Introduction
Do we have a good one for you today – the wonderful Apple iPhone 6S is pitted against the new LG G5. These two all-metal, high-end smartphones battle it out in our specification comparison – which one of these devices have the build, processing power, camera and innovative design? When we compare an iPhone and an Android device such as the LG G5, we also have the added battle of iOS versus Android OS…now in its Marshmallow version.
The Apple iPhone 6S is a premium flagship device – no arguments there – and looks and feels the part. The completely redesigned LG G5 beefed up its build this year with an all-metal body but kept its removable battery and ability to increase its internal memory all the way to 2TB. Pricing is very similar, but the iPhone 6S does not come with a 32GB model – it is either a 16GB for $650 or a 64GB for $750. The LG G5 comes with 32GB and will cost about $625, but has the ability to expand. Let’s look for some common ground among these two devices and then we will look at each device on their own.
The iPhone 6S and the LG G5 have very little in common – the both use the IPS LCD technology for their displays, but little else in that department. Their processors, RAM, memory, cameras, batteries and even NFC are all different. They do share WiFi, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS and a fingerprint sensor. Apple travels a different road than Android when it comes to ideology, and it shows in their devices.
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
Apple iPhone 6S
Apple and Tim Cook would like to convince you that the iPhone 6S is “totally new,” but in reality, it is a refresh of the iPhone 6. It does have an improved aluminum body, a new camera, new video options and 3D Touch Display, and there is no arguing it is beautifully designed with a solid build – but the same can be said of the all-metal LG G5.
The iPhone 6S has a 4.7-inch IPS LCD FHD display with a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels and 326 pixels-per-inch (PPI). This compares to the larger 5.3-inch IPS LCD QHD display and 554 PPI found on the LG G5. The 6S uses a 64-bit A9 dual-core processor clocked at 1.84GHz and it is smooth and fast when operating iOS and it uses a PowerVR GT7600 GPU…comparing nicely to the 64-bit Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor and its Adreno 530 GPU in the LG G5. The 6S comes with 2GB of RAM, versus the 4GB in the LG G5 – both use the newer DDR4 RAM. The iPhone 6S offers a choice of 16GB, 64GB or 128GB of storage and no expansion while the LG G5 offers only 32GB of storage, but can be expanded up to 2TB.
Apple has always included a great camera and it continues to be one of iPhone’s strong points. For the iPhone 6S, Apple increased the size of the sensor from 8MP to 12MP along with another tweak here and there. It has the phase detection autofocus and a dual-tone LED flash. It has always been one the best point-and-shoot cameras on a smartphone, however, the Android phones have not only caught up to the iPhone cameras but in the past couple of years they have surpassed them in many cases – the LG G5 will be one of those devices with its 16MP and 8MP wide-angle dual cameras. The front-facing camera (FFC) on the iPhone is now a larger 5MP for social media selfies or video chatting – but ONLY through Apple’s FaceTime unless both users download a third-party app. The LG G5 uses a larger 8MP sensor on its FFC. The iPhone has never had great battery life and the puny 1715mAh non-removable battery in the 6S does not do much to help its cause, nor does it have a rapid charge feature. The LG G5’s 2800mAh removable battery is not only much larger than the one found on the iPhone 6S, but also employs a rapid charge feature.
What does the iPhone 6S have the LG G5 does not? Its iOS is easy to use, runs smoothly and efficiently, but rather boring and restrictive when compared to the Android OS with its customization capabilities and multitasking features. The iPhone has Apple’s proprietary Apple Pay and its proprietary FaceTime video chat feature – if you can call those a good thing. New this year – Apple improved the photo and video options and added what Apple calls 3D Touch display, where the display can ‘sense’ up to three pressures – press once to open up an app and then press harder within the app to go somewhere else – this is much like Android’s long-press, only somewhat more advanced. The pricing has always been a sore spot with the iPhone, commanding an off contract price of $650 for just the 16GB all the way up to $850 for the 128GB model.
