Introduction

Do we have a good one for you today – the old nemesis, the Apple iPhone 6 Plus goes up against the new LG G4.  This comparison has it all with iOS versus Android, Apple’s Retina HD Display goes up against LG’s QHD display and two terrific cameras going head-to-head.  Both devices are solidly built and look very premium as well as each device having a fiercely loyal following.  Apple has finally joined the rest of civilization and now offers a choice of a 4.7-inch display or a 5.5-inch display on the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, respectively.  How will the larger display and improvements of the iPhone 6 Plus stack up against the newest LG G4?

Both devices do share a little patch of common ground – they both share a 5.5-inch display, although the iPhone 6 Plus is slightly taller, thinner and weighs more.  They both offer some of the best cameras in the smartphone world, although the mechanics are vastly different.  They both have one speaker…the iPhone on the bottom and the G4 on the back.  They both offer the usual suspects – Wi-Fi, Bluetooth (iPhone 4.0 and LG G4 has 4.1), GPS, are NFC compatible (iPhone is Apple Pay only), and both batteries are fairly close in size with the non-removable 2915mAh in the iPhone and a removable 3000mAH in the G4.

Please take a deliberate look at the detailed Specifications Comparison chart below and here you will see just how these two great devices stack up against one another – click on the “View Full Comparison” link at the end of the chart to expand the details.  After that, we will look at each individual device in greater detail and point out some of its pros and cons.  From all of this information we will try to determine the winner based on specs and execution of design and functions.

Specifications

Specifications Comparison | SpecOut

Apple iPhone 6 Plus

The Apple iPhone 6 Plus is the larger sibling of the iPhone 6 – Apple changed their phones from a glass and metal design to an all-metal design with a new look.  The 6 Plus is nothing more than a stretched version of the base model with a larger display and Apple curiously added OIS.  This is Apple’s first foray into a phone this large – something that Steve Jobs and Tim Cook firmly preached was not necessary, yet look how the larger display increased sales.

It just seems unnatural to say that the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch display – it is a Full HD IPS LCD model with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 with 401 pixels-per-inch (PPI) – compared to the QHD display and 538 PPI found on the LG G4.  It uses a 64-bit A8 dual-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz and it is smooth and fast…comparing nicely to the 64-bit hexa-core Snapdragon 808 in the G4.  Yes, the iPhone 6 Plus is 64-bit, as was the iPhone 5s, but neither device can fully take advantage of the 64-bit with only 1GB of RAM…which by-the-way, is not up to the multitasking powers of the 3GB found in the G4.  The iPhone 6 Plus offers a choice of 16GB, 64GB or 128GB of non-expandable storage whereas the LG G4 offers a 32GB base and room to expand an additional 128GB via a microSD card.

The camera has always been one of the iPhone’s strong points and each year they make improvements.  The iPhone 6 Plus uses the same 8MP size sensor used on the iPhone 5s, with some tweaking here and there.  It has the usual auto-focus, OIS and a dual-LED flash.  It has always been one the best point-and-shoot cameras on a smartphone, but in the past year or so, the Samsung and LG cameras have actually surpassed the iPhone in recent testing.  The front-facing camera (FFC) is still a measly 1.2MP for video chatting – again ONLY through Apple’s FaceTime unless both users download a third party app – or a selfie for social media.  This compares to a new 8MP wide angle and large f/1.8 aperture FFC on the G4 and is superior in every way.  The iPhone has never been known for great battery life and the 2915mAh battery in the 6 Plus is a minimum size for a phone this large.  The LG G4 uses a 3000mAh battery, which is not much larger, but the LG has a reputation for better battery life.

What does the iPhone 6 Plus have the LG G4 does not?  It does includes a fingerprint scanner for added security, the LG cannot use Apple’s proprietary Apple Pay, nor its FaceTime video chat feature.  It is easy to use and efficient, but rather boring when compared to an Android device and the customizations you can perform.  The pricing has always been a sore spot with the iPhone, commanding a contract/off contract price of $300/$750 price for just the 16GB all the way up to $500/$950 for the 128GB model.

