There is no doubt that the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S are the two biggest smartphone competitors currently available on the market. Both offer phablet variants as well, with the Galaxy S7 Edge competing directly against the iPhone 6S Plus. So how do these two premium smartphone contenders stack up? Here is a rundown of the relative qualities of the two devices.
Galaxy S7 vs S7 Edge vs iPhone 6S vs 6S Plus
Display
There is no doubt that the Galaxy S7 has the superior display of the two devices, and this is likely to be behind Apple’s apparent decision to include AMOLED technology in future iPhone releases. But for the time being, the quad HD Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are superior to the full HD iPhone 6S phablet and the 750 x 1,334 pixel resolution of the standard iPhone 6S. Additionally, both the Galaxy S7 and and Galaxy S7 Edge benefit from larger displays, meaning that those wishing for the best visual output will tend to opt for the Samsung offerings.
Pressure-sensitive
Both the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus offer the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch technology that debuted last year. However, this is not shared by either of the Samsung offerings, with the Galaxy range yet to have received a similar innovation. This technology is linked with forthcoming Samsung releases, but for the time being Apple has the advantage in this department.
Processor
Most of the iPhone 6S releases are armed with a dual-core 1.84 GHz Twister processor, while the Galaxy S7 handsets are powered by quad-core 2.3 GHz Mongoose and quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53. This makes the Samsung devices sound considerably more powerful, but it is worth bearing in mind that Apple has always hugely benefited from its unique combination of proprietary hardware and software.
Memory
Again, there is no variation between the Samsung and Apple models here, with both of the Apple releases having received 2GB of internal RAM, with the Galaxy S7 and and Galaxy S7 Edge receiving double this, featuring 4GB of RAM. Certainly Samsung’s devices have the edge in terms of pure specs, but again the proprietary hardware and software combination ensures that the iPhone 6S performs admirably.
Storage
Samsung has yet to release a Galaxy S device that possesses 128GB of storage as standard, and this means that the existing Galaxy S7 releases trail behind the iPhone range to a certain extent. Apple released a premium version of the iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus which featured 128GB of internal storage, and there are rumors that this will be doubled when the iPhone 7 is released. Samsung has chosen to place emphasis elsewhere, but may rectify this in future Galaxy S releases.
Micro SD
Samsung reintroduced the much missed micro SD expansion system when the Galaxy S7 was released, but Apple has yet to follow suit with this in the iPhone range. Neither the iPhone 6S nor the iPhone 6S Plus features micro SD, with Apple preferring to offer additional memory as standard. In general, the market-leading Apple has showed little enthusiasm for enabling consumers to physically customize their devices.
Cameras
Technically, the cameras included in both the Galaxy S7 range and the iPhone 6S models are identical in capabilities, but scratch beneath the surface and there are a few differences between the two. Firstly, it is worth noting that the iPhone 6S Plus has an advanced optical image stabilization system that is not included in the smaller iPhone 6S, and which has won particular plaudits as being a market-leading innovation.
Meanwhile, the Galaxy S7 has just introduced the dual-pixel system, which insures that the Korean manufacturer’s devices are capable of improved shooting in darker conditions.
In terms of the picture quality generally produced by the four devices, this can be considered pretty similar, with all four featuring 12-megapixel rear-facing cameras, and five-megapixel front-facing snappers.
| iPhone 6S | iPhone 6S Plus | Galaxy S7 | Galaxy S7 Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm | 158.2 x 77.9 x 7.3 mm | 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm | 142.4 x 69.6 x 7.9 mm |
| Weight | 143g | 192g | 152g | 152g |
| Display | 4.7 inches, 750 x 1334 pixels | 4.7-inches, full HD | 5.1-inches, quad HD | 5.1-inches, quad HD |
| Memory | 2GB | 2GB | 4GB | 4GB |
| Rear-facing camera | 12 MP | 12MP + OIS | 12 MP, dual-pixel | 12 MP, dual-pixel |
| Front-facing camera | 5 MP | 5 MP | 5 MP | 5 MP |
| Battery | 1,715 mAh | 2,750 mAh | 3,000 mAh | 3,600 mAh |
| Storage | 16/64/128 GB | 16/64/128 GB | 32/64GB | 32/64GB |
| Pressure-sensitive | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Wireless charging | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Video recording | 2,160p @ 30fps | 2,160p @ 30fps | 2,160p @ 30fps | 2,160p @ 30fps |
| Micro SD | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Processor | Dual-core 1.84 GHz | Dual-core 1.84 GHz | Eight-core 2.3 GHz | Eight-core 2.3 GHz |
Video recording
Video recording is pretty much identical in all fall devices, with each of these smartphone competitors capable of capturing 2160p at 30 frames per second.
Wireless charging
It is widely anticipated that Apple will introduce wireless charging to the iPhone range in the foreseeable future, but at the time of writing this remains absent from the iPhone 6S. Both the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge have embraced wireless charging, so Apple has some catching up to do in this area.
Battery
This is one area where Apple has been particularly criticized, with the suggestion being made perennially that the iPhone 6S range delivers a rather paltry battery life compared to competitors. Indeed, features non-removable 1,715 mAh batteries and the iPhone 6S Plus is armed with a 2,750 mAh cell, while the Galaxy S7 is armed with a non-removable Li-Ion 3,000 mAh battery, and the larger phablet has a non-removable Li-Ion 3,600 mAh battery included.
Thus, it is not hugely surprising that the Galaxy S7 has has outperformed the Apple unit in battery life ycle tests, and Apple must surely address this in the forthcoming iPhone 7 release.
Operating system
Samsung continues to rely on the Android operating system, which is favored by some fans of mobile devices for its increased customization and flexibility. However, iOS 9 continues to receive positive reviews, and the feeling persists that this is somewhat slicker than its great Android rival. Nonetheless, iOS is often criticized for being something of a buttoned-down system, with Apple compelling users to follow certain provisions and parameters that can be considered onerous.
Nonetheless, crackers and hackers continue to release jailbreaks for the iOS operating system, so it is debatable how much of a problem this is in reality.
