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iPhone 6 vs. LG G3: Can the G3 dethrone the new iPhone?

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After a rumored-filled year, the iPhone 6 is finally here. As expected, Apple will offer two different models of the next iPhone, including the smaller iPhone 6, which has a 4.7-inch screen and the larger iPhone 6 Plus, a 5.5-inch phablet. Both phones are now available for preorder as of September 12, with an expected shipping date of September 19.

Now that we know what kind of specs the iPhone 6 has onboard, we want to find out how the new iPhone stacks up against other highly touted devices of 2014. We’ve pitted it against one of Android’s premium devices, the LG G3. Does the iPhone 6 match up? See for yourself.

iPhone 6

iPhone6-spec-vs

LG G3

LG-G3-spev-vs
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.28 (in) 5.76 x 2.94 x 0.35 (in)
Weight 4.55oz 5.26oz
Screen 4.7-inch 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS
Resolution 1334 x 750 pixel 2560×1440 pixel
OS iOS 8 Android 4.4.2 KitKat
Storage 16 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB 16GB or 32GB
SD Card Slot No Yes, microSD slot (up to 128GB)
Processor Apple 64-bit, A8 chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 801
RAM 1 GB 2GB or 3GB DDR3
Connectivity 4G LTE, 802.11 AC Wi-Fi, 4G, LTE, HSPA+, NFC
Fingerprint Sensor Touch ID No
Camera Front 2.1MP, Rear 8.1MP Front 2.1MP, Rear 13MP
Video 1080p HD 2160p 4K UHD
Water Resistant Yes No
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0
Battery TBA, 14 hours of talk time 3000mAh, 19 hour of talk time
Charger Lightning Micro USB, wireless
Marketplace Apple App Store Google Play Store
Avg. Price $650, $200 with a two-year contract $580, $100 with a two-year contract
Availability September 19 on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile Now on AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile
DT Review 4.5 out of 5 4.5 out of 5
Related

Power and productivity

Apple’s A8 processor is reportedly 25 percent faster than the A7 processor found in the 5S and has 50 percent faster graphics performance. Back when the 5S debuted, it blew every other phone out of the water in speed bench-marking tests. Apple is still the only company that gets to lay claim to the 64-bit architecture on mobile devices, and that has its benefits. Even so, the iPhone 6 does appear to fall short of the LG G3 on paper, notably in the RAM department. The iPhone has a relatively small 1GB RAM, as opposed to LG’s 2-3GB RAM options. The LG G3 also has the zippy 2.5GHz Snapdragon 801 processor onboard, which is widely considered one of the best processors currently on the market.

Related: LG G3 review

Whether the moderate upgrade in processor on the iPhone 6 will improve upon an already snappy processor is yet to be seen. Apple bundles the A8 processor with an M8 co-processor that can pairs well with fitness apps and includes a barometer. While the iPhone 6 has a longer battery life than previous iPhone models, LG’s device has a much larger battery and some nifty features, including a replaceable battery (free until September 22) and a energy saving feature that’ll help you conserve juice when you’re far from a charge. What’s more, the iPhone 6 doesn’t feature an SD card slot for added storage, but the G3 does.

Winner: Tie

Design

It appears that even Apple agrees that bigger is better these days. The screen of the iPhone 6 grows to 4.7 inches with a resolution of 1334 x 750 pixels. It’s still slightly smaller and has a much lower resolution than the G3, but it’s a tad lighter. The G3’s 5.5-inch Quad HD screen is certainly impressive, though, and almost makes up for its plastic build.

Related: Hands-on with the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

The G3’s not-quite-metal, plastic rear panel looks and feels less high-end than the iPhone 6’s aluminum chassis. The new iPhone is also very thin and light, especially considering the fact that it’s made of metal. Major design changes for the iPhone come in the form of the power button that has moved from the top to the right-side of the device and the camera that protrudes slightly from of the back panel. The obvious advantage to the new power key position is that you’ll be less likely to cover your real camera in fingerprints. This is a problem on the G3, which positions the  power button on the back just below the camera.

The iPhone 6 will initially be offered in the same colors as the 5S, including gold, black, and space gray.

Winner: iPhone 6

Camera

The iPhone 6 will see small camera upgrades. A 2.1-megapixel camera replaces the 1.2-megapixel “facetime camera” of the 5S. Even though, we all know that megapixels aren’t the only thing that determines the brawn of a camera, the newest iPhone doesn’t boast any higher resolution with the rear camera. It still has a nearly identical 8.1-megapixel shooter on the back. Apple did announce that the iPhone 6 will include iSight, though, which should help you take better pictures, thanks to improved face detection and exposure control.

The new iPhone can also produce 1080p HD video and capture 60 fps for better slow-motion video betters the G3 in this category. Meanwhile, the G3 packs nearly twice the pixels into its rear camera, which has a 13-megapixel sensor, and LG’s reputable Laser Focus technology. We’ve reviewed the G3’s camera positively because it identifies subjects faster than the 5S and takes pretty terrific shots.

Related: LG G3 Review

Winner: Tie

Price and availability

The G3 will cost you $100 with a two-year contract at most carriers. It’s a low price compared to the iPhone 6’s three price options, which start at $200. The iPhone is available for preorder as of September 12 and will begin shipping on September 19. The G3 is available now on all major carriers.

Winner: LG G3

Conclusion

When it comes to a straight up spec comparison, the LG G3 may edge out the Phone 6. However, it’s impossible to call it until we’ve laid hands on the iPhone 6 for a week or so. The resolution and processing power outpace the iPhone 6 and the connectivity and design are comparable. The iPhone 6 finds its legs in a good design and the soon-to-be launched iOS 8. While not revolutionary or groundbreaking, the iOS experience will be enhanced via the iPhone 6.  However, the bottom line here is this: The G3 gives you a terrific processor and camera for less money.

Related: iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 6 Plus.

Related: iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy S5.

Related: iPhone 6 vs. Fire Phone.

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Joe Donovan
Joe Donovan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Joe Donovan is an editorial assistant for Digital Trends who covers a variety of general assignments throughout the…
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