LG G5
The LG G5 is a complete redo from the ground up. From our experience with the LG G4, we knew the G5 would have an awesome camera, but TWO main lenses peak our interest even more. We knew there was an all-metal body coming, but the LG G5’s big news is the modules the device can use. Simply by pushing in a button on the lower side, you can slide out the battery and slide in different modules. There are promises of many types of modules down the road, but one available now adds a larger battery and camera controls – it makes taking pictures easier by giving you a bulge to grab and offering up physical camera controls. Another module by B&O adds Hi-Fi sound to your headphones.
LG kept its built-in IR Blaster and FM radio while finally adding a fingerprint sensor in the space where the rear buttons used to reside. The sensor does click inward to act as an on/off switch, but the volume controls return to the side of the device. LG also started using a Type-C USB port on the G5.
The LG G5 sports a 5.3-inch IPS LCD QHD display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels and 554 PPI that is larger than the iPhone 6S’s 4.7-inch IPS LCD FHD display and 326 PPI. The brains come from the newest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with dual cores clocked at 1.6GHz and dual cores clocked at 2.15GHz. It packs 4GB of DDR4 RAM and 32GB of internal memory, expandable to 2TB via a microUSB card. This goes up against Apple’s terrific A9 dual-core processor with 2GB of DDR4 RAM and either 16GB, 32GB or 64GB of non-expandable internal memory.
LG revamped the G5’s camera area by taking the excellent 16MP sensor from the LG G4, adding another 8MP wide-angle sensor, added new software, and retained the 8MP FFC from the G4 for selfies and video chatting. This goes up against the impressive iPhone 6S camera area that uses a new 12MP sensor and a 5MP FFC. LG decreased the battery size to 2800mAh, but it is still removable and has quick charge capabilities. The G5 does lose its optional wireless charging due to the all-metal case. The iPhone 6S has a smaller, non-removable, 1715mAh battery and no quick charge capability.
The LG G5 gains the always-on display, a fingerprint sensor for mobile payments, has a built-in IR Blaster and FM Radio. It measures 149.4 x 73.9 x 7.7 mm, weighs in at 159 grams and comes in Silver, Titan, Gold and Pink. It should be available on April 1, with Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and Best Buy. It will be running Android 6.0 with LG’s UX skin on top and pricing is around $625.
…And The Winner Is…
Summary
For obvious reasons, other than we are an Android website, the LG G5 is the clear winner in this specification battle. On the outside, both devices are premium in every way, so we will have to call that a draw. When you look at the technical components and innovation, that is where the LG G5 shines and from those specifications, it is easy to pick the winner.
Let’s start with the fact that the display is larger…then moving on, LG G5 uses the QHD resolution versus the FHD resolution found on the iPhone 6S. The Apple A9 dual core processor is a real workhorse for iOS, but the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor and Adreno 530 GPU is certainly its equal and then some when you consider that we ask more of an Android device. The LG G5 has 4GB of RAM, the iPhone 6S has 2GB of RAM. The LG G5 has only 32GB of internal memory, but has the option to increase that memory up to 2TB – the iPhone 6S has a 16GB, 64GB or 128GB model, and no expansion. The iPhone 6S has a great 12MP main camera, but was outscored by the LG G4 by DxOMark and we expect no less from the new and improved 16MP and 8MP wide-angle lens on the LG G5. The LG G5 has an 8MP FFC versus the 5MP FFC on the iPhone 6S. The LG G5 has a 2800mAh removable, rapid charge battery while the iPhone 6S has a small 1715mAh non-removable battery.
That summary included only the specifications that are different – but when it comes to mobile payments, the LG G5 can use its NFC to make Android Pay purchases wherever there is a card reader that you don’t have to swipe and the merchant does not have to purchase additional equipment. The iPhone will only do Apple Pay and for that, the retailer must buy a special reader. The LG G5 can accept modules that include special camera controls and a larger battery and another from B&O for Hi-Fi sound from your headphones, with more to come – that is innovative.
If you refuse to use anything but iOS, settle for restrictive memory, no customization or widgets on the main display, 3D Touch, a small battery, and a high price tag, then an Apple is just what you need. You have to ask yourself the question – do you want a piece of fruit or a filet mignon?
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