Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6: Which is the best smartphone to buy?

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Which of the best phones of 2015 should you buy? Here is our verdict

on the battle of Apple and Samsung flagships

The Samsung

Galaxy S6

with the

Galaxy S6 Edge

are two of

best smartphones

Korean society has been developing for a very long time.

For the first time in a long time, we finally have a flagship worthy of comparison with the

Iphone 6

. Although Apple has now officially unveiled its 2015 duo-shaped flagship

iPhone 6S

and

So if you're not going for the new iPhone and had to spend money to upgrade, which handset should you go for?

We have been using these two good smartphones since their launch and are still using them now. So we have a pretty good idea of ​​what they're doing right and wrong. Unlike last year's shootout between the

S5 versus iPhone 6

, it is not so clear.

VIDEO: Galaxy S6 band vs iPhone 6 vs HTC One M9 test

Related:

Samsung Galaxy S7 vs iPhone 6S – What can we expect?

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. iPhone 6: Design

Samsung Galaxy S6

: 6.9mm thick, 138g, aluminum unibody and glass panel, pearly white/black sapphire/gold platinum/blue topaz

Iphone 6

: 6.9mm thick, 129g, anodized aluminum back, Space Grey/Silver/Gold

Both the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 mark a radical overhaul of the design philosophies of their flagship phones. The iPhone 6, and

iPhone 6Plus

, show a late decision to follow the trend of phones with larger screens. Samsung's changes stray even further from previous phones. After years of questionable design and material decisions to favor the use of plastic designed to look like anything else on high-end phones, it finally decided to come up with something worthwhile. The S6 is the luxury phone that many have been asking for.

As a result, it's harder than ever to choose between the two.

With the Galaxy S6, Samsung has delivered a phone that can finally compete with the iPhone in terms of design, build quality and materials used. From the front, the S6 could be confused with the S5 or even the S4. A closer look, however, shows big changes. The physical home button has grown to accommodate the improved fingerprint sensor, the screen bezel has shrunk dramatically at the sides, while the top and bottom edges of the phone curve elegantly to create a more attractive look.

Related:

Samsung Galaxy S7 vs S6

Pick up the Galaxy S6 and you quickly notice the flat aluminum edge and Gorilla Glass back. The detachable, plastic, textured back of the S5 is completely gone and we don't miss them at all. A non-removable back means you can't swap out the battery anymore, but Samsung has added wireless charging support to lessen the blow. One of the most unsightly elements of the S6's design is the protruding rear camera. It doesn't impact how you use or hold it, but we'd rather it wasn't as noticeable.

The reason the S6 finally looks like a phone you'd be proud to show off is because it's clearly inspired by Apple's handset. The iPhone 6 was the first with the aluminum trim and Samsung even positioned the headphone jack, charging port and single speaker at the bottom of the phone just like the iPhone 6. Button placement is also nearly identical, thus transitioning between the two handsets. should be transparent, at least from a hardware perspective.

Apple's curved aluminum unibody design makes the iPhone 6 a little nicer to grip, but other than that there's very little reason to choose it over the S6's design. It's very close in design stakes. We'd be inclined to say the S6 wins this round, but after living with it for a few months there's definitely an issue to be resolved and it's to do with that back glass. We had two handsets and even with the smallest drop it cracked. Now, we're not saying everyone will have the same issues, but it's clear that opting for a glass-back phone has its potential downsides.

If you're basing your decision on build quality, then the iPhone 6 is the clear winner here.

Related:

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. S6 Edge

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. iPhone 6: Screen

:5.1in, QHD '2K' Super AMOLED, 577ppi, 536nits brightness

Iphone 6

: 4.7in, 1334 x 750 IPS LCD, 326 ppi, 504 nits brightness

Size is the first big difference when comparing monitors. The S6 has a significantly larger screen, which means more space to enjoy your videos and browse the web.

Next is the resolution. The S6 also gets the same resolution upgrade as the Note 4 and as a result is sharper than the iPhone 6's screen. screen and most probably won't appreciate the differences. If you're desperate for cutting-edge technology, the S6 is the winner here. Unless you look very closely, however, you won't notice the difference in sharpness.

