If you are in the market for a new smartphone, there has never been a better time to buy than right now. With the worldwide release of the LG G4 this May, the circle is now complete – all the big players in the smartphone game have now got their latest flagship products on the market, and the question on every customer and tech geek’s lips is now: “which one is the best” The ball started rolling in late 2014 when Apple released it much-awaited iPhone 6, and momentum began to grow when Samsung unveiled the latest in its Galaxy series, the S6, earlier this year.
But now LG has entered the fray with its latest G-series model, the game is most certainly on. But with all three phones from the major smartphone-making companies coming onto the market within a few months of one another, you might be asking yourself just how you are supposed to discern which device is the right one for you.
However, thanks to the Korea IT Times’ blow-by-blow breakdown of all three phones, you will have nothing to fear when it comes to parting with your hard-earned cash.
Phone-By-Phone Breakdown
Apple iPhone 6
First up is the iPhone, the first of the three to be released. The most notable thing to note about this device is that it is the first iPhone to feature a larger screen. Compared to the much-narrower iPhone 5s, the 6 features a 4.7-inch screen, which takes iPhone video viewing and gameplay to a totally different level.
Possibly the one biggest advantage most of the iPhone’s pre-6 competitors had exerted over Apple phones had been screen size. Watching videos on the iPhone 4 was always a frustrating experience, and the experience on the 5 was not much of an improvement. As for gameplay, users of the iPhone 5 and previous models often complained that they could not see their screens clearly as their fingers would get in the way on the tiny screen. The iPhone 6 feels like Apple’s first attempt to address this issue, and if you are a long-term iPhone user, for the first few days of usage, you can easily forget that you are using an Apple product at all, so different is the look when it comes to the screen.
Although the larger screen is great for video viewing and the rest, it does mean that the device is a lot broader than previous models, and if you are a male user who is used to stashing your phone in your jeans pockets, you may be in for a bit of a surprise. However, Apple has made up for this by cutting down on the weight – the iPhone 4 feels like a veritable brick in comparison. The standard iPhone 6 is just 129g, though the Plus version is a little heftier at 172g.
Aesthetically, the iPhone 6 stays in line with its predecessors in perusing a look primarily based on glass and metal, although the former element is not as brittle as it may sound, being shatterproof with oleophobic coating. As is the case with all Apple products, one of the strongest points of the iPhone is its operating system, the fuss-free and user-friendly iOS 8.
Samsung Galaxy S6
The Galaxy S6 has won much praise from tech observers for its newest addition to the Galaxy range, and the reason for this lies in the fact that its makers have pretty much improved on every aspect of the phone. Lighter than its predecessor at 138g, it is a marked step up in terms of aesthetics when compared to the S5.
Whereas the S5, released in early 2014, went heavy on the plastic, the design of the S6 is a lot more artisanal in theme. There is a lot more metal in the body, and its Gorilla Glass (reinforced glass made by American firm Corning) front and rear coating gives the device a much more modern feel than the S5, although the much-trumpeted water resistance of the S5 has gone as a result.
The improved glass coating makes for a better grip than the S5, although one drawback of this is the fact that you need to clean your device often or will end up with lots of fingerprints and smudges on it.
There is also a noticeable upgrade on screen definition when it comes to the S6. The 2,540 x 1,440 Super AMOLED, 577ppi display is sharper than ever, and coupled with QHD graphic display resolution, color accuracy is also very much improved. However, Samsung has decided to forgo expandable storage capacity on its new device, which means that you cannot expand the memory capacity, a fact that may not please certain fans of the S5.
Another factor that may put off avid S5 fans is the lack of replaceable battery. For some time, Samsung users had enjoyed the fact that they could simply carry a spare battery around with them, but the S6 does away with this, perhaps in the hope that its superior processor will not be quite as power-hungry. The S6 does offset this with promised faster charging times, however, with Samsung claiming that ten minutes of charge gives users a four-hour battery boost.
Camera launching time has been a stick that critics of the Galaxy have used to beat the series with for some time, but it seems Samsung has taken steps to remedy this by adding a quick-launch function whereby a double click of the home button automatically launches the camera.
There is also good news for fans of the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge, in the shape of the dual-edge Galaxy S6 Edge, which allows the display to spread over the curved edges of the device, allowing for quite a unique display and aesthetic experience.
LG G4
At first glance, you might not be able to see a lot of differences between the G4 and its predecessor, the G3. Its display is the same size (at 5.5 inches), it weighs much the same as the G3, and in fact it is slightly heavier than the 2014 model at 155g. Just like the G3, the G4 has a distinctive curved rear. A few of its specs are also quite similar. Like the G3, it uses the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and boasts 3GB RAM.
