Apple iPhone 6S vs Samsung Galaxy S6

When Samsung unveiled its Galaxy S6 in March, it called it the most advanced smartphone in the world – a title which Apple says belongs to it following the launch of the iPhone 6S.

Both phones are aimed at the top-end of the device market, and feature high-res displays, formidable processing power, and impressive cameras.

The high-spec hardware is not the only indicator of the high-end nature of the phones – the entry-level Galaxy S6 (32GB) sells for R8,499 on Takealot, while the iPhone 6S (16GB) will retail for $649 (±R8,900) in the States.

With both companies claiming to have the “most advanced” smartphone in the world in 2015, we decided to compare the two devices to see how they stack up against each other.

Apple iPhone 6S vs Samsung Galaxy S6

Dimensions and display

Apple’s 6S features a 4.7″ Retina HD display, with a resolution of 1,334 x 750. The Galaxy S6 sports a 5.1″ QHD display, with a resolution of 2,560 × 1,440. This gives Samsung a pixel density of 577ppi, while Apple clocks in with 326ppi.

While Samsung’s screen may be technically superior, Apple introduced 3D Touch with its new smartphone – which allows users to apply varying degrees of pressure to the screen to select different actions. Vibration feedback is also given to the user through a taptic engine, depending on the strength of the screen push.

The iPhone 6S is slightly smaller than the S6, measuring 138.3 x 67.1 x 7.1 mm – while the Galaxy S6 measures 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm.

Both companies claim their phones are super-tough and made out of robust materials. The Galaxy S6 is made from a “special metal” which is 50% stronger than the metal in other high-end smartphones, while the phone’s screen is made of Gorilla Glass.

Apple has opted for a display covered by Ion-X glass – the best in the industry, according to Apple – and 7000 series aluminum for the body.

Hardware

In the hardware department, it is not easy to compare the two smartphones.

Samsung went to great lengths during the launch of the Galaxy S6 to detail the inner workings of the device, while Apple is known for not saying too much about its A(x) processors at events.

The Galaxy S6 runs off a quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 + quad-core 2.1GHz Cortex-A57 processor, 3GB of DDR4 RAM, Mali-T760 graphics, and a 2,550mAh battery.

The iPhone 6S is powered by Apple’s third-generation 64-bit A9 processor – which is a claimed 70% faster than the A8 in previous iPhones – while graphics are 90% faster and “console-class”.

Battery and RAM specifications have not been divulged, but Engadget states the iPhone’s battery is a 1,715mAh unit.

Both phones have LTE and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Camera

The S6 and 6S are closely matched in the camera department, with both devices featuring 5MP front-facing units.

Rear cameras on the Galaxy and iPhone are 16MP and 12MP, respectively, and can shoot video as follows:

Galaxy S6:

• 4K – 30fps
• 1080p – 60fps
• 720p – 120fps

iPhone 6S:

• 4K – 30fps
• 1080p – 60fps (Slo-mo support 120fps)
• 720p – 30fps (Slo-mo support 240fps)

Samsung’s S6 camera is always-on, according to the company, which means users can take photos without needing to open the camera application.

Apple is punting its new iOS 9 Live Photos feature as a selling point, which allows users to take a photo while simultaneously capturing the moments just before and after the image with movement and sound – a smooth-flowing GIF-like piece of media with sound, from the demo we have seen.

Both phones feature image stabilisation and auto-focus.

Versions and pricing

Apple’s new phones come in 16GB, 64GB, and 128GB versions, while the Galaxy S6 comes in 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB models.

In South Africa, all three versions of the iPhone 6S are expected to go on sale, while most local retailers punt the 32GB S6 model in SA.

The S6 32GB sells for around R8,499, while the 64GB model is available on Orange for R9,500.

US pricing for the Apple iPhone 6S is as follows

• 16GB – $649
• 64GB – $749
• 128GB – $849

Specifications

The specifications of the 6S and S6 are detailed in the table below.

Samsung Galaxy S6

Galaxy S6

Galaxy S6

Apple iPhone 6S

iPhone 6S

iPhone 6S

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