Apple iPhone 6 Plus vs Samsung Galaxy Note 4: Specifications and features compared

Mobile

With scores of mobile users preferring a smartphone with a big display, Apple has finally given into the demand and last night unveiled its first phablet. The 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus is the biggest in the company’s portfolio and will help Apple compete against scores of Android phablets in the market. One of the chief competitions will be Samsung’s newly-unveiled Galaxy Note 4, which by the looks of the specifications is one of the top Android smartphones. We pit the two phablets on the basis of their specifications and features.
Size and weight
Both the phablets are what you will call “big” with length in excess of 150mm, and width in excess of 75mm. Apple has however managed to keep the iPhone phablet really thin at an impressive 7.1mm, in comparison the Galaxy Note 4 feels thick measuring 8.5mm. Both the phablets also weigh almost the same at 172 grams and 176 grams respectively.
Display
The iPhone 6 Plus flaunts the biggest display on an iPhone yet measuring 5.5-inch, while the display on the Galaxy Note 4 is even bigger measuring 5.7-inches. There is however a world of difference when it comes to display resolution. Where Apple’s phablet has a full HD 1080p display, the Galaxy Note 4 has a quad-HD display, with a pixel resolution of 2560×1440. In other words, it has twice the number of pixels than Apple’s HD display.
Power
As you would expect from two flagship smartphones, there is plenty of power at hand. The Galaxy Note 4 is powered by a Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor clocked at 2.7GHz. The iPhone 6 Plus, on the other hand, is powered by a 64-bit A8 quad-core processor. Apple’s processor is also accompanied by next-generation M8 coprocessor, which essentially takes care of fitness tracking activities without bothering the main processor.
As for RAM, the Galaxy Note 4 has 3GB of RAM, while the iPhone 6 Plus has 1GB of RAM.
Storage
With the new iPhones, Apple has introduced a new storage variant. In addition to 16GB and 64GB, there is also a new 128GB variant. As is Apple’s tradition, a microSD card slot is still absent. The Galaxy Note 4 features 32GB internal storage, and a microSD card slot to expand the memory.
Cameras
Apple has again persisted with an 8-megapixel camera and instead focused on improving the image sensor. According to Apple, the new sensor boasts faster focusing, better tone mapping, and improved noise reduction. On the front, there is a 1.2-megapixel Facetime camera.
If the number of megapixels is taken into consideration, the Galaxy Note 4’s 16-megapixel and 3.7-megapixel cameras seem much better. But that doesn’t mean the cameras are better, and until we have extensively tested the smartphones we will reserve our judgment.
Operating System
This is the biggest aspect that differentiates the two phablets, and will also play a role in the decision making process. The Galaxy Note 4 runs on the latest Android 4.4.4 KitKat, while the iPhone 6 Plus runs on the latest iOS 8. Both the operating systems have their positives and negatives, but we will not get into the details here.
Apple has however introduced a lot of new features and services on iOS 8, including HomeKit, Health and Apple Pay among others. Also going against its long-standing tradition, Apple has opened up its OS to third-party app developers.
Extras
As far as security is concerned, both the phablets boast a fingerprint scanner integrated into the home button. The Galaxy Note 4 also has a heart rate monitor placed at the back just below the camera. This is a feature missing on the iPhone 6 Plus. Samsung’s phablet also comes bundled with a S Pen stylus, which has seen a lot of improvements.
Both the devices have plenty to offer the phablet loving crowd, and it could all boil down to the choice of operating system. There is no way of saying which phablet is better without reviewing the devices, and we will reserve our judgment till we have. As for pricing, the iPhone 6 Plus is priced at $749 for the 16GB variant. The phablet will go on sale in the US on September 19, and will come to India on October 17. Samsung though hasn’t revealed the pricing or launch plans for its Galaxy Note 4 phablet.

Features	Apple iPhone 6 Plus	Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Size	158.1×77.8×7.1 mm	153.5×78.6×8.5 mm
Weight	172 grams	176 grams
Display	5.5-inch Retina HD 1080p	5.7-inch QHD
Processor	64-bit A8 quad-core/M8 coprocessor	2.7GHz Snapdragon 805 quad-core
RAM	1GB	3GB
Storage	16/64/128GB	32GB expandable
Cameras	8-megapixel/1.2-megapixel	16-megapixel/3.7-megapixel
Operating system	iOS 8	Android 4.4.4 KitKat