iPhone 6S vs Galaxy S7: Which has higher specs and which is better??

iPhone 6S vs Galaxy S7: Which has higher specs and which is better??

From design to display, price to power, we put the two smartphones head-to-head to see how they compare

Samsung could steal a march on Apple with its most recent flagship smartphone. The Galaxy S7 is out now, months ahead of the iPhone 7's expected debut in September, and Apple's most recent figures point to sales in decline as customers aren't upgrading as much as they used to. Rumours suggest there could be trouble ahead for the next generation iPhone.

However, the rival handsets will likely form the most compelling choices on the market when the iPhone joins the race. For now, though, the iPhone 6S remains the firm's flagship choice.

Could the Galaxy S7 be the phone to tempt iOS users over to Android, or does the iPhone 6S have the goods to take on the newer device?

Design

Both phones represent minimal design changes from their predecessors – not necessarily a bad thing, considering they are two of the best-looking handsets on the market. If a light and slim smartphone is high on your list, the iPhone just nudges it in terms of dimensions, though. It's slightly lighter, at five ounces to the Galaxy's 5.4oz, and at 0.27ins thick, it's fractionally thinner, too.

Apple's 6S design is virtually similar to that of the iPhone 6, albeit a little thicker due to the use of more durable aluminium alloy, but does have the addition of a rose gold colour option. It's an aluminium unibody, with curved edges, exposed antenna bands and a protruding camera module.

As for the Galaxy S7, its case is a metal and glass setup. It's nice, but PC Advisor warns it marks easily and can become grubby without a case. It has a slightly curved back, making it easier and more comfortable to hold, while the S6's camera bump has been almost eliminated, too, allowing it to lie more or less flush when placed on a table.

It is also waterproof – an IP68 rating means it can be submerged in depths of five feet for up to half an hour.

Display

Its size and weight is only a fraction bigger than the iPhone, yet the Galaxy S7's screen is 18 per cent larger - 5.1ins in comparison to the 6S's 4.7ins. And that's just the beginning.

The Galaxy S6 was noted for the high quality of its display and the new S7 continues to be an impressive piece of kit in this area. It's a SuperAMOLED display with Quad HD resolution (1440 x 2560), meaning an impressive pixel density of 577ppi and an incredibly sharp-looking display with deep blacks and rich colours. There's also a new "always on" screen function that displays information such as the time and date even when the phone is switched off.

In contrast, the iPhone 6S uses an LCD setup with a pixel density of 326ppi – the same as Apple smartphones introduced in 2010. It's still "fairly sharp", according to Gizmag, but not on par with the Galaxy. Apple looks set to stick around with LCD setups for at least another year, although 2017's iPhone could get OLED panels.

One party piece the Apple display does have, though, is 3D touch – a pressure-sensing display that offers new ways to navigate the phone based on how hard certain icons are pressed.

Hardware

The Galaxy S7 uses the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset, though the UK version should get an Exynos 8890 octa-core processor instead, mated to 4GB of RAM.

It is certainly more powerful on paper than the iPhone 6S, which weighs in with only 2GB RAM and makes use of Apple's A9 chip.

According to The Guardian, benchmarking tests of the UK spec Exynos 8890 against the Apple A9 and the US spec Qualcomm 820 suggest, in terms of raw performance, that it loses out. But while this may look like a raw deal, the paper argues that overall, "the choice of processor doesn't matter" as they will all provide a smooth experience capable of most tasks.

It could be a deal-breaker if mobile gaming is high on your agenda, though. According to a benchmarking test carried out by Gizmodo, pitting Apple's latest handsets against their Android rivals, including the Galaxy S7, the iPhone came out on top in several areas.

CPU and GPU benchmarks don't tell the full story when it comes to real-world performance and according to their tests, iPhones 6, 6S, and SE could all consistently hit frame rates of 60fps while gaming, against the dropped frames seen on Android phones. The Galaxy S7 specifically hovers around 44fps when playing some of the most taxing mobile games.

On the surface, this looks like a hardware issue, but it's actually down to how most games and apps are optimised. According to Gizmodo, iOS typically receives the bulk of a developer's attention and apps are usually launched on Apple's system first.

Android has a larger share of the smartphone market worldwide, while iOS only appears on Apple's devices, meaning there's only one or two hardware configurations for which developers need to optimise their apps compared to the "hundreds of different devices with a wide variety of processor and display capabilities" seen on its rival.

Elsewhere both phones have dual-band 11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and NFC, although the iPhone's is only for Apple Pay.

The Galaxy is only available as a 32GB model compared to 16GB, 64GB and 128GB on the iPhone, but the micro SD card slot for expandable storage makes a welcome return after being absent on the S6.

The SD card slot means the Galaxy S7's storage can be boosted by 200GB and given that around 8GB of the phone's memory is already occupied by bloatware straight out of the box, it's a feature that's bound to be popular.

