Dell has just unveiled the new XPS 15, the latest edition of its much-loved laptop. According to the company, it is the "smallest 15-inch laptop on the planet." The XPS 15 has been considered as a formidable opponent for Apple's MacBook Pro with Retina. 

Last year's model was highly praised due to its powerful performance paired with a gorgeous display. However, it came with an expensive price tag and was marred by its mediocre battery life. Fortunately, Dell has made adjustments to the 2015 model. The laptop now comes with a lower starting price of $999. 

Dell's 15-inch laptop comes with a sleek design with the InfinityEdge display. Thanks to its near bezel-less design, the portable computer is packed into a 14-inch form factor. It is also thin and light, thanks to a machined aluminum lid and carbon fiber base. With the XPS 15 weighing 3.7 pounds, it is lighter and thinner than most laptops, including the MacBook Pro. 

The entry level model ($999) features a Full HD display with a 1080 x 1920 pixel screen resolution. It is powered by the sixth-generation Intel Core i3-6100H processor, the Intel HD Graphics 5300 and 8 GB of RAM. Memory-wise, it comes with 500 GB HDD and 32 GB of flash memory. 

The much higher-spec model comes with the UltraSharp 4K Ultra HD touch display with a 3840 x 2160 pixel screen resolution. It is powered by the sixth-generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 960M GPU and up to 32 GB of RAM. It also comes with 256 GB SSD but can be configured to have a higher capacity. 

According to Dell, the XPS 15 with SSD comes with an 84W battery, which translates to at least 17 hours of Web browsing. The XPS 15 with a mechanical hard drive will get a 56W battery. 

The laptop's 4K display also comes with 100 percent Adobe RGB color gamut. This translates to crisp, sharp details and rich colors. The display is also bright with a wide viewing angle. The higher spec'd model is suited for professionals, specifically those working in graphic design or photo editing. 

The XPS 15 comes with one Thunderbolt port (with support for USB Type-C), two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI output, and an SD card reader. 

Dell has once again impressed critics and consumers with its newest iteration of the XPS 15. Given its modern look, impressive specs and lower price tag, there is a possibility that the laptop can rise above its fiercest competitor, the MacBook Pro.