Today's specs bout is a cutthroat showdown among two Android phones and an Apple handset — the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, the LG G3 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. These names are surefire head-turners and eye-poppers, but which really is the one to beat?
All three devices were released this year. The latest of the handsets is the Galaxy Note 4, which was launched just last month. The iPhone 6 Plus came out in September along with its little brother, the iPhone 6. The LG G3 was released way back in June.
This early, the iPhone 6 Plus already snatches a win in the design area. With its streamlined aluminum outer shell, LG G3's faux metal exterior and Note 4's faux leather skin are pulped. The earliest-released phone among the bunch is also the thickest. LG G3 has an 8.9-inch thin body. The Galaxy Note 4 is at 8.5 mm and the iPhone 6 Plus wows with 7.1mm.
In a complete turnaround, the display department has the Apple flagship a bit left behind despite its capability to render crisp details. The iPhone 6 Plus comes with a 5.5-inch display, delivering 1920 x 1080 screen resolution with 401 ppi pixel density — but its new Retina HD display can do some visual magic. The LG G3 has the same screen size but in Quad HD and with a higher resolution of 2560 x 1440 and a wildly impressive 538 ppi. The Note 4 catches up with the LG phone with the same screen resolution and 515 ppi delivered by its Super AMOLED 5.7-inch display. Overall, these are all serious display titans.
The iPhone 6 Plus houses a 64-bit A8 processor coupled with only 1 GB RAM, which may get less oohhs and ahhs initially. However, reviews reveal the iPhone 6 Plus is a performer so that could not be discounted readily. On the other hand, the LG G3 is packed with a 2.5 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 and hefty internal storage offers of 2 GB and 3 GB. The Note 4 is the top one here, with its 2.7 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805.
Camera-wise, Note 4 takes it home with its 16-megapixel rear-facing shooter and a 3.7-megapixel selfie snapper. The LG G3 is not left behind with a 13-megapixel primary camera and 2.1-megapixels at the front, while the iPhone 6 Plus is trounced for its 8-megapixel rear shooter and a 1.2-megapixel FaceTime camera.
The battery life for the lot is very comparable. LG says the LG G3 allows 21 hours of usage with its 3000 mAh battery. The 3220 mAh battery in Note 4 survives a wee shorter with 20 hours, and the iPhone 6 Plus's 2915 mAh can last up to a whole day.
There are other features that are worth noting. The Note 4 was made compatible with Samsung's Virtual Reality Headset and the Android Wear. In addition, it has the Google Wallet ready and a heart-rate sensor inbuilt. Split Screen Multitasking was also made possible with this Samsung offering as well as with the LG G3. Lastly, the iPhone 6 Plus boasts the newest mobile operating system from the Cupertino company, the Apple Pay.
Users can get the Apple iPhone 6 Plus for $750. With a contract with carriers, the price can go down to $300. LG G3 strips off $150 from the aforementioned price tag making it the most affordable among the three at $600. On contract, customers can get it for $200.
