Will Apple’s Next MacBook Pro Have A 4K Screen Like Dell XPS 15?

Apple isn’t going to let their MacBook Pro line slip while Dell and Microsoft just released notebooks that definitely steal the thunder away from the 2015 version of their most powerful notebook line. Many expect both new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks that will blow away the competition.

This summer, GottaBeMobile wrote an article on why one should wait for the 2016 MacBook Pro.

“The 2016 MacBook Pro will no doubt include yet another performance boost over the 2015 model, but that’s not the main reason as to why you should wait for the next refresh. The real reason is because of the new 12-inch MacBook that released earlier this year.”

The article adds that since this device comes with a USB-C port, has an improved style (when compared to the MacBook Pro), and shows other improvements, it predicts how the new MacBook Pro will look, feel, and operate. Some have complained about the lack of ports on the new MacBook, but others have said that it represents the future of laptops.

One feature that is certain to be a part of the new MacBook Pro lineup is the inclusion of Intel’s latest 6th-generation Skylake processors. Digital Trends details the improvements in the new processors.

“As Intel’s Skylake processors start to find their way into more systems, they’ll bring faster clock speeds to a wider array of systems than ever before. But Skylake also brings with it a rich new set of features and improvements over Haswell [5th-generation].”

Digital Trends adds that the Skylake processors will give users up to 30 percent more battery life, better use of RAM, and are better suited for overclocking. The 6th-generation Skylake processors have just been released in new devices such as the Surface Pro 4, the Surface Book, and the Dell XPS 15.

Skylake processors also offer better support for 4K displays, and many are hoping that the MacBook Pro (at least the 15-inch version) will finally be upgraded with a 4K display. Apple’s current 15-inch MacBook Pro has a 2880×1800 resolution display, which amounts to about 220 pixels-per-inch. That was considered groundbreaking two years ago, but is currently behind such devices as the Surface Book and the Dell XPS 15, both which display 267 PPI.

While a 4K screen would be great on the 13-inch MacBook Pro, it is not expected. However, at least a small resolution bump is. The current 13-inch Pro has a 2560 x 1600 pixel resolution screen, which amounts to 227 PPI. It was the first 13-inch to display so many pixels, but that was three years ago. It’s time for Apple to catch up and, most likely, they will.

The MacBook Pro isn’t the only device Apple will soon upgrade. Many are expecting the announcement of the 2016 MacBook Air any month now. The current MacBook Air units are behind the times, especially in terms of their 1440 x 900 pixel resolution displays. It is believed that the new screens will see a Retina upgrade to at least match the resolution of the new MacBook, which has a 2,304 x 1440 pixel resolution display.

For the past six or seven years, Apple has absolutely led the notebook field. However, Windows 10 has made PC machines relevant again, and new laptops by Microsoft and Dell could put an end to Apple’s reign. Are you going to buy the new MacBook Pro when it comes out, or will you be one of the many buying a Surface Pro, Surface Book, or Dell XPS machine? Let us know in the comments section.

[Featured photo by Justin Sullivan / Getty Images]