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Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Posted: 02 Apr 2015, 03:35 , posted by John V.

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Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Introduction

After stepping off on the wrong foot and losing grip of the market last year, Samsung was obliged to come up with an enthralling flagship phone in 2015. The Samsung Galaxy S6 is already here and it has all the potential to help Samsung get back on track. You can't afford to disappoint when your leading position is endangered by numerous competitors.

One of these is Apple, which has gained quite the momentum with its most recent iPhone lot, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. With the former, Cupertino decided that it's high time it battled the competition in the segment that was almost entirely populated with Android phablets. How does the Galaxy S6 fare against the iPhone 6 Plus? That's what we're about to find out!

Design

In mid-2014, Samsung decided that it's high time it stepped up its design game and make use of higher-tier materials in its phones. The first device to employ such materials was the Galaxy Alpha, but the penultimate result of Samsung's design refreshment is definitely the Galaxy S6, a pretty stark departure from the plasticky roots of the Galaxy lineup, a polished and perfected vision of the company's design language.

The exterior of the Galaxy S6 boasts a metal frame with flattened side edges, complemented by a rear cover made of Gorilla Glass 4 that further adds to the premium status of the new Galaxy. This puts it in a similar league like that of the iPhone 6 Plus, a device that also boasts a hefty amount of premium in its build, though it relies more on aluminum than glass.

Both handset have pleasant in-hand feel, with no sharp edges to cause discomfort, though the sheer size of the iPhone 6 Plus makes it somewhat impractical, in comparison to the more compact Galaxy S6. The former also feels a bit slippery due to its aluminum back. In contrast, the glass rear cover of the S6 is less prone to sliding. Unfortunately, it's also way more susceptible to holding fingerprints and smudges than the iPhone 6 Plus.

Despite sharing a few common design aspects (the bottom-positioned speakers, the protruding cameras, and similar hardware button configurations), the Galaxy S6 and the iPhone 6 Plus stay true to their roots and are full-blown representatives of the design languages of their respective makers.

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+ 9 images

Front view | Side view

5.65 x 2.78 x 0.27 inches
143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8 mm
4.87 oz (138 g)

Samsung Galaxy S6

6.22 x 3.06 x 0.28 inches
158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm
6.07 oz (172 g)

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

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

Display

The regular Galaxy S6 flaunts a 5.1-inch, Quad HD Super AMOLED display, while its iPhone rival comes with a 5.5-inch, IPS LCD one that boasts a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels. The S6 edge exhibits an ultra-sharp pixel density of 577ppi, which makes it one of the sharpest ones around; the iPhone 6 Plus with its pixel density of 401ppi is quite pixel-dense as well.

In terms of their properties, neither will disappoint. Both are extremely accurate; yet the Galaxy S6 is more balanced when set to its Basic screen mode, as it has a better white-point color temperature (6550K) than the iPhone 6 Plus (7318K). The reference point is 6500K, which means that the display of the iPhone is slightly more blueish and colder than the one on the new Galaxy flagship.

In its Basic screen mode, the display of the Galaxy S6 is one of the more accurate, if not the most accurate ones we've seen. Our display measurements reveal that its various nuances and shades all match their desired sRGB targets closely.

The iPhone 6 Plus is trailing in this aspect: despite being pretty close to the reference points on the color chart as well, it does not represent all colors as precisely as the Super AMOLED display in the Galaxy S6, and has a slightly colder tone to it.

As far as brightness is concerned, you'd hardly have any issues with viewing them in bright daylight. The iPhone 6 Plus achieves a maximum brightness of 574 nits, while the Samsung Galaxy S6 exhibits a marginally-lower brightness output of 563 nits (in case its super-bright mode kicks in, which usually happens when the phone is directly facing the sun).

