Dell XPS 15 & Apple MacBook Pro 2016 compared: Dell beats Apple on display, battery, RAM & price

The Apple MacBook Pro 2016 created immense buzz before it was released and even after it hit the shelves. While the laptop sports some pretty amazing specs, its battery life and lesser capacity RAM was criticised. Now, the Dell XPS 15 laptop has become quite a rage as it being marketed as the “world's smallest 15.6-inch laptop.” While both laptops are incredible additions and cater to specific consumer needs, it is important to know about the differences in specs and features for a more informed buying decision.

Display-wise, the Dell XPS 15 laptop has a 15.6-inch 4K Ultra HD InfinityEdge display with a screen resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. Many find it slightly better than Apple MacBook Pro 2016’s 15.4-inch Retina Display that comes with a screen resolution of 2,880 x 1,800 pixels. Apple has promoted its display stating that it is 67 percent brighter than previous models and consumes 30 percent less energy. When it comes to processor capacity, Apple scores more though XPS 15’s RAM is better.

The MacBook Pro 2016 has been incorporated with a quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost, which is significantly better than Dell XPS 15’s quad-core i5-7300HQ processor. However, Dell offers an 8GB RAM that is expandable up to 32GB. Fans expected the MacBook Pro 2016 to sport a better RAM than its current 16GB configuration, reviews Tech Times. The high-end Dell XPS 15 model has a 256GB SSD whereas the MacBook Pro 2016 comes with 256GB and 512GB SSD options.

The Dell XPS 15 laptop runs on Windows 10 and offers 97 watt-hour battery while the MacBook Pro 2016 runs on macOS Sierra and offers 76 watt-hour battery. Both have a 720p HD camera though the XPS 15 has a widescreen camera. The MacBook Pro 2016 has Bluetooth 4.2 compared to XPS 15’s Bluetooth 4.1. The Dell laptop has a highly responsive keyboard and trackpad whereas the MacBook Pro 2016 has a new Touch Bar.

When it comes to price, fans will be surprised by the difference. The Apple MacBook Pro 2016 price starts at US$2,499 (AU$3,300) and the Dell XPS 15 premium variant has a price tag of US$1,599 (AU$2,100). However, everything comes to individual tastes and preferences and what exactly people want their laptop to do.