Apple iPhone 5s vs Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Introduction

Timing is everything in the industry! One moment, one smartphone is being praised with acclaim, and the next, another newer smartphone is taking the spotlight – seemingly taking away the fanfare surrounding the previous one. Well folks, that’s exactly what’s going on in the space right now, as the iPhone 5s arrived on the scene a week ago, only to be challenged by the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 this week. Heading into that crucial holiday time frame, there’s no arguing that these two are vying for business from consumers, so let’s dissect them both to find out how they perform against one another.

Design

Honestly, there’s nothing really new with the designs of both, as the iPhone 5s recycles the design of its predecessor – while the Note 3 receives a subtle redesign with its faux-leather rear casing. Regardless of that, it’s the iPhone 5s that continues to have the premium attachment with its design, which is mainly attributed to its sturdier brushed aluminum casing. Although Samsung mixes it up with a new textured rear casing, accented by the stitched pattern around the sides, the Note 3 is still a plastic device at heart, which doesn’t have the same luxury feel as the iPhone 5s. And when it comes to size, there’s no arguing that the iPhone 5s is considerably more form fitting in the hand and less taxing in the pockets than the ginormous Note 3.

Diving deeper into their arsenal, we really need to point out the Note 3’s extensive offerings – it’s just packed to the roof with so many goodies. Specifically, it features an IR blaster that turns it into a universal remote, the S Pen stylus for precise interaction with the Note 3, and a removable rear cover that grants us access to its battery and microSD card slot. There are still many other small details too, like its microUSB 3.0 port that exemplifies its features set. In contrast, the most noteworthy thing coming along with the iPhone 5s is its new biometric Touch ID finger print sensor, which is accurate and provides us with yet another security option.

Display

Going off their size, it’s a battle between big and small in the comparison again, as the Note 3’s 5.7” display easily dwarfs the iPhone 5s’ 4” display. Heck, the entire body of the iPhone 5s can fit within the Note 3’s display by itself! To be exact, it’s a 4-inch 640 x 1136 Retina Display on the iPhone 5s, and a significantly larger 5.7-inch 1080 x 1920 (1080p) Super AMOLED screen in the Note 3. Naturally, the detail superiority goes to the Note 3, but it’s only evident when we look at the two very closely – just because our eyes can’t tell the difference from a normal distance.

Each has their strengths and weakness, naturally, but when it comes to outdoor visibility, it’s the iPhone 5s that continues to be the winner. And when it comes to colors, the iPhone 5s’ display produces the more realistic colors – whereas it’s over saturated on the Note 3 in the default mode. Putting these two side-by-side in a store, though, we certainly feel that the Note 3 would get more looks due to its iridescent glow and sharp looks.

Furthermore, it’s worth mentioning that there’s more tech involved with the Note 3’s display. In fact, it’s able to track our finger, or the S Pen, while we’re hovering it over the display. It definitely has some benefits, like in the web browser, where the S Pen is able to mimic the function of a mouse cursor.