Apple is about to release the iPhone 6s, and the next generation smartphone will be up against its perennial Samsung rivals. The already available Galaxy Note 5 will be up against the iPhone 6s Plus, while the Galaxy S6, which is something of a veteran having been released back in April, competes with the iPhone 6s smartphone. So how do the four devices stack up against one another? Here is a rundown of all the vital statistics.
iPhone 6s vs iPhone 6s Plus vs Galaxy Note 5 vs Galaxy S6
Display
The Samsung Galaxy series has typically outperformed the iPhone in recent years in this department, and will continue to do so even after the iPhone 6s is released. The iPhone 6s Plus features a full HD display of 5.5-inches, meaning that it handles 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, while the 4.7-inch iPhone 6s smartphone screen delivers a resolution of 1,334 x 750.
Both of these devices fail to compete with the Galaxy equivalents. Both the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 feature 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution, with the smaller smartphone-sized Galaxy S6 model featuring a 5.1-inch display, and the Galaxy Note 5 based around a 5.7-inch screen. Advantage Samsung.
Processor
Apple has included a new Apple A9 processor in the both of the new iPhone 6s models, although full details regarding the specifications of this processor are not yet available. But what can be said is that Apple will have to develop its A9 processors significantly in order for them to match up with the Samsung equivalents.
Both the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 feature pseudo-octa-core processors which are in fact both built on two bundles of quad-core units. Both the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 are armed with Exynos 7420 (2.1GHz and 1.5GHz, octa-core) processors, ensuring outstanding performance for the Galaxy range. But Apple has always punched above its weight with this combination of proprietary hardware and software, and this will continue with the release of the iPhone 6s.
Memory
This is another area where Apple has declined to release the precise specs for the iPhone 6s at the time of writing, but we can nonetheless be pretty certain of the RAM memory in the iPhone 6s. It is widely expected that Apple will arm the iPhone 6s series with 2 GB of RAM across both devices, effectively doubling the memory available to the iPhone range.
Should this 2 GB figure be correct, then Apple will still trail behind Samsung in this area. The Galaxy S6 is fitted with 3 GB of RAM, while the Galaxy Note 5 features 4 GB of memory. Again, the iPhone typically requires less memory than the Galaxy series due to a relative lack of bloatware and its aforementioned proprietary hardware and software combination. But the Galaxy range still unquestionably impresses in this department.
Storage
Both the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus come in 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB variants. This is notable because the Galaxy Note 5 has not been imbued with a 128 GB model. This is perhaps a surprising decision considering the quad HD display included with the Galaxy Note 5, and also the fact that this is effectively the premium Samsung model in terms of specs. Nonetheless, the Korean corporation has decided against expanding the storage of the Galaxy Note 5 to 128 GB in the existing generation, even though both of the iPhone 6s units feature this option.
However, the smaller smartphone the Galaxy S6 does offer a 128 GB option for those consumers who require a huge amount of storage space.
Cameras
There was a lot of speculation about the camera in the iPhone 6s in the build-up to the release of the smartphone. And the opinion of some analysts was ultimately vindicated when it was announced by Apple that the new iPhone 6s camera will be a 12-megapixel unit. This represents a 50 per cent increase on the last generation in both the iPhone 6s smartphone and the iPhone 6s Plus phablet.
Nonetheless, Samsung still has the edge in the camera department in pure spec terms. The rear-facing camera in both the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 is capable of 16-megapixels. Apple has attempted to improve the image quality delivered by the iPhone 6s in low-light conditions by including new technology that enables the sensor to capture 300 per cent more light. This means that the battle between the Galaxy range and iPhone 6s in terms of cameras will be much closer this time round.
With regard to front-facing cameras, all units feature 5-megapixel snappers, indicating the importance that both Apple and Samsung place on being able to produce high-quality selfies.
Battery
The iPhone 6s smartphone has a significantly smaller battery than the Galaxy S6, with the Apple offering featuring a 1,715 mAh unit compared to the 2,550 mAh cell in the Galaxy S6. Apple claims that the power saving functionality included in iOS 9 will ensure that the iPhone 6s battery lasts for approximately 10 hours, though, and this is comparable with the performance of the Galaxy S6. But one can still expect the Samsung unit to have a slight edge in this department.
It is trickier to compare the two phablets, as Apple has declined to release the precise battery information regarding the iPhone 6s Plus. Again, an approximate battery life of 10 hours is to be expected, which would compare reasonably with the Galaxy Note 5. The 3,000 mAh cell in the Samsung tablet lasts for around 11 hours.
Price
Off-contract, the iPhone 6s is cheaper than its Galaxy S6 rival, at $649 compared to $679.99 but the Galaxy Note 5 is more affordable than the iPhone 6s Plus, costing $699.99 compared to the $749 price tag of the iPhone 6s Plus.
Conclusion
In summary, Samsung has carved out a reputation in recent years for packing its devices with outstanding specs, and the current generation of smartphones is no exception to this rule. Undoubtedly, the two Samsung devices outrank the Apple counterparts, but Apple has always concentrated on ensuring that the iPhone user experience is superior to its raw statistics. As we await the release of the iPhone 6s, it remains to be seen whether this trend continues with this next generation handset.