There are also differences in display technologies, and these have a greater impact. While Apple uses LCD, Samsung opts for OLED and as a result, the S6 offers perfect black levels and an impressive contrast ratio that make it more suitable for watching movies. The slightly oversaturated colors you get with the S5 aren't as problematic this time around on the S6, especially when you choose a sleeker color setting. The iPhone 6, on the other hand, offers good viewing angles and good color accuracy.

So yes, the iPhone 6 has a big screen, but the S6 offers something new and innovative with its 2K display and wins this award. round.

Related:

Best SIM-only deals – Get a bargain on the phone

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6: Performance

Samsung Galaxy S6

: Exynos 7420 octa-core 64-bit, Mali T760 GPU, 3GB RAM

Iphone 6

: Apple A8 64-bit dual-core 1.4GHz, PowerVR GX6450 GPU, 1GB RAM

The iPhone 6 features Apple's powerful A8 processor, a 64-bit dual-chip with a very fast GPU connected and backed by 1GB of RAM. This is a different approach than that taken by Android chipmakers, who typically opt for a quad-core GPU and at least 2GB of RAM.

For the S6, Samsung chose not to use the

Snapdragon 810

processor found inside the

LG Flex 2

and

HTC One M9

in favor for his personalized chip. The 64-bit Exynos 7420 chip offers an octa-core configuration very similar to the aforementioned Snapdragon 810 and delivers smooth overall performance.

Elsewhere, the Samsung Galaxy S6 has 3GB of RAM, three times the amount found in the iPhone 6. More important here, though, is the speed of that RAM. The Galaxy S6 is the first phone to feature DDR4 memory, which is 80% faster than the DDR3 in the iPhone 6.

When you compare Geekbench 3 multi-core benchmark tests, the S6 comes out on top but in numbers only tells half the story. In day-to-day performance, both are extremely fast and smooth and our usual complaints about TouchWiz slowness aren't apparent on the more streamlined version Samsung has adopted for the S6.

Geekbench 3 multicore scores

Samsung Galaxy S6

– 4116

Iphone 6

– 2933

We would call it a draw. You shouldn't complain about either phone for basic and intensive tasks.

Related:

iPhone 6 Plus vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. iPhone 6: Storage

Samsung Galaxy S6

: 32GB, 64GB and 128GB, no micro SD card support

Iphone 6

: 16GB, 64GB, 128GB, no micro SD card support

Samsung caused a stir by ditching micro SD support with the Galaxy S6 – the first in its flagship lineup to do so. This is clearly emulating Apple's approach here, which is to provide a more streamlined and faster approach to storage.

Samsung still wins this round despite this omission, simply due to the fact that it dropped the 16GB allocation and adopted 32GB as its starting spec, while Apple did the opposite.

If you compare prices without a SIM, the 32GB S6 costs around £550, while the 16GB iPhone 6 costs around £540. If you go for the top 128GB models, the S6 will set you back around £730 compared to the iPhone 6 which costs around £680. So if you're going entry-level, the S6 will give you more storage for your money, but the top-end is significantly more expensive than the iPhone 6.

Related:

Best Mobile deals: This month's top smartphone deals

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6: Software

Samsung Galaxy S6

:

Android Lollipop

5.0.2 with TouchWiz UI

Iphone 6

:

iOS 8.4

Android or iOS? This is the big question you need to ask yourself when deciding between the S6 and the iPhone 6. It will determine how you use the phone every day.

Historically, Apple's mobile operating system has been the one to go for if you value a phone with the smallest learning curve and a smooth experience. You can pick up an iPhone and it won't take you very long to figure out what's what. Android gives you more customization, but with Lollipop you also get a more polished browsing experience.

Samsung, of course, doesn't use stock Android like a Moto G or Nexus 5. Instead, it has its own overlaid TouchWiz UI. It's an approach that has drawn plenty of criticism for its heavy add-ons, unnecessary apps, and unnecessary tinkering with its solid Android underpinnings. Samsung has improved things with the Galaxy S6, reducing bloatware and so it's a much better phone to use. Android Lollipop's core functionality now shines and the UI is generally much cleaner to navigate.