Early fears that the removable memory function wouldn't be compatible with apps have now subsided after Samsung told journalists at the launch that they cold be safely transferred onto an external card.

According to Forbes, the functionality of the SD card is a welcome feature, but it highlights the need for Samsung to put models beyond the 32GB device on sale in Europe.

Battery life and charging

Neither the iPhone 6S not the Galaxy S7 has a removable battery, but the Samsung's is much larger – a 3000mAh cell that can be charged wirelessly compared to its rival's 1715mAh battery. Consequently, Samsung should be the obvious winner here, but in reality "battery life is a lot more complex, and depends heavily on the display, operating system, usage and more," Digital Trendssays. Nevertheless, Apple has "long been at war" with device thickness at the expense of battery size and has often opted to compromise on power in a bid to achieve a slimmer silhouette. And while it may be possible to "squeeze enough juice out of the iPhone 6S Plus for a full day’s use, Samsung seems more concerned with getting its users through the day than offering the slimmest device possible".

Charging is also quicker and easier with the Galaxy. It supports the two leading wireless-charging standards, PMA and Qi, allowing the handset to be powered up just by placing it on a charging station rather than having to attach a cable. It also reaches max in 90 minutes via its Quick Charge 3.0 charger, GSM Arena says, while an iPhone 6S takes almost three hours to charge completely. 

Camera

Samsung has actually reduced the overall megapixel count of its camera hardware down to 12MP, putting it on par with the iPhone 6S. However, there has been a vast improvement in optimisation and the hardware, making for better shots in the dark and marking an overall improvement in image quality, with brighter photographs and more detailed shots.

Both phones can record 4K video and have 240fps slow-motion functions, although the Galaxy S7 also sports optical image stabilisation and has a better front-facing camera.

The iPhone 6S's hardware seems trumped on paper, then, but Apple could step up its game with the iPhone 7 – a dual camera is rumoured as being on the way, featuring optical zoom capabilities and marking a massive increase in performance.

Software

The Galaxy S7 ships with Android Marshmallow 6.0 and Samsung's TouchWiz skin, which could cause problems as the company will have to tweak it after every Android update.

Much has been said of ridding the S7 of bloatware, though, but it could remain an issue with the latest handset, especially for users who don't take advantage of the expandable memory function through the microSD card slot.

As for the iPhone, iOS remains the same simplistic, easy-to-update and smooth experience. iOS 9 comes automatically on the iPhone 6S, but users can upgrade to 9.3. iOS 10 is likely to arrive at some stage this year, with some touting a summer release while others believe Apple will keep it in reserve for the iPhone 7 launch.

When comes to software, a lot of it is down to personal preference, says PC Advisor. Operating systems can often sway decisions, especially for people loyal to one particular version. By and large, both systems make for phones that are vastly similar to navigate and users will likely find being part of a particular OS's eco-system and having experience with one to be the deciding factor.

Perks

Aside from the key differences, each phone has one or two perks that could sway your decision.
One of the biggest bonuses with the Galaxy S7 is its compatibility with the joint Samsung-Oculus-made Gear VR headset. The £80 device, which was free for customers who pre-ordered Galaxy S7, are billed as giving one of the best and most accessible virtual reality experiences around. The headset can be used with apps such as NextVR for immersive, live, 180-degree broadcasts for the likes of sports events and even presidential debates, as well as games.
Virtual reality headsets are available for the iPhone 6S, too, though not official Apple-made ones. The Gear VR is sanctioned by Samsung and the experience it provides means you can tell.
As for the iPhone 6S, the pressure-sensitive 3D touch screen is something the Galaxy S7 can't match. It provides a new way to navigate the phone's menus, allowing users to access text messages and notifications at a glance. Some early rumours indicated the S7 would also have it, but for now it remains on the Apple product. It's a feature yet to reach its full potential and could become an interesting perk for mobile gaming if app developers begin to release games making use of its capabilities.

6S Plus vs Galaxy S7 Edge

Of course, the two phones also have Phablet siblings in the form of the Galaxy S7 Edge and iPhone 6S Plus. Both are 5.5ins handsets but while the iPhone 6S plus gets a higher pixel density over the smaller phone at 401ppi, the S7 Edge, with a ppi of 534, loses focus a little compared to its smaller sibling. Both command a premium over the standard devices and feature more or less the same specs, although slightly larger batteries are a given, considering their sizes.

"Samsung has created a beast of a super-sized smartphone in the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge," says TrustedReviews.

"In many ways, it has the measure of the iPhone 6S Plus, with a nicer design, superior screen, and a camera that operates better in low light conditions."

But as always with Apple products, the iPhone 6S Plus is more than the sum of its parts.

In fact, Apple Pay, coupled with the fact that Samsung's pay feature is yet to arrive in the UK, could swing some customers the iOS way.

