I like the iPhone 6 Plus, I like the size, I like the design, and I love the new features. The device, a larger alternative to prior Apple smartphones, is a move in the right direction. With that being said, I’m also a fan of the Samsung Galaxy S5. I love Samsung’s display, 16MP camera, and it’s awesome connectivity options. As a dual smartphone user, there is good reason for why I choose to carry both Galaxy and iPhone devices.

Below I explore both devices and why I like both of them, but first take a look at this comparison chart for the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy S5. The chart was created by the team at ETrade:

 

Display

The Apple iPhone 6 Plus wins in the screen size category. The display features 5.5 inches of readable space, compared to 5.1 inches on the Samsung Galaxy S5. However, the Samsung device is slightly more crisp with .432 ppi, compared to an iPhone 6 Plus output of .401. Both devices feature 1080 x 1920 pixels and 16 million colors. I personally find that my iPhone devices tend to have deeper blacks which tends to lead to a better viewing experience, but that might be my own personal vision.

Verdict: The displays are both awesome. Samsung has spent years creating the technology that has been placed inside of Apple and Samsung displays, and that sometimes volatile relationship has created capable output for both smartphone manufacturers. .

Operating System

This is really a toss up depending on your needs. iOS 8 features a new developer SDK, but that developers kits still needs integration at the hands of developers. Sure you can more easily share your photos, and Maps have been improved, but for the most part iOS 8 is not a major upgrade from the company’s previous iOS. Android KitKat is definitely a capable OS and Samsung has added in enough of its own camera, social sharing, and other technologies, to create a capable system that runs smoothly and with plenty of oomph. If you don’t mind the Google Android Store and you are focused on full control of your device, Android is the way to go. If you want a fluid system that allows for easy app discovery and offers better security protocols out of the box, Apple clearly wins.

Verdict: This is all about personal preferences. It is a lot easier to hack a Google Android smartphone to meet your own wants and needs, but if plug and play capabilities and security are on top of your priority list, I would stick with the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. I hear Apple and Samsung Fan Boys fight over their OS choices all the time, and in the end they both do what they promise and millions of users love both options.

Camera

Both devices feature two cameras. The iPhone 6 Plus offers a front-facing camera with 1.2MP, while Samsung features a 2MP front-facing camera. On the rear end Apple provides an 8MP camera, compared to Samsung’s 16MP shooter. Samsung has dominated the camera sector against Apple, but Apple shoots back with a video camera that can capture slow-motion clips at an amazing 240fps, compared to the Galaxy S5 which captures the same footage at 120fps. Apple also offers 1080p filming at 60fps, while Samsung increases its capabilities to 2060p but at a slower 30fps. Personally I love Samsung cameras because of their multi-point focusing capabilities which in the past have allowed for better subject focusing for my photos.

Verdict: If you need slow motion recording the iPhone 6 Plus takes that option to a whole new level, but for overall picture quality, camera features, and seamless device integration, the Galaxy S5 is an amazing shooter. Pictures are crisp on both, at least in terms of a smartphone cameras, but it all comes down to how you use your smartphone for video and photo shooting.

Processors

The Apple iPhone 6 Plus features the A8 Chipset while the Samsung Galaxy S5 offers the blazing fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 801. The A8 offers a 1.4GHz dual-core processor, while Samsung’s Qualcomm chipset offers a quad-core CPU that clocks in at 2.5GHz. On the surface this seems like a no-brainer, but it’s not that simple. The Apple A8 chipset gives the company full control over both its 64-bit software and 64-bit silicon. That means Apple can optimize it’s hardware more than Samsung and its other Android competitors. In fact, when Anandtech benchmarked the Galaxy S5 against the slower iPhone 5S, the older model actually gave Samsung a run for its money. Apple’s new iOS 8 API is said to give more kick for maximum performance, while rending objects up to ten times more quickly. Apple is claiming an 85% increase in graphics performance.

Verdict: Given that the Apple A7 beat the Snapdragon 801 in numerous categories, we have to believe that similar benchmarks will name the Apple A8 processor as the dominant CPU.

Memory (Hard Drive and Ram)

The Apple iPhone 6 Plus is available in 16GB/64GB/128GB models, while the Samsung Galaxy S5 features 16GB and 32GB models. However, the Galaxy S5 also offers MicroSDHC support which allows for extra storage that can be easily removed and used in other devices. The iPhone 6 Plus also offers 1GB of RAM, while Samsung provides 2GB. It should be noted that early Apple A8 benchmarks showed faster RAM in Apple devices, which removes some of Samsung’s bigger RAM advantage. Extra RAM is only as good as its performance.

Verdict: This is all about your personal preference. Do you need to store all of your files on your device or do you want to move files with ease and even store them offline? Are you a power user or a casual smartphone operator? And do you spend time gaming and browsing the web, or is your device mostly for calls?

Connectivity

The Apple iPhone 6 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S5 both feature 801.11 AC wireless connectivity, a nice fast standard that makes transferring files over WiFi easy and fast. Both devices also offer the low-power and high performance of Bluetooth 4.0. Both devices also offer 4G LTE with HSPA+ mobile data connectivity. Personally I have had more luck connecting my Samsung devices to my home WiFi then my Apple smartphones, but I haven’t tried out the Apple iPhone 6 Plus’ WiFi connectivity. Both devices also feature NFC (Near Field Communications) for file transfers and mobile payments. Apple now offers the Apple Payments platform which Apple fans will likely love, while Samsung works wtih various providers to serve NFC payments and short-range data transfers. The biggest advantage of the S5 is the inclusion of a super fast USB 3.0 port.

Verdict: Connectivity is pretty standardized across new devices these days. With both devices you will receive fast connections and sustainable connectivity. Only time will tell if WiFi or mobile data issues exit on the iPhone 6 Plus, but for now this is a toss up for all users. The biggest advantage is the USB 3.0 port found on the Samsung Galaxy S5. That little difference gives it an edge over the iPhone 6 Plus.

iPhone 6 Plus Health Vs. Samsung S5 Health

Typically I wouldn’t include this type of software feature in a comparison, but in the case of Apple and Samsung, both companies have put a ton of stock into their health features. Both smartphones offer internal and external features for monitoring a users movement, their environments humidity, temperature, and barometic pressure. Apple also offers the M8 motion coprocessor for tracking physical activity, including distance and elevation.

Apple has forbid user sharing of health stats from third-party developers, but otherwise both platforms are fairly similar and work with their own software and a wide range of third-party developer created applications.

Verdict: Both health platforms are very capable and worth regular use. Apple and Samsung are taking user health seriously and we will likely see software upgrades that keep both health platforms competitive. Those upgrades should arrive more swiftly when wearable tech becomes more commonplace among smartphone users.

FINAL VERDICT

The iPhone 6 Plus and the Samsung Galaxy S5 are both very capable devices. If you are familiar with, and love the iOS operating system, you are probably best off sticking with Apple. If you are a long-time Google Android OS buyer, there is likely no major reason for a switch to Apple. Both devices offer connectivity to smart watches, both offer excellent processors and camera capabilities, and both devices can playback video and record motion in high-definition.

There will always be arguments over how much better one company’s devices are over the others, but in the end, it all comes down to personal preferences. I tried Apple and then moved to Samsung, only to ping pong back and forth. Eventually I found it easier to just carry both devices to meet my personal needs.

Which device do you prefer, the Apple iPhone 6 Plus or the Samsung Galaxy S5?

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