Apple just unleashed the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus and the latter with a gigantic display will certainly by a tough challenger to the Android flagships from the major tech players. One of the direct competitors to the Apple iPhone 6 Plus is the newly launched Samsung Galaxy Note 4. It is known that the new iPhones are better than the previous generation model – iPhone 5s, but how it is better than the Samsung offering could be a big question in the minds of many. Here is a comprehensive comparison between the two to help you understand how they stack up against each other.
Display and Processor
The iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 5.5 inch Retina HD display that packs in a screen resolution of 1920×1080 pixels resulting in a pixel density of 401 ppi. This screen features a scratch resistant glass and an oleophobic coating that will resist fingerprints. Going by comparison, the Galaxy Note 4 is given a relatively larger 5.7 inch Super AMOLED display that packs a Quad HD resolution of 2560×1440 pixels that translates to a pixel density of 515 ppi. This screen is protected with the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 coating that will render scratch and damage resistance to the panel.
In terms of processing power, the new iPhone is powered by the 64 bit Apple A8 SoC that is twice energy efficient as the A7 chipset. Also, it is claimed to deliver 25 percent enhanced processor performance and 50 percent faster graphic performance. The Galaxy Note 4, on the other hand, comes in two variants – one with an Exynos Octa 5433 chipset and the other with a quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor. It is likely that Samsung will be launching the Snapdragon variant of the phablet in India paired with 3 GB of RAM under its hood for a clutter-free performance.
Camera and Internal Storage
The Apple phone boasts of an 8 MP iSight rear camera at its back with FHD 1080p video recording, phase detection auto focus, slow motion video recording up to 240 fps, enhanced HDR, optical image stabilization, support to capture 43 MP panorama shots and True Tone dual LED flash. At the front, there is a 1.2 MP FaceTime HD camera that supports HDR, Burst Mode and F2.2 aperture to capture 80 percent to additional light.
In comparison, the Galaxy Note 4 comes with a 16 MP primary camera with Smart OIS and dual LED that will render brighter and clearer images. Also onboard is a 3.7 MP front-facing selfie camera that has F1.9 aperture to capture 60 percent more light and 120 degree wide angle lens for 90 degree shooting angle to snap wider selfies. Interestingly, users can capture selfies by clicking on the fingerprint sensor at the rear.
On the storage front, the iPhone 6 Plus comes in two configurations – 16 GB, 64 GB and 128 GB of native storage support that cannot be expanded further as there is no micro SD card slot onboard. Talking of the Galaxy Note 4, the handset has 32 of default memory capacity that can be further extended by another 64 GB using a micro SD card. Also, users will receive 50 GB of free Dropbox cloud storage space for a couple of years.
Battery and Features
The non-removable battery in the iPhone 6 Plus is rated to provide a backup of up to 24 hours of talk time and 14 hours of video playback on 3G. The one on Galaxy Note 4 is a 3,220 mAh unit that is clubbed with Ultra Power Saving Mode to provide at least a day’s backup under mixed usage. Moreover, the Note 4 features Adaptive Fast Charging that will charge the handset from zero to 50 percent in 30 minutes time.
On the software front, both the handsets are pretty contradictory as the Note 4 is based Android 4.4.4 KitKat that is topped with Samsung TouchWiz UI, whereas the Apple phone is based on iOS 8. The latter is optimized to run on the larger display without any hassle.
Moreover, the Samsung phone comes with S-Pen and has features such as Air View, Air Gestures, Smart Scroll, S Health and a fingerprint sensor. The notable iOS 8 features include gesture support, Wi-Fi calling, VoLTE, Apple Pay and more. The Apple A8 chipset also has M8 coprocessor for fitness related applications.
Key Specs
| Model | Apple iPhone 6 Plus | Samsung Galaxy Note 4 |
| Display | 5.5 inch, 1920×1080 | 5.7 inch, 2560×1440 |
| Processor | Apple A8 | Exynos 5433 Octa Core/ Quad Core Snapdragon 805 |
| RAM | 1 GB | 3 GB |
| Internal Storage | 16 GB/ 64 GB/ 128 GB, Non-Expandable | 32 GB, Expandable up to 64 GB |
| OS | iOS 8 | Android 4.4.4 KitKat |
| Camera | 8 MP/ 1.2 MP | 16 MP/ 3.7 MP |
| Battery | 24 hours backup | 3,220 mAh |
| Price | Starting 62,500 | 58,300 INR |
Conclusion
The Apple iPhone 6 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are official after a long wait and numerous leaks. The handsets are premium offerings that do stack up well against each other in almost every segment. However, the Note 4 takes advantage from its expandable storage support and fingerprint scanner. On the other hand, the iPhone comes with a great display and first-of-its kind front-facer. Being based on different platforms, it depends on the buyers to decide which one is suitable for them based on their preferences.