LG G4

The LG G4 is merely an evolutionary update of the LG G3, and why not, the LG G3 was already using a QHD display, so all that was left was for LG to improve on everything.  LG did just that by starting with their display.  LG greatly improved on their original design by adding more brightness and contrast to a rather dull G3 display, and designed it to use less power.  The device is slightly larger than the G3 and LG added a slight curve to the device – not a LG G Flex 2 kind of curve – but just enough to make it more comfortable to hold.  Along with an improved ceramic-coated metallic looking back, you can also special order ($35) a real leather one that comes in several colors with real stitching up the back.  While the LG G4 does appear very similar to last year’s LG G3, it does look and feel even better.

The LG G4 sports a 5.5-inch QHD LCD Quantum display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 538 PPI…and that certainly tops the 401 PPI of the iPhone 6 Plus’s Retina HD display.  LG claims their improved display allows for a 25-percent brighter display with a 50-percent increase in the contrast and 56-percent improvement to the color accuracy…and it really makes a world of difference over the duller display on the LG G3.

Although LG used the newest Snapdragon 810 in their new LG G Flex 2, they decided to pass on it for the LG G4 and instead chose the Qualcomm’s 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor.  The 808 is optimized for the LG G4 and should be easier on its battery and offer steadier performance than the model 810.  This stacks up very nicely to the 64-bit dual-core A8 processor found in the iPhone 6 Plus.  The G4 is packing 3GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage, but also has room for expansion via a microUSB card.  The iPhone 6 Plus one has 1GB of memory and fixed amounts of expensive internal storage at 16GB, 64GB and 128GB.

The camera on the LG G4 is one of the top cameras in the smartphone world with a 16MP sensor, laser autofocus, a LED Flash, and a wider f/1.8 aperture for better shots in low light, along with OIS+.  The iPhone 6 Plus uses an 8MP sensor and Apple finally added OIS to the 6 Plus (but not the iPhone 6).  The LG uses a large 8MP FFC camera that also includes the wider f/1.8 aperture lens and it should take excellent selfies and provide great video chatting, especially compared to the 1.2MP FFC on the iPhone 6 Plus.  The LG G4 uses a removable 3000mAh battery, compared to the non-removable 2915mAh on the iPhone 6 Plus, and the LG G4 does offer optional built-in wireless charging and a faster quick charge.

What does the LG G4 offer that the iPhone 6 Plus does not?  The G4 has optional wireless Qi charging and it can take advantage of Quick Charge 2.0 thanks to the Qualcomm processor.  It is designed with a slight curve to the phone and controls are easily accessible on the back of the device…giving it a nice feel in your hand.  It includes a built-in IR Blaster and a FM stereo radio.  It also incorporates some great software features in the camera area, especially the Professional Mode.  The LG G4 comes in a variety of colors, both in the metallic and leather backs.  It will cost you about $200 on a two-year contract and about $650 off-contract.

…And The Winner Is…

Summary

I know we are an Android website, but I will not apologize for picking the LG G4 as the winner of this comparison based on specifications.  I will admit that the iPhone 6 Plus is a sweet ride, but the LG simply out-specs the Apple device.

Let’s start with the QHD display that is simply better in PPI (401 vs 538), technology and looks.  The iPhone’s A8 dual-core 64-bit processor is nothing to sneeze at and works fine with 1GB of RAM and iOS’s relatively easy demands.  However, the 64-bit Snapdragon 808 hexa-core processor is optimized for the G4 and with its 3GB of RAM knows how to properly multitask and run two programs at once on the display with no lag or hesitation. The Apple iPhone has no memory card slot for cheaper expansion of internal memory, the main camera of the LG G4 is better than the iPhone’s 6 Plus (someone had to say it) and there is no comparison with the LG G4’s 8MP FFC versus the 1.2MP on the iPhone 6 Plus.  There are no proprietary cables to purchase, the NFC works as it should, there is an IR Blaster and a built-in stereo FM radio.  You also have the option of wireless charging and a removable battery and the option of a genuine leather backing.

Yes, the iPhone has a fingerprint sensor, Apple Pay and an all-metal design (if you like that sort of casing), but those features do not outweigh the flexibility found in an Android operated device, not to mention the hardware specifications.  Apple lovers unfortunately, will never taste the sweetness that is Android nor what the LG G4 has to offer.  An iPhone’s iOS steals your identity as you are molded to fit the device and the Android OS allows you to be yourself and mold your phone to your identity…need I say more?

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