So, you think the iPhone is expensive? Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6 vs One M9 global price deathmatch

posted by Daniel P. / Apr 02, 2015, 5:32 AM

Front view
Side view

Apple iPhone 6

Dimensions

5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 inches

138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm

Weight

4.55 oz (129 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6

Dimensions

5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 inches

143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm

Weight

4.87 oz (138 g)

HTC One M9

Dimensions

5.69 x 2.74 x 0.38 inches

144.6 x 69.7 x 9.61 mm

Weight

5.54 oz (157 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge

Dimensions

5.59 x 2.76 x 0.28 inches

142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm

Weight

4.66 oz (132 g)

Apple iPhone 6

Dimensions

5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 inches

138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm

Weight

4.55 oz (129 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6

Dimensions

5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 inches

143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm

Weight

4.87 oz (138 g)

HTC One M9

Dimensions

5.69 x 2.74 x 0.38 inches

144.6 x 69.7 x 9.61 mm

Weight

5.54 oz (157 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6 edge

Dimensions

5.59 x 2.76 x 0.28 inches

142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm

Weight

4.66 oz (132 g)

To see the phones in real size or compare them with other models, visit our Visual Phone Size Comparison page

Despite evidence to the contrary, the iPhone still passes for the most expensive popular handset you can buy. A lot of times it's been called "overpriced," and Android handsets given as a value alternative. Exactly how much do the freshest Android flagships cost, when compared to the iPhone 6 in the same market?

Let's find out, digging up the retail, unsubsidized prices for the basic 16 GB (iPhone 6) or 32 GB versions in 10 big markets, as when it comes to carriers, they usually run for the same $200-$300 with a contract, depending on the model. We are taking the official Apple, Samsung and HTC pricing for each country here, though you can sometimes find those flagships for less on Amazon, for instance. All prices have been converted to their USD equivalent for easier comparison.

Apple iPhone 6 Samsung Galaxy S6 HTC One M9 Galaxy S6 edge

US $649 $679 $650 $780

UK $799 $887 $860 $1034

Germany $756 $756 $810 $919

France $767 $810 $810 $968

Italy $788 $799 $802 $962

Russia $933 $933 $822 $1086

Brazil $1110 $920 $1136 $1136

Japan $732 n/a n/a n/a

China $853 $889 $773 $982

Australia $755 $755 $831 $868

As you can see, the iPhone 6 ranges in price from $649 in the US, to the whopping $1110 (yes, Brazil did it again). The Galaxy S6, however, is more expensive than the iPhone 6 in most countries, or equal in price in the rest, and don't even get us started on the HTC One M9 pricing range.

All in all, American users have it good with their flagship smartphone pricing, both carrier and retail, while BRICS countries like Brazil, Russia and China, seem to have too many people with too much windfall disposable income that warrant the up to 30% markup on the most popular flagships for the season, compared to the US.

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128 Comments

1. Awesoman64

Posts: 292; Member since: Mar 18, 2015

Not bad pricing from Apple considering its an investment to the Apple ecosystem. S6 is also quite priced well since the beastly specs makes it worthy of its price. The M9? A tad more expensive than the iPhone 6? Plus with its poorly designed camera and overheating? I say no.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 5:35 AM 17

6. seven7dust unregistered

whats up with brazil ? why are Apple/samsung so expensive in brazil ? any brazilians here to explain ? HTC is 300$ cheaper , thats a lot.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 5:44 AM 5

9. Awesoman64

Posts: 292; Member since: Mar 18, 2015

I heard even videogame consoles are expensive. Must be trading. I pity you :(

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 5:46 AM 0

114. LUCASTC

Posts: 2; Member since: Apr 02, 2015

A xbox one cust 2400 R$ ( 800 Dolars).

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 3:10 PM 0

19. timukh

Posts: 295; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

I believe it is due to their currency and the taxes on imported electronics. Brazil has always been a costly place for gadgets.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 6:00 AM 4

53. ShaikhJGI

Posts: 361; Member since: Jan 10, 2014

Brazil? You must have knew the Prices in India. Don't know why PA skipped on Indian pricing. Iphone Starts at $1050-16GB, $1220-64GB & $1400-128GB Whereas Samsung S6 is $800-32GB, $885-64GB and $985-128GB. S6 Edge $900-32GB, $985-64GB and $1085-128GB. Not a bad pricing I must say from Samsung but Apple charges double premium than US for expansion also too bad :(

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 7:27 AM 13

60. sergiobr

Posts: 718; Member since: Feb 25, 2013

Present ! Lot of taxes and money to politicians lol. Nobody complains ... the price rises. My Note was very expensive too !

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 7:54 AM 0

61. sergiobr

Posts: 718; Member since: Feb 25, 2013

We prefer Samsung by the quality and a lot of "people who like to show off" using iphone. Nokia here overheats, Motorola always broken, HTC you can´t find it, and the rest ... China on

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 8:03 AM 0

113. LUCASTC

Posts: 2; Member since: Apr 02, 2015

Because there isn't any HTC phone here. Only sending from another country.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 3:07 PM 1

119. Sauce5 unregistered

I go to Brazil after every iPhone launch and come back with $3000 profits. The plain pays for itself. Sometimes airport security is sketchy when you bring 3-4 iPhones, but most of the time, its a walk in the park with big bucks as a return.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 7:38 PM 0