With the latest version of iOS, Apple has added great features, some of which have been present in Android for quite some time. You now have more actionable notifications, widgets in the notification bar and third parties. While it can't match Android for customization, it still delivers where it counts. It's sleek, easy to use, and has a better app store. The latest iOS 8.4 update also provided

AppleMusic

, the company's first music streaming service.

Samsung has certainly made significant improvements to its software approach, but we'd say Apple wins this round.

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. iPhone 6: fingerprint readers

Samsung Galaxy S6

: fingerprint sensor (PayPal certified)

Iphone 6

: Touch ID: Touch ID fingerprint sensor (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)

When Apple introduced its fingerprint sensor built into the home button of the iPhone 5S, it was an alternative way to secure your phone and reduce the time it takes to enter that unlock code. Its uses have now evolved and it can now be used with third-party applications, make purchases in iTunes and is integrated with the NFC-based mobile payment system

Apple Pay

.

p>

Samsung followed suit in the S5, placing a similar sensor on its home button. It was nowhere near as reliable as Apple's Touch ID and thankfully that's changed on the S6. Now you can tap the home button with your finger instead of swiping and hence it is more reliable. Like Apple, it will facilitate PayPal transactions and may additionally use biometric data to log in to certain websites. What is done with this data, however, is not entirely clear and potentially raises serious data issues.

While Samsung's fingerprint sensor has improved considerably since it first appeared, Apple's Touch ID seems more robust and while not without its own security issues, it's more useful than ever. 'to have some.

Related:

Samsung Pay vs. Apple Pay

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6: Speakers and Headphones

Samsung Galaxy S6

: only loudspeaker on the lower edge

Iphone 6:

A single speaker on the bottom edge

Smartphone speakers generally offer average sound quality, especially if you want to watch a movie or listen to music without headphones. p>

With the S6 and iPhone 6, the positioning of the speakers is the same, which means there's a tendency to cover and muffle the sound. When free to stream music, a more public phone call, the S6 has the better speaker of the two.

It's louder than the iPhone 6 and has much cleaner sound. It still lacks the same stability at max volume and warmth that HTC's dual front-firing speakers are capable of.

Related:

iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 5S

Both Apple and Samsung throw a pair of headphones in the box, but you'd want to invest in something better if you can. While Apple has redesigned its headphones, the most important quality, which is sound, hasn't really improved. Samsung uses an almost identical design and offers a bit more quality, but again, we'd rather buy a decent pair of headphones.

It's another trick for the Galaxy S6.

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs. iPhone 6: Camera

Samsung Galaxy S6

: 16-megapixel rear camera, 5-megapixel front camera, single LED flash, optical image stabilization

Iphone 6:

8 megapixels, phase detection, dual 'True Tone' LED flash p>

Having a good phone camera means a lot to most when buying a phone and luckily both Samsung and Apple do a fantastic job with their cameras. They both take great pictures and are easy to shoot and get started.

Related:

Best iPhone 6 deals

The S5 had one of our favorite cameras last year, but there was definitely room for improvement. Samsung tweaked the configuration used for the Note 4 slightly and dropped it into the S6. As a result, you can always take sharp, vibrant images quickly, then share them on Twitter and Facebook in no time. HDR is still a standout feature here too, while the addition of optical image stabilization means you get a helping hand in low-light conditions. Although it does not entirely eliminate image noise, you can achieve clearer and more rewarding results.

On paper, some will compare Apple's 8-megapixel to Samsung's 16-megapixel, but in reality that's not the case. give you a real taste of the performance of the iPhone 6. Apple makes the most of its setup and you can still get great natural shots with many of the same qualities you'd associate with the S6. It loses the S6 for low-light shooting, unfortunately because it lacks the optical image stabilization that the iPhone 6 Plus got.

All in all, these are two fantastic cameras. If shooting in tougher lighting conditions is something you enjoy more, the S6 is for you. For a combination of simplicity and image quality, the iPhone 6 is the one for you. Either way, these are two phone cameras that won't let you down.

The S6 also has the best front camera, if you're into selfies.

