If rumors are to be believed, the Nexus 6P will be the last Nexus-branded phone from Google ("Nexus" is dead, long live "Pixel"). Before it checks out, let's line up phablet vs. phablet to see how the Huawei-made 2015 handset compares to the new Apple iPhone 7 Plus.
Size
The two phones have nearly identical measurements, something to keep in mind when we get to screen size.
Weight
The iPhone 7 Plus is the denser of the two, tipping the scales at 6 percent heavier.
Build
The Nexus 6P nearly has a unibody aluminum design, like the iPhone 7 Plus, only with that glass bar you see lined up atop its backside.
Water resistance
Apple added official water resistance to the iPhone for the first time this year. Its IP67 rating means it can survive a dip in up to 1 m (3.3 ft) of water.
Colors
Colors aplenty to choose from for both phones.
Just keep in mind that Apple isn't offering the coveted jet black model in anything below 128 GB. Nothing like a good old-fashioned upsell to keep those investors happy.
Display size
Despite being almost exactly the same size, the iPhone 7 Plus only gives you 93 percent as much screen as the Nexus 6P.
One caveat: The Nexus uses virtual (onscreen) navigation buttons, so on your homescreen and in some apps, part of that 5.7-inch display will be taken up by a bar at the bottom.
Display resolution
The Nexus' QHD screen comes out 29 percent sharper than Apple's.
Display type
It's the old IPS vs. AMOLED showdown.
3D Touch
There's no pressure-sensitive display on the Nexus (or any high-profile Android phones, for that matter). On the iPhone, 3D Touch means harder presses with your finger will pop up various shortcuts – the equivalent of a right-click.
Camera megapixels
Megapixel count, which you likely know by now isn't a be-all-end-all measurement of camera quality, is very similar.
The Nexus' camera was solid for a 2015 flagship, but expect the iPhone 7 series to blow by it like a Jamaican sprinter.
Camera aperture (rear)
Part of that can be owed to the iPhone's wider aperture, which helps out in low-lit conditions.
Dual rear camera
The iPhone 7 Plus has a second rear camera that gives you real optical zoom and, after a software update later this year, will get together with the main camera for some bokeh (blurred background) effects in portrait shots.
OIS
Google and Huawei left Optical Image Stabilization out of the 2015 Nexus flagship.
Battery
The Nexus has a 19 percent bigger (higher-capacity) battery, but lots of factors play into actual battery life. Stay tuned for our 7 Plus review for more on this.
Fast charging
Apple has fallen way behind on this front, still lacking the quick-charge tech that has been in Android flagships for two years.
Wireless charging
Neither of these handsets have the wireless charging tech that you'll find in Samsung's high-end phones.
Processor
The iPhone's A10 chip is faster.
RAM
Apple bumped its 2016 phablet's RAM up to 3 GB, compared to the 2 GB found in its 4.7-inch counterpart.
Storage
Here's another fun upsale trick, as Apple will tempt you to throw down "just" an extra US$100 to quadruple your storage from 32 GB to 128 GB. At least the folks in Cupertino spared us the obsolete 16 GB of storage that was standard until a few weeks ago.
MicroSD
Neither rocks a microSD card slot.
Capacitive home button
Apple saved some internal space (likely for extra battery) by making the iPhone 7's home button non-moving and capacitive, instead using the company's unique haptic feedback to give you a "click" feeling.
Fingerprint sensor
Both phones have fingerprint sensors, but the Nexus' is on the phone's backside: a move that, depending on the size of your hands, could be either a blessing or a curse.
Mobile payments
The iPhone works out-of-the-box with Apple Pay, while the Nexus works similarly with Android Pay. Unlike Samsung Pay (we're floored by the creativity marketing departments put into these brand names), both of these services require specially-installed NFC equipment to use your phone as a virtual wallet.
Software
The iPhone 7 Plus ships with iOS 10, while the Nexus series were the first phones to get the Android Nougat update.
Release
This isn't a fair comparison, as the new iPhones just hit the street, while the Nexus 6P will soon be replaced by 2016 (likely HTC-made "Pixel") follow-ups.
Starting price (full retail)
With that said, the Nexus 6P isn't quite a terrible buy, as it still rings up for $269 cheaper than the iPhone. It also isn't a good buy, with an updated successor or two waiting in the wings.
For more, you can hit up our reviews of the iPhone 7 Plus and Nexus 6P.
