Mobile Technology

Nexus 6P vs. iPhone 6s Plus

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Google and Huawei are about to launch a flagship phone that could rival Apple's second phablet
3D Touch
Camera aperture (rear)
Battery
Build
Camera megapixels
Color options
Processor
Dimensions
Display resolution
Display size
Display type
Fast charging
Fingerprint sensor
Google and Huawei are about to launch a flagship phone that could rival Apple's second phablet
Optical Image Stabilization
Starting price (full retail)
RAM
Release
Software
Storage
Weight
Wireless charging
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Later this month Google will start shipping a new flagship phone that could be one of Android's best alternatives to the iPhone 6s Plus. Let's compare the Nexus 6P's features and specs to those of Apple's new phablet.

Size

Dimensions

The Nexus 6P is almost exactly the same size as the iPhone 6s Plus.

Weight

Weight

The Nexus, though, is 7 percent lighter.

Build

Build

Nothing to worry about here, as both phones have aluminum unibody constructions. The only exception is that glass bar by the Nexus' rear camera.

Colors

Color options

Google and Huawei give you three color options to choose from for the 6P, next to four for the iPhone.

Display size

Display size

Despite those nearly-identical sizes, the Nexus has a 7 percent bigger screen.

Display resolution

Display resolution

Based on pixel density, the Nexus has a 29 percent sharper screen. Despite that, the 1080p iPhone 6s Plus has one of the best smartphone displays we've seen, with its combination of maximum brightness, white balance, color accuracy and good (though not the best) pixel density.

Display type

Display type

It's AMOLED vs. IPS.

Pressure-sensitive display

3D Touch

We wouldn't be surprised to see Android flagships with 3D Touch-like displays start popping up next year (and actually Huawei has already announced one), but right now these pressure-based shortcuts belong to Apple alone.

Fingerprint sensor

Fingerprint sensor

Both flagships have fingerprint sensors, but the Nexus' lives on the phone's backside. The iPhone's Touch ID is part of its home button.

Storage

Storage

The Nexus has the big advantage of doubling the iPhone's storage on the entry-level tier. You might want to keep this in mind when we get to prices in a minute.

Processor

Processor

Don't be fooled by the iPhone's innocent-sounding dual core processor. The A9 is a ferocious beast that will eat you alive (i.e. the iPhone's real-world performance is very fast).

RAM

RAM

Multitasking speeds are great on the first iPhones with 2 GB of RAM.

Battery

Battery

The Nexus 6P has a 26 percent bigger (higher-capacity) battery, but we'll need to test its uptimes before jumping to any conclusions.

Fast charging

Fast charging

One of the biggest advantages current Android flagships have over today's iPhones is fast-charging tech, which can quickly juice up a nearly-dead handset (or at least quickly get it back to a respectable state).

Wireless charging

Wireless charging

Google left wireless charging out of its 2015 flagships.

Camera megapixels

Camera megapixels

The iPhone 6s Plus has a great camera, but we'll have to wait for our review unit before having anything to say about the Nexus' photography (for what it's worth, Google is making big promises there).

Camera aperture (rear)

Camera aperture (rear)

The Nexus' rear camera has the wider aperture.

OIS

Optical Image Stabilization

No Optical Image Stabilization in this year's Nexus; we'll also keep an eye on this in our review.

Software

Software

The Nexus 6P launches with stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow, while the iPhone runs iOS 9.

Release

Release

Nexus 6P pre-orders have been open for a couple of weeks, and will start shipping later this month.

Starting price (full retail)

Starting price (full retail)

The Nexus doesn't quite have budget pricing, but considering its build quality and internal hardware, its pricing is going to be tough to beat. If the experience it provides is what we'd expect from its software, specs and feature list, then it could end up being one of the better smartphone buys this holiday season. Stay tuned.

For more you can check out Gizmag's full review of the new iPhones and our Nexus 6P review.

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3 comments
MarkArmitage
In this comparison you seem desperate to find the iPhone better or at least equal to the Nexus 6P when its specs are clearer much lower, save for that pressure sensitive screen. You say for example "Both flagships have fingerprint sensors, but the Nexus' lives on the phone's backside. The iPhone's Touch ID is part of its home button." as if having it on the back is a disadvantage. In fact the Nexus one is superior as it turns on and unlocks the phone immediately whereas the iPhone's does not. When you come to the price comparison though the facts speak for themselves. The iPhone with only 16 Gb of memory is a whacking $250 more expensive than the nearest equivalent Nexus 5P, which, however, has 32 Gb memory!Apple is having a laugh at everyone's enormous expense!
phissith
Hopefully lack of OIS will not be a let down. I am surprise that Apple still haven't incorporated quick charger as I'd considered as a game changer for those who complained about swappable batteries. The price is amazing, those apple boy who still denied that Apple is ripping them off is not being realistic. I can understand that the ram and battery spec wise should be tailored to it's OS but even still how can you explained the price??!!
sssssheik
Apple's pricing sucks, i phones have always been overpriced. But the fact that Apple challenges every rivals with Quad core and Octa core processors with an A9 dual core processor is awesome!