Display measurements and quality

	Maximum brightness (nits)Higher is better	Minimum brightness (nits)Lower is better	Contrast Higher is better	Color temperature (Kelvins)	Gamma	Delta E rgbcmy Lower is better	Delta E grayscale Lower is better
Samsung Galaxy S6	563 (Excellent)	2 (Excellent)	unmeasurable (Excellent)	6584 (Excellent)	2.11	2.02 (Good)	2.94 (Good)
Apple iPhone 6 Plus	574 (Excellent)	4 (Excellent)	1:1376 (Excellent)	7318 (Good)	2.18	3.05 (Good)	3.82 (Good)

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The numbers below represent the amount of deviation in the respective property, observed when a display is viewed from a 45-degree angle as opposed to direct viewing.

	Maximum brightness Lower is better	Minimum brightness Lower is better	Contrast Lower is better	Color temperature Lower is better	Gamma Lower is better	Delta E rgbcmy Lower is better	Delta E grayscale Lower is better
Samsung Galaxy S6	56.1%	50%	unmeasurable	0.7%	1.9%	193.1%	216%
Apple iPhone 6 Plus	84.7%	75%	86.9%	4.3%	13.8%	34.1%	15.7%

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The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set (area) of colors that a display can reproduce, with the sRGB colorspace (the highlighted triangle) serving as reference. The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x: CIE31' and 'y: CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.

These measurements are made using SpectraCal's CalMAN calibration software.

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Interface and Functionality

Related phones

PhoneArena rating:

9.3 Excellent

User rating:

8.9 Very good

Samsung Galaxy S6

Specifications News^[573] Rivals Size it Videos

PhoneArena rating:

9 Excellent

User rating:

9.1 Excellent

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

Specifications News^[354] Rivals Size it Videos

29 Comments

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posted on 02 Apr 2015, 03:53

1. drunkenjay (Posts: 1493; Member since: 11 Feb 2013)

Both are good. It all depends on the os you prefer. Ios is the staple of apple and Samsung is the staple of android.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 05:21

8. Awesoman64 (Posts: 292; Member since: 18 Mar 2015)

Plus each OS has its weakness, with Android still poorly optimized with most devices while Apple still suffers from lack of features.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 06:37 4

12. Exempt1 (unregistered)

Poorly optimized? With what devices?

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 10:56 6

16. watchdog (Posts: 3; Member since: 07 Nov 2014)

It's not optimized in his head.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 04:19 4

2. wando77 (Posts: 1166; Member since: 23 Aug 2012)

Let's get this right. Phonearena say the iphone 6+ has a better camera than the iphone 6..... Then say the iphone 6 is better than the s6..... and then the s6 is better than the iphone 6+. EH??

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 05:20 1

7. Awesoman64 (Posts: 292; Member since: 18 Mar 2015)

What? PhoneArena never said anything abot which camera is better. They aint biased. Maybe you should go research a little. Go to Android Authority instead
http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-s6-vs-apple-iphone-6-596462/

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 05:37 3

9. samsboy (unregistered)

This guy at PA is confused. The point is, he finds it very difficult to praise Samsung for their good works. Maybe he has good a piece of Apple down his throat and can't speak properly.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 05:58 2

10. Awesoman64 (Posts: 292; Member since: 18 Mar 2015)

Dude, he was the one who reviewed the S6. Dont think he's biased.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 06:39 3

13. Exempt1 (unregistered)

He's biased. It's hard to fine one good point of the iPhone that beats the S6.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 11:19 1

17. TechieXP1969 (Posts: 14967; Member since: 25 Sep 2013)

The iPhone 6 Plus doesn't have a better camera. They both have the same cameras. The only difference is the 6 Plus added OIS. But that doesn't make it better, it just makes it different.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 18:53

20. kevin91202 (Posts: 629; Member since: 08 Jun 2014)

well, if the 6+ camera has OIS, then it's a different camera. The sensor might be the same, but it's still a different camera.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 04:34 1

3. Iodine (Posts: 1468; Member since: 19 Jun 2014)

Well it's been already a closed case.
While galaxy is a new shiny thing pushed to havens by Apple haters and samsung's agresive marketing, iPhone continues to hold it's place, like every year.
We will see how this bold move pays out to samsung, but Apple is stronger than ever and it doesn't look they want to relase their grasp on high end handset market especially now when the competition is imploding in that area.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 04:35 2

4. AMERICANPATRIOT (banned) (Posts: 54; Member since: 20 Mar 2015)

iPhone 6+ no argument pun...

