GB memory - exceeds available RAM (not supported)
This config supports Small (1-3B) models. For 7-8B or larger, consider more RAM or a dedicated GPU.
(See performance table below for details)

24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4)

✖ Not Supported

24-30B model with Q4 (recommended):
Requires ~18 GB memory - exceeds available RAM (not supported)
This config supports Small (1-3B) models. For 7-8B or larger, consider more RAM or a dedicated GPU.
(See performance table below for details)

MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B)

✖ Not Supported

MoE model with Q4 (recommended):
Requires ~24 GB memory - exceeds available RAM (not supported)
This config supports Small (1-3B) models. For 7-8B or larger, consider more RAM or a dedicated GPU.
(See performance table below for details)

Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B

✖ Not Supported
70B model with Q4 (recommended):
Requires ~42 GB memory - exceeds available RAM (not supported)
This config supports Small (1-3B) models. For 7-8B or larger, consider more RAM or a dedicated GPU.
(See performance table below for details)

💡 Note: iGPU uses system RAM directly (unified memory). Expect "Modest Speed" performance (see table below).

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

Dell XPS 13 (2026)'s Li-Po battery has a capacity of 52 Wh is under average, which may cause lack of mobility. Please note that even though the battery capacity gives you an idea about potential battery life, it is not the only indicator of unplugged run time of the laptop, but impacted also by factors such as your laptop's configuration, screen brightness and number & types of apps that you are running simultaneously.

Battery Comparison

Display size : 13.0-13.9 inches

Dell XPS 13 2026

MIN

AVERAGE

MAX

Battery Specifications
Capacity	52 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po
Replaceable	No
Fast Charging	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left, Right
Charge Power	65 W
Voltage	11.7 V

Dell XPS 13 (2026)'s battery is not replaceable but we can't hold it against this model as this has been the general trend in the laptop world for a long time.
Dell XPS 13 (2026) supports fast charging which lets the user charge the laptop in a shorter time than normal.
A convenience that Dell XPS 13 (2026) provides is the ability to charge via the ports that are both on left and right sides of the body, which helps to minimize the cables running around your work area.

STORAGE

Dell XPS 13 2026 comes at least with a SSD (M2) type 1x256 GB storage as standard. More storage is always good, but it comes with a price.Fortunately, the storage on the Dell XPS 13 2026 is Upgradable so you can upgrade it with a larger storage when needed.The NVMe SSD used in the Dell XPS 13 2026 can achieve up to 3.5 GB/s speed whereas older SATA SSDs could only reach speeds of up to 550 MB/s.

Storage Specifications
Upgradable	Yes
Total Slots	1
Type	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes

SOUND

Good quality speakers can have a significant impact on the overall experience when using laptops, especially if you are consuming a lot of multimedia material such as music or videos. The Dell XPS 13 (2026) features a 2.2 (2 tweeters and 2 woofers) speaker set up. The total power of this set up is 2x2W, 2x3W. Thanks to its Dolby Atmos support, the Dell XPS 13 2026 can play media that were recorded with this standard. Thanks to its Dolby Atmos support, the Dell XPS 13 2026 can play media that were recorded with this standard.

Sound Specifications
Speakers Setup	2.2 (2 tweeters and 2 woofers)
Speaker Power	2x2W, 2x3W
Dolby Atmos	Yes
Microphones	2

The number and quality of the built-in microphones are as important especially in this age of online meetings and streaming.

CONNECTIVITY and PORTS

The Wifi Standard of the Dell XPS 13 2026 is v7, which is the latest generation.
The latest WiFi v7 standard supports 40 GB/s and provides speeds up to 2.4 times faster than the previous v6 setup. Laptops with WiFi v7 appeared in the market as of the end of 2023.

The Bluetooth Standard of the Dell XPS 13 2026 is v6.0, which is not the latest generation.As the version number increases within the Bluetooth V6.x series, sub-generations also progress. Although the range and speeds remain consistent, advancements in energy efficiency, reliability, and security features are introduced in subsequent sub-generations.

