Dell XPS 15 vs Macbook Air 2016 news: A comparison between a current crowd favorite and the future one

DELL XPS 15 LaptopDELL U.S.

The Dell XPS 15 has been making a lot of noise lately because of its stunning 15-inch 4K display, a powerful processor and a very premium look. It is actually boasting that it is 59 percent thinner than the MacBook Pro. However, many are also looking forward to the latest MacBook Air that is said to be unveiled at an Apple event happening on March 21 or after the Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

If looks could kill, the Dell XPS 15 has the right to do it. The almost bezel-free design of the latest offering from Dell has brought the gold standard up a notch. The 1920 x 1080 pixel display resolution of the InfinityEdge screen is already great but an option can still offer a 3840 x 2160 pixel Ultra HD resolution.

The base model, which starts at $999.99, offers a 6th Gen Intel Core i3, Intel HD Graphics 530, 8 GB of RAM, 500GB HDD plus a 32GB SSD, while the highest model is pegged at $1,779.99 and includes a 6th Gen Intel Core i7, NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M with 2GB GDDR, 16 GB of RAM and 512GB SSD. Now this does not include a 4K display yet, which will cost an additional $350. A variant with an Intel Core i5 is also available while the memory can be upgraded up to 32GB in all variants. The operating system is Windows 10 Home 64-bit version, which can be upgraded to a Pro version.

Dell did not think twice with regard to the ports -- they have put in all the goodies. The XPS 15 has an HDMI port, two USB 3.0 with PowerShare and a Thunderbolt 3. A card reader, a Kensington Lock Slot, widescreen HD (720p) webcam, dual-array digital microphones, and a full-size backlit chicklet keyboard are also included.

The body is made out of a CNC machined aluminum and a Carbon fiber composite palm rest. The 4K display is protected by Corning Gorilla glass.

Going now to the MacBook Air 2016 model, it is rumored that the refreshed one will have several display sizes. Some say there will be two while others say three display variants, with the following sizes possibilities: 11- and 13-inch or 12- and 15-inch displays.

MacBook Air 2014Apple

It is projected that the upcoming Apple laptop will be slimmer and lighter, as well as have the latest Skylake processor to make it more powerful yet power efficient. A USB Type-C port, 4K display, and a higher RAM are also expected. Other features that are highly expected of the upcoming MacBook Air 2016 is its integration of Touch ID and Force Touch.

It is also rumored that the upcoming MacBook Air may undergo a major overhaul in design since it has looked the same since it was launched.

Another rumor going around the Net is the MacBook Air 2016 may never materialize anymore. Apple is said to be trimming down its tablet and MacBook lineups with its introduction of the 12-inch MacBook and 12.9-inch iPad Pro.