However, look a little closer and you will discover a range of exciting upgrades, including longer battery life. But the most notable of all the changes is the camera, which takes a leaf out of the DSLR camera book. Users can go almost completely manual with the camera and adjust ISO, shutter speed, white balance and focus. This is something that LG has coupled with a rear camera that is vastly superior to its predecessor. Users get a 16MP rear camera, with an aperture of f1/8. And – crucially – the G4 boasts an 8MP front camera, the most powerful front camera on the mainstream market, as well as a whole host of very interactive selfie shot modes.
The display might look similar to that of the G3, but the G4 offers more in the field of color range. The general appearance of the phone has undergone a major upgrade thanks to the fact that it boasts rather swish rear leather casing available in a range of snazzy colors, although a slightly cheaper version is available with all-plastic rear casing for budget buyers.
How They Fare Against Each Other
All three companies have clearly made devices that are aimed at luring long-term users of other brands to their products, and have made a concerted push to wipe out some of their perceived disadvantages. However, it is a close call as to which phone wins overall, as all three are quite clearly vast improvements on their predecessors.
If you are looking at pure portability, the iPhone 6 seems to have the advantage. It is the smallest and lightest of all three devices, a full 26g lighter than the G4, and is less than 7mm thick. But what the G4 and the S6 lack in the portability stakes they make up in the aesthetics department.
The rear casing of the G4 has given the LG phone a serious makeover, with its leather back and central stitching, it now really looks the part. The trademark LG G-series bend is ever more striking, and also has a practical purpose according to its makers, who say that this shape helps it absorb shock more effectively.
The S6 has also taken its look very seriously – especially in the case of the Edge, where there is a whole lot of very stylish design going on.
Some users may be deterred that the camera protrudes somewhat from the rear of the device, but most will be happy that Samsung has left behind the plastic feel of the S5 in this new curvy, glassy and metallic model.
The iPhone 6’s camera is already famed, but in terms of sheer power, Samsung’s device offers users double the MPs – 16MP to the iPhone’s 8 on the rear, and 5MP to the iPhone’s 1.2 on the front. The S6 also offers image stabilization, which the iPhone lacks.
But in the camera stakes, the G4 is the phone that will appeal to all the camera buffs out there. It is the megapixel equal of the S6 on the rear camera, but the front camera is a whopping 8MP. The most notable aspect that will appeal to camera heads, too, is the fact that the G4 allows users to shoot images in RAW format, which might take up a lot of storage space, but offers a huge boon for keen digital photographers, coupled with its advanced manual functionality.
Globally speaking, the iPhone 6 may offer a slight edge due to the fact that it also supports the EVDO and CDMA bands, whereas both the G4 and the S6 only offer HSPA, LTE and GSM compatibility, but fans of the other two phones will be quick to point out the fact that a lack of microUSB port is a major inconvenience for iPhone users, and that the iPhone only offers Bluetooth v4.0 connectivity, as opposed to the G4 and S6’s v4.1.
Battery-wise, the iPhone 6’s 1810mAh power source seems somewhat at a disadvantage against the S6’s 2550mAh battery, and the G4’s 3,000mAh, but for those who can afford the Plus version of the iPhone 6, there is better news, with a 2915mAh model that almost walks toe-to-toe with the G4.
But good battery life is not just a matter of how much power a phone packs, it is also about efficiency, something that both the S6 and the iPhone 6 have managed to get a handle on. The S6 even offers a Smart Manager function whereby you can get the lowdown on your phone’s usage stats, battery life and more all on one handy screen.
When it comes to storage and RAM, the iPhone lags behind its competitors somewhat, with only 1GB of RAM compared to the G4 and S6’s 3GB. The iPhone offers 16GB, 64GB and 128GB storage models, compared to the Samsung Galaxy S6’s 32GB, 64GB and 128GB models, while the G4 only offers a 32GB model. However, unlike the other two, the G4 has a MicroSD memory card slot that allows up to 128GB of extra memory expansion, allowing users to crank up their device’s memory to a monstrous 160GB.
The other less apparent advantage of the G4 is the fact that it has a removable battery, the only one of the three phones that offers such an option, although none of the phones are lacking in the power department.
It is a little early to say how the G4 fares when it comes to accessories as details on these will surely follow in the months to come, but both the iPhone 6 and the S6 impress when it comes to add-ons. The iPhone 6 has a range of funky accessories, including a smart silicone case, an even smarter leather case and a range of Beats by Dre audio devices, such as Bluetooth speakers and headphones.
Samsung, for its part, has teamed up with luxury brands Swarovski and Montblanc for some snazzy crystal-embedded and leather cases, and is also promoting its own range of Bluetooth headphones – Level On – along with the release of the S6, in addition to a neat-looking rounded wireless charger.
All in all, there is little to choose from between these three phones, but now the G4 has joined the fight, smartphone users are spoiled for choice when it comes to getting a new device. The next few months will show if customers ultimately prefer the ultra-portable and user-friendly iPhone 6, the great display and visual look of the latest Galaxy or the phenomenal camera options of the G4. For now, however, it is time to let battle begin!
By Yeon Choul-woong
