Dell will no longer make XPS computers

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Perceived decline of XPS quality

  • Many report recent XPS models (≈2020 onward) as poor for a “premium” line: bad battery life, heat/cooling issues, noisy fans, and in some cases swollen batteries and coil whine.
  • Several users compare XPS unfavorably to MacBook Pros, ThinkPads, and even cheaper Asus machines, saying XPS feels like a “parts bin” product rather than a coherent design.
  • A minority note older XPS models (e.g., ~2014–2019) as solid machines, suggesting a decline over time rather than a universally bad brand.

Role of XPS in Dell’s lineup

  • Multiple comments stress XPS was never Dell’s true “professional” line; that role belonged to Latitude (business fleet) and Precision (workstations), with Inspiron for consumers and Alienware for gaming.
  • XPS is characterized as “premium consumer” or even “fashion” line that increasingly lacked a clear niche once Alienware and strong business lines existed.

Rebranding to Dell / Dell Pro / Dell Pro Max

  • The new branding (Dell, Dell Pro, Dell Pro Max, each with Base/Plus/Premium tiers) is seen as a simplification attempt but also as a transparent echo of Apple’s “Pro/Pro Max” naming.
  • Some welcome reducing the number of sub-brands and making cross-shopping vs MacBook/Air/Pro more obvious.
  • Others find the new names vague and marketing-driven, arguing that “Pro/Max/Plus/Premium” convey less concrete information than model numbers and clear line names like XPS/Latitude/Precision.
  • There is skepticism this will reduce real complexity, since each line can still have many configurations and hidden tiers.

Microsoft, “AI PCs,” and Copilot

  • Some argue OEMs are being pushed by Microsoft into “AI PC” branding and hardware requirements (e.g., Copilot keys), with little end-user benefit.
  • The XPS discontinuation is seen by some as collateral to this broader strategic shift.

Naming complexity and consumer confusion

  • Broad frustration with PC OEM naming: too many overlapping lines (Dell, HP, Lenovo, Asus), cryptic suffixes, and marketing buzzwords (“ExpressCharge,” “SmartHinge,” etc.).
  • Several analogies (cars, toothpaste, power supplies) frame this as “tyranny of choice” and deliberate shelf-space flooding rather than customer clarity.

Linux and developer angle

  • A few users mention XPS “Developer Edition” Linux models: generally workable but with issues like mediocre battery life and occasional hardware quirks.
  • One user notes XPS-with-Linux configurations were hard to actually buy in parts of Europe.