Samsung Galaxy S7 vs iPhone 6S: Which is better?

Samsung Galaxy S7 vs iPhone 6S: 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 new 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.

So, 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. 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 are 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, although the UK version gets an Exynos 8890 octa-core processor instead, mated to 4GB of RAM.

It's at least 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, the iPhone came out on top in several areas against its Android rivals, including the Galaxy S7.

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 titles.

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 its developers need to optimise their apps compared to the "hundreds of different devices with a wide variety of processor and display capabilities" of its rival.

Elsewhere, both phones have dual-band 11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, GPS and an NFC chip.

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. Looking at it purely from a baseline perspective, the 32GB of the Galaxy S7 far outweighs the tiny 16GB capacity of the cheapest iPhone 6S.

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 pre-installed apps 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 they could 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.

Consequently, Samsung should be the obvious winner, but in reality, "battery life is a lot more complex, and depends heavily on the display, operating system, usage and more," Digital Trends says. 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 in 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 micro SD 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 was at the 2016 Worldwide Developers Conference and will launch alongside the iPhone 7. Every iPhone from the iPhone 5 onwards will be able to run it.

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

Perks

Aside from the key differences, each phone has a couple of 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 the Galaxy S7, is billed as being one of the best and most accessible virtual reality experiences around. It can be used with apps such as NextVR for immersive, live, 180-degree broadcasts of sports events and even presidential debates, as well as games.

Virtual reality headsets are available for the iPhone 6S, too, although not official Apple pieces. 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 is something the Galaxy S7 can't match. It provides a new way to navigate 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 titles making use of its capabilities.

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.

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, for the £539 starting price of the iPhone 6S, you only get 16GB. Apple's device doesn't have an SD card slot for expandable memory and most users will have to opt for the 64GB version, which matches the £619 price of the entry level but equally 16GB-shod iPhone 6S Plus.

Verdict

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

"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. They conclude the Galaxy is the more functional option and the iPhone the simpler one.  The S7 is a "strong showing" and "all the right elements are there", they add.

It would appear Galaxy S7's 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 wins in several key areas, plus there is the welcome addition of water and dust-proofing. In terms of design, the S7 is also believed to be a better device and the Edge is considerably more comfortable than the iPhone 6S Plus.

As it stands now – before we know exactly what the iPhone 7 will have – 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.

Know Your Mobile also throws its backing behind Samsung's latest effort, saying it "is much superior to the iPhone 6s. It beats it in almost every regard".

There's a running theme here and not a particularly surprising one – Samsung's phone is newer and stronger on paper and while the iPhone 6S remains a great smartphone, Apple needs a new flagship to compete.

Sales

Now the Galaxy S7 has been available for a few months, it's been possible to draw up sales comparisons between the two. While many will point out that it's unfair to compare the 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 "all-important US market", where figures show that Samsung has the upper hand.

March 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.

How might the S7 stack up against the iPhone 7?

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

Its much-anticipated upgrade to 32GB storage will see it claw back the advantage currently held by the S7, which has the same capacity.

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. Optical zoom capabilities and a huge step-up in performance 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 the market has seen. Indeed, its launch will see a rebalancing of the market, forcing rivals to work hard to maintain the march they've been stealing on the one-time-untouchable tech giant.

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. 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.

Galaxy Note vs iPhone 6S Plus

Samsung's phablets don't end with the S7 Edge. The firm has a separate line of large mobile devices in the form of its Note series and the next one in the series is expected to arrive in the UK in August.

Currently tipped to be called the Galaxy Note 7, it's rumoured to be getting a curved, 5.8ins AMOLED display, as well as huge power – Qualcomm's as-yet-unreleased Snapdragon 823 chipset mated to 6GB RAM.    

However, it will shape up to be a rival for Apple's next big iPhone rather than the firm's current offering. The iPhone 7 Plus is tipped to get 3GB RAM plus that dual camera. Watch this space.

What else is out there?

Apple has three iPhones currently on the market: the iPhone 6, 6S, in their two sizes, and the iPhone SE, which was introduced this year.

The SE makes use of many of the internal components of the iPhone 6S, including its processor chip, 2GB RAM and 12-megapixel iSight camera. It's all packaged up in a smaller form factor, using a four-inch display and the same small case used on the older iPhone 5S. It's a powerful phone and an ideal choice for those after the power and specs of the 6S in a smaller package and a lower price – it starts from £359.

As for the iPhone 6, it features the exact design as the iPhone 6S but with less powerful internals, an eight-megapixel camera as opposed to the 12 on the bigger model and no 3D Touch. Consequently it has a cheaper price than the 6S, at £459, and is also available in a larger Plus model.

When it comes to Android phones, there are other flagships sporting similar specs to the Galaxy S7 out there. The LG G5 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 chipset mated to 4GB RAM and is modular, letting you clip pieces on and off.

The OnePlus 3 offers the same chipset with 6GB RAM, a 16-megapixel camera and a 5.5ins AMOLED display but at a much cheaper price– it's just £309.