Choosing between Apple’s iPhone 6 and Samsung’s Galaxy S5

The top two makers of the world’s most popular smartphones continue to compete with two high-spec smartphones: Apple’s iPhone 6 and Samsung’s Galaxy S5. We compare the two mobile phones from a consumer point of view by summarizing the most important features and specifications.

DESIGN
iPhone offers users a smooth and slim smartphone based on aluminum, while Samsung focuses on fusing soft-touch plastic with hard plastic edges that are colored to look like metal. iPhone 6 is 2mm thinner and 5mm narrower, so it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand even with one hand. The winner here is clearly the iPhone from an aesthetic point of view.

SCREEN
Both phones have equally spectacular screens. The Galaxy S5 has a 5.1-inch AMOLED screen with a Full HD resolution of 432 pixels per inch. The advantage of this type of screen is the ability to display perfect blacks with unlimited contrast ratios. This means perfect images during movies with dark backgrounds, with no light emission that changes from jet black to gray black.

iPhone 6 uses an IPS LCD screen, which stands out in brightness, viewing angles, and color accuracy compared to the competition. The resolution is 326 pixels per inch, less than Samsung’s, but it still offers a sharp display. The winner here is Samsung’s screen, which is also physically larger by 0.4 inches.

STORAGE
These devices differ in storage capacities on a physical note. The iPhone has fixed storage capacities of 16 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB. There’s no physical way to expand the storage, unless the giant releases a larger internal drive in the future, which will come at a higher cost.

The Galaxy S5 has a comparatively small internal storage of 16 GB, but offers users to expand the storage up to 128 GB easily and cheaply using MicroSD memory cards. This is preferable as it allows users to choose exactly how much extra they want and they can easily store other data on these external cards. The winner is the Samsung S5 here, giving users more flexibility and choice when it comes to storage capacities.

PERFORMANCE
Samsung’s smartphone is a clear winner on paper specs. However, through product testing, both phones are similar when it comes to essential functionality. In fact, the iPhone scored better when testing response times, feeling quicker during everyday use. A lot of this comes down to device software rather than processing power. Samsung’s extra capabilities here could explain its drop in daily tests.

BATTERY DURATION
Now highly prioritized among consumer decision factors for smartphones, the two giants are striving to produce high-spec PC phones without compromising power requirements and overall battery life. The Samsung S5 has a larger battery, resulting in longer use before it needs to be charged. The charging of the devices is fast in around 2 hours. The winner is the Samsung S5, which not only has a physically better battery, but includes a variety of features within its software to save power.

VERDICT
Highly subjective, we place the verdict on what type of user you are. If you’re looking for value for money and battery life, then the Samsung smartphone is a clear winner. If you’re looking for design and performance, at a higher cost, then the iPhone 6 is the one to take home.