Apple has finally announced the release of the iPhone 6s, with the smartphone expected to hit the stores on September 25. The Apple handset will be going up against the Galaxy S6, the flagship offering from Samsung and Apple’s most obvious rival in the marketplace. So how do the two smartphones prepared to one another? Here is a rundown of all the key details that we know about the iPhone 6s and Galaxy S6 at the time of writing.
Construction
The Galaxy S6 will always have its work cut out in this department, as the iPhone range is probably the most iconic piece of consumer hardware in the world. Apple has built its reputation by producing devices that are particularly impressive in terms of physical construction. And the iPhone 6s is no exception to this rule, and also features improved durability thanks to the inclusion of series 7000 aluminum. Certainly Samsung has closed the gap in this department, but the iPhone is still the most sought-after smartphone in the world, and this won’t change with the iPhone 6s.
Size and Weight
This is not too much difference between these two devices in terms of size and weight. The iPhone 6s is somewhat the more compact of the two devices, with measurements of 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 inches. By comparison the Galaxy S6 consists of dimensions of 5.59 x 2.75 x 0.27 inches. The iPhone 6s is marginally heavier than the Galaxy S6, but this is literally by the order of a couple of grams.
Display
Samsung has particularly specialized in producing high-quality displays in recent years, especially since it became the world’s largest seller of television sets back in 2008. So we could naturally expect the Galaxy S6 to excel in this department, but the gap between the premium Samsung smartphone and the iPhone 6s should be considered something of a concern for apple.
It was widely expected that Apple would improve the screen quality in the iPhone 6s. But the consumer electronics giant has confirmed that the iPhone 6s will retain the display resolution from the last generation iPhone 6. This means that we still haven’t seen a smartphone-sized full HD handset from Apple as of yet, and this really means that the quality of the iPhone 6s screen will pale in comparison to the Samsung offering.
The Galaxy S6 has an outstanding quad HD display, delivering a screen resolution of 2,560 x 1,440 pixels. By comparison, the iPhone 6s only features a screen resolution of 1,334 x 750 pixels, and a simple piece of arithmetic would tell you that this is nearly half the quotient offered in the flagship Samsung handset.
Not only is the Galaxy S6 superior in terms of the screen resolution, but it also features the larger display. The 5.1-inch screen included in the Galaxy S6 is significantly larger than the 4.7-inch equivalent in the iPhone 6s, and this makes the flagship Samsung handset a massive winner in this department.
| iPhone 6s | Galaxy S6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 4.7-inches | 5.1-inches |
| Resolution | 1,334 x 750 pixels | 2,560 x 1,440 pixels |
| Processor | Apple A9 (clock speed unknown) | Exynos (2.1GHz and 1.5GHz, octa-core) |
| RAM | N/K, but probably 2 GB | 3 GB |
| Storage | 16 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB | 32 GB, 64 GB, 128 GB |
| Rear-facing Camera | 12-megapixels | 16-megapixels |
| Front-facing Camera | 5-megapixels | 5-megapixels |
| Battery | 1,715 mAh | 2,550 mAh |
| Weight | 0.31 pounds | 0.3 pounds |
| Dimensions in inches | 5.44 by 2.64 by 0.28 | 5.59 x 2.75 x 0.27 |
| Starting Price | $649 | $679.99 |
Memory and Storage
While Samsung has made the strange decision not to produce a 1209 GB version of the Galaxy Note 5, this does not apply to the Galaxy S6, which matches Apple in this area. There had been speculation ahead of the release of the Apple iPhone 6s that the consumer electronics giant could consider producing a 256 GB version of the device, or at least allow consumers to upgrade to this memory quotient via micro SD.
But this has not come to fruition, and there is very little distinction between the two devices in terms of storage. Certainly the premium version of both the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6s deliver 128 GB.
Apple has yet to provide the RAM memory details for the iPhone 6s, but it seems a certainty that Apple will close the gap on the Galaxy S series. It is widely anticipated that Apple will have included 2 GB of RAM in the iPhone 6s, and this would ensure that there is merely a 1 GB gap between the two smartphones.
Considering that Apple has always benefited greatly from its collaboration between proprietary hardware and software, this means that the performance of the iPhone range may improve significantly in this generation.
Camera
Apple has massively improved the camera in the iPhone 6s, slashing the gulf between the two handsets in terms of megapixel rating. Apple has upgraded the iPhone 6s to a 12-megapixel unit, and considering the vastly improved low-light shooting that the iPhone 6s also offers, it looks as if there will be a real battle between the two handsets in terms of photographic capabilities.
Processor
One of the major boasts that Apple made during its September 9 unveiling of the iPhone was the suggestion that the new iPhone processor is a vast improvement over previous iterations of the series. Apple keeps information on the iPhone so quiet that we still don’t actually know what processor will be included in the device, except to say that it will be an improved A9 unit.
But we do know that Apple claims that this processor will deliver 70 percent improved processing capabilities, and 90 percent faster graphics. It is thought that this will make the iPhone 6s a gaming powerhouse in particular, and it seems clear that Apple has delivered a package that will seriously rival the 2.1 GHz Exynos processor included in the Galaxy S6.
Battery
The iPhone 6s features a significantly smaller battery than the Galaxy S6, and although Apple claims that power saving functionality will increase battery lifespan in the iPhone series, this is still something of a disappointment. This is one area where we do know the precise figures in the Apple handset, with the corporation having already confirmed that the iPhone 6s will contain a 1,715mAh unit. By way of comparison, the Galaxy S6 is based on a 2,550mAh cell.
Price
Considering that Apple devices sometimes have the reputation for being a little pricey, it is interesting to note that the iPhone 6s is launching at a lower price point that the Galaxy S6. Off-contract, it will be possible to purchase the iPhone 6s for $649, while the Galaxy S6 retails at $30 more than this at present.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the iPhone 6s certainly delivers an outstanding smartphone package, but the one weakness of the handset is its relatively poor display. This is certainly an area where Samsung will emphasize the superiority of the Galaxy S6, and consumers that particularly value screen quality will certainly opt for the Android handset. However, the superior built quality, new features and improved specifications of the iPhone 6s, coupled with its cheaper price point, will surely ensure that the smartphone once more performs outstandingly well.