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 04:45

5. Xenaz (Posts: 144; Member since: 28 Apr 2013)

Should have compare the iPhone 6 instead, 6+ competitor is Note 4/Note Edge, not S6

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 05:18

6. Awesoman64 (Posts: 292; Member since: 18 Mar 2015)

I side with you. Since the 6+ is a phablet, has better specs, and a bigger screen, I think it shouldnt be compared to the S6. However it is also fair since their screen size is also suitable for comparison(5.1" for S6 and 5.5" for the 6+ unlike the 4.7" iPhone 6) plus the reg. iPhone 6 may not be worthy to compare due to its specs, unlike the 6+ with specs that could withstand the s6.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 06:16

11. Paddy123 (Posts: 2; Member since: 02 Apr 2015)

Which phone is less likely to be either hacked or subject to malware bearing in mind Apple is now in China?

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 07:15 2

14. twens (Posts: 1150; Member since: 25 Feb 2012)

Forget about OS here for a second.
Let's talk about hardware
Screen : they made it very clear s6 is on the lead
Battery : s6
Camera : read what they said.. S6 is ahead by a small margin which in actual facts is not small but huge margin.
Durability : s6
Speaker : s6
Resale value : 6 plus

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 10:50 1

15. Ruturaj (Posts: 1484; Member since: 16 Oct 2014)

I was reading graphics comparison between iphone 6 and S6 on appleinsider and most of the people who were commenting on that were total idiots.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 13:49 1

18. RoboticEngi (Posts: 1249; Member since: 03 Dec 2014)

Appleinsider is isheep, so ofcourse they Are Idiots ;-)

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 18:53

21. kevin91202 (Posts: 629; Member since: 08 Jun 2014)

Obviously. The site is pro-Apple. Hence, just a bunch of Applebots.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 18:51

19. kevin91202 (Posts: 629; Member since: 08 Jun 2014)

Wow. CNET is right; the S6 looks "embarrassingly" like the iPhone. It has the same large screen, made out of metal and glass, headphone jack, a front and rear cameras, a home button, some inscribed lettering, a few buttons on the side, rounded corners, a speaker, and a data port. Oh, and they can make phone calls too!!!

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 18:54

22. ameran (Posts: 344; Member since: 04 Dec 2013)

Day in and day out, Samsung Galaxy S6 and GS6 Edge rock.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 18:56

23. kevin91202 (Posts: 629; Member since: 08 Jun 2014)

"With the former, Cupertino decided..." -PA (John V.)

Who or what is Cupertino? Mr. Cupertino? Ms. Cupertino? Is it a company? Aliens? Is it another word for the theory of relativity?

Next thing you know, you'll be referring Samsung as Suwon.

Please stop trying to reinvent the English language.

posted on 02 Apr 2015, 18:56

24. GeekMovement (unregistered)

Samsung did well this year.

posted on 03 Apr 2015, 02:44

25. goldentopman (Posts: 13; Member since: 24 Dec 2014)

I prefer S6 Edge to Iphone 6 plus: Speed, Camera, battery life, materials, software, design.... Samsung has outperformed Apple with its exclusive product.

posted on 04 Apr 2015, 03:58

26. isabellatilton (Posts: 2; Member since: 04 Apr 2015)

i prefer ios

posted on 12 May 2015, 07:56

28. DexterDekker (Posts: 3; Member since: 12 May 2015)

I dont know if its true but you can change te interface to an apple one android and all kinda of other stuff

posted on 12 May 2015, 07:57

29. DexterDekker (Posts: 3; Member since: 12 May 2015)

I dont know if its true but you can change te interface to an apple one android and all kinda of other stuff

posted on 04 May 2015, 10:54

27. mirexcool (Posts: 65; Member since: 28 Feb 2015)

I like this one :http://goo.gl/zT9ZFv and Aliexpress deliver without problems and the price is lower