22. maherk

Posts: 6999; Member since: Feb 10, 2012

People complain about the price of the iPhone because it is overpriced for the specs it offers, even if those specs do the iPhone well, they are still cheaper than the components found on other flagships. Plus, you can't compare the prices of a 6 months old smartphone to the S6 and M9, to be fair, the article should include the initial pricing of the iPhone when it was released.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 6:08 AM 31

26. Neros

Posts: 1016; Member since: Dec 19, 2014

Iphone base models have 16GB of internal storage and 1GB of RAM. PA is being silly once again. Yes, iphones are overpriced and expensive.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 6:12 AM 26

27. 14545

Posts: 1835; Member since: Nov 22, 2011

That's my thoughts. That's just bias plain and simple to be comparing phones that aren't even fully on the market, or on the market a week to ones that have been for 6 months. If the 2 month prices after launch are the same, sure. Otherwise, they are just trying to start a flame war.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 6:14 AM 5

42. seven7dust unregistered

it's running a different O.S so you can't directly compare specs and performance. your right about one thing , the 16 GB memory thing is bad on Apple's part , even die hard Apple fans like John gruber of daring fireball gave them flak for it ,but most people do buy the 64 GB Version anyway, which has the same price ratio. still good on samsung to make 32 GB the standard. I think the 6s will fix that mistake, but you have to give samsung the credit.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 6:56 AM 1

58. Neros

Posts: 1016; Member since: Dec 19, 2014

Yes, I can compare them. Samsung gives you more hardware for the same cash. In apple you pay more to get "apple's magic". Ipad air 2 has 2GB of ram, go figure.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 7:41 AM 6

64. cnour

Posts: 2305; Member since: Sep 11, 2014

The OS also has a price, no?

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 8:42 AM 0

102. Niva.

Posts: 440; Member since: Jan 05, 2015

Not really, Apple sells the device with the OS. These other companies take the free Android, repackage it, add a bunch of BS to it and sell it with the device. Of the two obviously Apple invests more resources into OS development, but it's also allowing it to push it's own hardware and software. Overall the OSs are free in these things.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 12:14 PM 1

126. Aircrackng

Posts: 56; Member since: Jan 09, 2015

Apple push its own hardware who told you that? Samsung makes their processors and much of their hardware. When it comes to laptops they don't manufacture anything anymore its all Intel nvidia etc. People still believe Apple makes all their hardware??? Hardly.

posted on Apr 03, 2015, 6:05 AM 0

73. Awesoman64

Posts: 292; Member since: Mar 18, 2015

The article was to tell you that the iPhone 6 isnt the only expensive flagship. Read carefully.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 9:55 AM 1

80. TechieXP1969

Posts: 14967; Member since: Sep 25, 2013

But to be fair, Apple prices stay the same until the next model comes out. Yes the iPhone 6 is 6 months old, but the price isn't lowered until the next model. Considering the iPhone is using 2012 hardware, it should be even cheaper.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 10:23 AM 0

92. nodes

Posts: 1162; Member since: Mar 06, 2014

what is with 2012 hardware? even the single core performance from S6 can't match the one on iphone 6's, it's barely half of it. and not to mention the performance of the latest iphone is always really good, it's by far the fastest phone on the market. it has one of the best screen, one of the best camera, what is 2012 about it? are you lack of information about hardware? more corezzz more performance?? OS really matters.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 10:53 AM 2

127. Aircrackng

Posts: 56; Member since: Jan 09, 2015

Just to be accurate the iPhone 6 and 6 plus were really only the first or second time it has performed far above most high end android devices, it did make me buy one though because I typically go for the best performers and it intrigued me. Secondly, single core benchmarks are semi useless as 99.9% of apps that require a lot of processing are already hyperthreaded enabled for multicore cpus in which it will certainly be outperformed. Honestly I buy the newest of both Android and iPhone as they come out (Androids less frequently) they both are great performers and are worth the money spent. As far as the operating system goes I prefer Apple for my daily driver phone and android for more of a desktop like usage like penetration testing.

posted on Apr 03, 2015, 6:18 AM 0

63. mat87

Posts: 4; Member since: Mar 12, 2013

Not Bad?!!! 6 months on the market, standard iP is 16GB of storage. What a biased piece of cr... from PA. AGAIN

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 8:32 AM 1

69. SuperNova

Posts: 649; Member since: Jan 15, 2015

What do you expect? Phonearena is acting weird these days. I doubt this article is fully paid by Apple again. Such a shame from a globally recognized tech site... :(

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 9:14 AM 0

118. Scorpion67 unregistered

"Not bad pricing from Apple " WHAT!?

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 5:10 PM 0

2. barcas

Posts: 59; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

The iphone is no longer brand new, the other 2 are not actually released yet. You should take the iphone prices on its release day or do the same test when the 6s comes out & the other 2 are 6 months in.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 5:37 AM 19

4. FluffyBled unregistered

Agreed! But compared to the M9 ... it sounds reasonable xD!

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 5:39 AM 1

7. Awesoman64

Posts: 292; Member since: Mar 18, 2015

The article is to point out that the iPhone 6 isnt the only expensive flagship out there. Plus the 6s isnt released yet so it would be fair.

posted on Apr 02, 2015, 5:44 AM 0

25. barcas

Posts: 59; Member since: Sep 01, 2014

Yet this test still isnt fair as the other 2 have brand new prices where the iphone is 6 months older so has a price on that age, therefore its not comparative due to the different ages. So what i meant was if they do the test when the 6s comes out it will be the reverse of what they have done here. Oh yes & im not doubting at all that the other 2 are not expensive