Microsoft Surface Pro 5 vs Dell XPS 15 (2017): Comparison between a highly-advanced hybrid and a traditional power-packed laptop

While the world eagerly awaits the Microsoft Surface Pro 5, there is another laptop that has become quite a rage. It’s none other than the Dell XPS 15 (2017), released in January this year.

The dell laptop runs on Windows 10 operating system and has a 16GB RAM. It is powered by a 2.8GHZ Intel Core i7-7700HQ CPU and 4GB Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050. The internal storage is of 512GB. This year’s XPS 15 models incorporate 7th-generation Core i3, i5 or i7 processors. The dual-core i3 model with an HD non-touch screen comes with integrated graphics, and starts at US$999 (AU$1,310 approx). It is available only in the US. In Australia, one only has the i7 option. The XPS display is extremely accurate and has a wide colour gamut.

According to CNET, Dell XPS 15 (2017) models with 1050 GPU have prices ranging from US$1,250 (AU$2,500 approx) to US$2,550 (AU$3,700). A 4K UHD Display would cost AU$3,000. Dell Australia is offering a further discount of AU$450 on the 4K model. The laptop has a 15.6-inch display with a screen resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels. The display is touch-enabled. The NVIDIA GTX 1050 graphics processor uses the latest Pascal architecture. This provides an exceptional gaming performance.

Pascal also has improved battery optimisation over its predecessor. The XPS 15 (2017) has a terrific screen, svelte design, premium build and comes with a full feature set. It has the latest processors from Intel and NVIDIA. Many experts have found the laptop to be much more sedate than multipurpose hybrids. However, it has all the power and features that cannot be packed into hybrids. Be it photo-editing, graphics work or gaming, the Dell laptop, according to many, surpasses even Apple MacBook Pro 2016 and HP Spectre x360.

The Dell XPS 15 (2017) laptop is also less-expensive than the Apple one. The seventh generation core processor contributes a lot towards the battery life of the device. However, the graphics processor is not VR-ready. Many have found the touch pad to be hyper-sensitive. The backlit keyboard is also a great addition. Set of connections include two USB 3.0, one USB-C which supports external monitors, HDMI out and a headphone jack. The speakers sound pretty cool. Meanwhile, the highly-advanced hybrid, Microsoft Surface Pro 5, could be the fastest from the Redmond tech giant.

It is believed to be coming with the all-new AMD Ryzen chip. Moreover, the hybrid will be the right platform to show off the power of Windows 10. It is also possible that the Surface Pro 5 will go with the Intel Kaby Lake architecture, or release both processors via two variants. It is expected to come in 4K UltraHD display. The screen could be the same 12.3 inches. Other rumoured specs include 16GB RAM, 512GB internal storage, highly-upgraded Surface Pen and wireless charging.

While the device is expected in October, Microsoft may surprise fans by releasing it right after the Windows 10 Creators Update in April. Stay tuned on IBT AU for more updates on Dell XPS 15 (2017) and Microsoft Surface Pro 5.