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Photo Comparison

Example photo iPhone 6 in low light

Samsung Galaxy S6 photo example in low light

Sample iPhone 6 close-up photo

Samsung Galaxy S6 close-up photo sample

iPhone 6 HDR photo sample

Samsung Galaxy S6 HDR photo sample

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6: Smartwatches

Samsung Galaxy S6

:

Samsung Gear S

, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo,

Gear Live

Iphone 6

:

AppleWatch

Whether you think they're useful or not, smartwatches are here and Apple and Samsung have designed them for those times when you don't want to reach into your pocket to use your phone.

Apple offers the watch, which comes in three models. It's the most expensive smartwatch you can buy right now, even if you opt for the cheapest Sport model. Samsung has produced the smartwatches and the latest is the feature-rich Gear S.

If you value design, then the Apple Watch is a much more attractive smartwatch than the Gear S. The Gear S is huge. in comparison, but is more capable of being used as a standalone device thanks to the built-in SIM card slot.

Related:

Apple Watch tips and tricks

Both have fantastic touchscreens, so visibility and responsiveness aren't an issue here. This is software where the Gear S and unsurprisingly the Apple Watch let us down. It's an unintuitive and buggy experience through both. Although Apple has the most optimized apps, many are broken or still limited.

There are also the battery life issues. That's more of an issue with the watch, but the Gear S will struggle to last a few days, especially if you have a SIM card in it.

If we had to choose between the two smartwatches, Apple would win it for design and app support. The Pebble would actually get our vote because it works on both platforms, has great battery life, and an operating system that makes a lot of sense.

In the end, it's not essential and you can get through life without one around your wrist.

Samsung Galaxy S6 vs iPhone 6: Battery life

Samsung Galaxy S6

: 2550 mAh non-removable battery, wireless charging

Iphone 6

: 1810 mAh non-removable battery

When you compare the Galaxy S5 with the iPhone 6, there was only one winner and that was the S5. It had the biggest battery and benchmark tests proved it had the ability to go much longer than Apple's smartphone. That being said, the iPhone 6 has made big improvements thanks to a more efficient setup.

Living day- Today with them, the endurance levels of the S6 are nowhere near as good as the S5, but compared to the iPhone 6, it pretty much beats it. There isn't much in it though. You can get a normal workday (8am-6pm-7pm), but it'll be hard to keep either alive if you're out for the night. Samsung has a very useful power saving mode that limits battery draining features, but still lets you make calls and can take things a step further.

The S6 and iPhone 6 can see noticeable drops when streaming music, watching videos, or browsing the web for 20-30 minutes. In sleep mode, although they reserve these battery powers well.

When the battery is dead, the S6 is faster to get back to 100%. That's thanks to Samsung's Quick Charge technology, which works similarly to Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 technology found on the LG G Flex 2. It takes an hour and twenty minutes to go from 0% at 100 while iPhone takes around 3 to 3.5 hours. There is a workaround to reduce this to 2 hours if you use a 2.1 amp charging cable that comes with the Apple iPad.

Samsung also offers wireless charging, something Apple has yet to adopt for its smartphone lineup. The S6 will work with all wireless charging formats, including the most common QI, allowing you to use other third-party charging devices. The problem here is that you don't get the same level of charging speed as mains.

The verdict

So, are you going for the S6 or the iPhone 6? It's the closest it's ever gotten between the two flagship phones. Where Samsung made some striking changes with the design, Apple disappointed slightly with the transformation from the iPhone 5S to the iPhone 6. But that doesn't mean we haven't grown to love it. That glass on the S6 is also a concern, so if you're clumsy, that might be a reason to upgrade to the iPhone. For screen quality, the S6 wins, but 2K on a Retina display won't matter for most. Both offer smooth performance, significant software improvements, and feature two of the best smartphone cameras you can get your hands on.#

Price becomes a factor here, however. Go for the most expensive S6 without a SIM card and you pay more than you would for the most expensive iPhone 6. the smallest storage options.

When you count the small wins, the S6 comes out on top. It's Samsung's most attractive flagship and it has all the cutting-edge features to back up its metallic look. If you want cutting-edge technology, then Samsung in our eyes is the one for you right now. The iPhone 6 is still a fantastic phone in our book, and battery life aside, makes the changes where they matter most.

(Apester: 56b8b929180dad85056cdc9c)

iPhone 6 or Galaxy S6: Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.