Connectivity
WiFi Standard	v7 (latest)
Bluetooth	v6.0 (latest: v6.2)
Fingerprint Sensor	No
Optical Drive	No

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing Bluetooth versions since 2010, including their features, speed, range, IoT support, and release years. This information can be helpful in understanding the evolution of Bluetooth technology and its capabilities over the years.

Bluetooth Versions and Features Since 2010

Version	Speed (Mbps)	Range (Open Area)	Year	Features	IoT Support
v6.2	2	200 m	2025	Ultra-low latency, enhanced Channel Sounding security	Yes
v6.1	2	200 m	2025	Channel Sounding improvements and bug fixes	Yes
v6.0	2	200 m	2024	Channel Sounding (centimeter-level distance measurement)	Yes
v5.4	2	200 m	2023	PAwR, advanced security	Yes
v5.3	2	200 m	2021	Connection and security enhancements	Yes
v5.2	2	200 m	2020	LE Audio, efficiency and communication quality	Yes
v5.1	2	200 m	2019	Precise device positioning	Yes
v5.0	2	200 m	2016	Extended range and speed	Yes
v4.2	1	100 m	2014	Internet connectivity, security improvements	Yes
v4.1	1	100 m	2013	Improved device connectivity	Yes
v4.0	1	100 m	2010	Low Energy mode	Yes

* Please note that in the Bluetooth 5.x and 6.x series, there hasn't been a significant increase in range and data speed. However, each new version has brought significant technological improvements in areas such as security, energy efficiency, precise location (Channel Sounding), and IoT support.

Dell XPS 13 (2026) doesn't have any USB-A type ports so if you have accessories using this type of connection, you either have to use a USB hub or an adapter.On the other hand, it is equipped with faster and more capable 2x USB 4.0 Type-C ports.

USB-TypeC ports of the Dell XPS 13 2026 are not the latest generation. The latest generation USB4 2.0 provides 80 and 120 Gbit/s speeds.

Ports
USB-A	No
USB Type-C	2x USB 4.0 (latest: USB4 2.0)
Thunderbolt	No
HDMI	No
Display Port	No
VGA	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	No
Ethernet RJ45	No
SD CardReader	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

WEBCAM

Dell XPS 13 (2026) has 2.07 MP front camera which is fairly good one over average laptop cameras in the market.

Webcamera Specs
Webcam	Above the display
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080
	2.07 MP

KEYBOARD and TOUCHPAD

Dell XPS 13 (2026) has Island type keyboard, which is used on majority of recent laptops.

Keyboard and Touchpad
Keyboard Type	Island
Numpad	No
Backlight	Yes
Touchpad Size	11.8 x 6.8 cm
Touchpad Area	80.2 cm²
Touchpad Surface Material	Glass
Windows Precision	Yes

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Most Popular Alternatives to Dell XPS 13 2026

Here are the 8 laptops that our readers compare the most with the Dell XPS 13 (2026):

Model	Release Date	Screen Size	Weight
Dell Pro 5 16 Compare	March 2026	16.0"	15.16 kg (33.43 lbs)
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306 Compare	June 2024	13.3"	0.85 kg (1.87 lbs)
Dell Pro 7 13 Compare	March 2026	13.3"	1.19 kg (2.62 lbs)
Dell Latitude 7330 Compare	March 2022	13.3"	0.96 kg (2.12 lbs)
Samsung Galaxy Book 2 Pro 13.3-inch Compare	February 2022	13.3"	0.87 kg (1.92 lbs)
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407 Compare	January 2025	14.0"	0.9 kg (1.98 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Go 4 Compare	October 2023	10.5"	0.52 kg (1.15 lbs)
Microsoft Surface Pro 12 Compare	May 2025	12.0"	0.68 kg (1.5 lbs)