"Apple's slick combination of software and hardware is seamless in a way that no Samsung phone has ever been - and the Galaxy S7 Edge hasn't changed that," says the website.

Comparison website Phone Arena agrees. While the Galaxy S7 Edge is at the cutting edge of technology, the IPhone 6S Plus "is a great choice for those looking for a no-nonsense smartphone that does it all, without the unnecessary bells and whistles", it says.

"You can't go wrong with either of them," the site concludes - rather unhelpfully, but perhaps also quite inevitably.

Price

The Galaxy comes in slightly above the iPhone, with prices starting from £569 for the standard S7 and £639 for the 5.5ins S7 edge phablet.

As for the iPhone 6S, the 4.7ins model starts from £539 – some £30 less. It's a similar saving with the Plus, which comes in at £619.

However, there are bonuses for the Samsung phone. Customers who order now for an 11 March shipping get a free Gear virtual reality headset worth £99 that will let them take full advantage of the S7's impressive display.

A price drop could be on the cards, too, if you're willing to wait a few months.Idealo has compiled data from previous Galaxy phone launches and says that based on historic trends, the S7 could be 21 per cent cheaper three months after going on sale and almost 30 per cent cheaper in six months. By then, the iPhone 7 will be just around the corner so if predictions are true, the S7 should hold a distinct price advantage over its main Apple competitor.

Sales

Now the Galaxy S7 has been on sale for a few months, it's been possible to draw up sales comparisons between the two handsets and while many will point out that it's unfair to compare the sales figures of a phone released last year to one relatively fresh to the market, it hasn't stopped the critics.

Forbes's Ewan Spence reports on the most recent numbers in the "all-important US market", which show that Samsung has the upper hand at present.

March 2016 saw the South Koreans capture 28 per cent of the US smartphone market, compared to 23 per cent for Apple. The Galaxy S7 was introduced on 11 March, so it seems it was a successful launch for the handset and "another small victory" for the Galaxy S7 family.

While Apple continues to deliver higher profits in the smartphone market, Spence argues that momentum is heading away from the Californian tech giant. "Samsung now has a clear run through the next few months" with its critically acclaimed smartphone and only a heavily revised iPhone 7 can pose a threat to the company re-establishing itself as the world's number one handset-maker.

Verdict

TrustedReviews feels the Samsung Galaxy S7 is an "absolute beast of a smartphone", with more than enough to beat the iPhone 6S.

It adds: "It features a more robust processor, twice the memory, a higher aperture camera and comes loaded with Google’s oh so sweet Android Marshmallow operating system."

However, this "really isn't a surprise", it says, considering the Galaxy S7 is still box fresh and the iPhone 6S is now halfway through its lifecycle. The big battle comes later this year, when Apple reveals the iPhone 7.

According to TechRadar, it would appear the usual battle lines have been drawn between Samsung and Apple. They conclude the Galaxy is the more functional option and the iPhone the simpler one.  The S7 is a "strong showing" from Samsung and "all the right elements are there", they add.

It would appear Galaxy S7's strong functions and features definitely triumph. Alphr says it has the iPhone 6S beaten in most key areas, including display, features and battery life. BGR also thinks the Samsung phone wins in several key areas, such as the camera and display, plus there is the welcome addition of water and dust-proofing with which the iPhone 6S cannot compete. In terms of design, the S7 is reckoned to be a better device, too, and the Edge handset is considerably more comfortable than the iPhone 6S Plus.

As it stands now – before we know exactly what the iPhone 7 will bring – Refinery 29 says the Samsung Galaxy S7 is an "incredibly fast, beautiful piece of hardware" that could be the Android phone to tempt iOS users out of Apple's ecosystem.

In particular, it says, the S7's display and camera outperform the iPhone 6S, the build quality is "great" and overall, it's an "excellent smartphone".

"If you were to consider making the jump from iOS to Android, grabbing a Galaxy S7 would be a shrewd move," the site adds.

How might the S7 stack up against the iPhone7?

Looking ahead, the next earthquake moment for the industry will come with this autumn's launch of the iPhone7.

The much-anticipated upgrade to 32GB storage for Apple's phone means that the S7, which has the same capacity, loses a long-standing key advantage against its rival.

Meanwhile, if rumours of an exclusive dual-camera system for the iPhone7 Plus prove correct, then Apple will tip the balance when it comes to snapping and filming. With optical zoom capabilities and a huge step-up in performance, the dual system should see Apple make up a significant chunk of the ground it has been losing to Samsung.

Analysts believe the iPhone7 will feature the most sophisticated camera system the market has ever seen. Indeed, the launch of the iPhone7, believed to be inked-in for September, will see a rebalancing of the smartphone market, forcing Apple's rivals to work hard to maintain the march they've been stealing on the one-time-untouchable tech giant.