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Nexus 6 vs. iPhone 6: How do they measure up?

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Google has announced the newest member of the Android family, the Nexus 6. The question on everyone’s lips is, how does it compare to the iPhone 6?

We’ve analyzed the numbers and walked through the various features to help you determine which one wins this fight. Will the victor become your next smartphone?

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Nexus 6

Nexus 6 Small
Image used with permission by copyright holder

iPhone 6

iPhone 6
Size (HWD) 6.27 x 3.27 x 0.40 inches 5.44 x 2.64 x 0.27 inches
Weight 6.49 ounces 4.55 ounces
Screen 5.96-inch AMOLED 4.7-inch IPS LCD
Resolution 1,440 x 2,560 pixels 1,334 x 750 pixels
OS Android 5.0 iOS 8.0.2
Storage 32/64 GB 16/64/128 GB
Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 Apple A8
RAM 3 GB 1 GB
Connectivity 4G LTE, 802.11ac, HSPA+, NFC 4G LTE, 802.11ac, HSPA+, NFC (limited)
Camera Front 2MP, Rear 13MP Front 2.1MP, Rear 8MP
Video 4K at 30fps 1080p HD at 60fps
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.1 Yes, version 4.0
Sensors GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, magnetometer, ambient light sensor GPS, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer, compass
Battery 3,220 mAh 1,810 mAh
Charger microUSB Lightning
Marketplace Google Play Store Apple App Store
Avg. Price $650 $200 with 2-year contract
Availability November 2014 on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile
DT Review Coming Soon 4 out of 5 stars
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Power

Google has amped up the power of the Nexus 6 with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor and 3GB of RAM. That coupled with a 3,220-mAh battery will keep your phone working for 300 hours of standby or 24 hours of talk time, the company claims — something we haven’t tested yet, but it certainly sounds impressive. To compare, the iPhone 6 is powered by an Apple A8 processor, which is 25 percent faster, 50 percent more energy efficient, and has 50 perfect faster graphics performance than Apple’s former model. The battery can last for up to 14 hours of talk time and it supports LTE and the new Voice Over LTE spec.

Design and Screen

The Nexus 6 looks sleek with an aluminum chassis and body. It comes in 32GB and 64GB versions and you can choose from white or blue. It has the same curved body as the Nexus 5. The screen is large and sharp for sure: a 5.96-inch QHD AMOLED at 1,440 × 2,560 pixels. It measures in at 6.27 × .3.27 × 0.40 inches and is fairly light for its size at only 6.49 ounces. The iPhone 6 comes in silver, gold, or space-gray, and it has the same streamlined look as the 5S. It’s a little bit smaller — the screen is 5.44 × 2.64 × 0.27 — but a bit lighter too, at 4.55 ounces. On paper at least, Google’s resolution blows Apple’s away. But the different display technologies have inherent strengths and weaknesses. OLEDs have deep blacks and perfect contrast ratios,while LCD screens are brighter and more colorful. And both get top marks from expert analysts — though the 6 isn’t nearly as impressive as the screen Apple built into the 6 Plus.

Camera

Apple is pretty stoked about the cameras on the iPhone 6, a 2.1 MP in the front and 8 MP in the rear. That’s not incredibly impressive on its own, but Apple has added some neat features so you can edit photos and video right from the phone and upload them to Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. The first is image stabilization, which makes it easier to shoot videos on the go. It’s just done in software in the iPhone 6, however; the 6 Plus comes with optical image stabilization to stabilize the lens physically, a much higher-quality technique. Still, it’s a neat feature. The iPhone 6 also comes with time lapse and slow-motion features, plus a burst mode that takes many photos at once. It shoots video at 1080p at 60 frames a second.

Though the iPhone 6 brought the heat, the Nexus 6 won’t be outdone. It has a 2MP front camera and 13MP rear camera — Google loves beating Apple when it comes to specs. So when it comes to image stabilization, it should be no surprise that the Nexus 6 features optical image stabilization, not just digital, and an LED flash. It’s features like this that elevate smartphone photography to the level of real photography. And the real treat lies in the fact that it can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second. If that’s not the future, I don’t know what is.

Price

The Nexus 6 will be available in November; the 32GB model will cost $650, while the 64GB is yours for $700, without a contract. A 16GB iPhone 6 is out now at AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, and T-Mobile and starts at $200 with a 2-year contract, 64GB for $300, and $400 for the 128GB version.

Conclusion

The screen on the Nexus 6 is a little bigger and the camera can shoot in 4K, but the iPhone 6 is thinner and lighter, and allows for advanced video and photo editing. Throw in the intangibles, such as how easy to use you feel the iOS interface is and how much you want to customize the Android screen, and the comparison quickly comes down to which phone you already feel comfortable with. Both represent improvements on the companies previous phones. It’s up to you to decide whether to go Apple or Google — but you’ll be a winner whichever you choose.

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Emily Schiola
Emily Schiola
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