iPhone 6 vs Galaxy S5: What Cities Are Most Interested in Buying Them?

The iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S5 are the most exciting smartphones for 2014 and the continual focus of rumors and leaks, driven in part by consumer interest in these new smartphones.

Thanks to search data it is clear that consumers are more interested in the iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S4 than any other rumored smartphones for 2014 including the HTC One 2, Galaxy Note 4, Moto X 2 or others.

Consumer interest is not a direct indication of whether shoppers will buy the iPhone 6 or the Galaxy S5, but we saw similar trends last year that indicates Samsung needs to draw in more consumers with a revamped smartphone experience.

Read: iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy S5 Rumor Comparison

Let’s take a look at how the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S5 interest compares using Google Trends. To compare this we look at the Google Trends interest over time to see what consumers are searching for. By comparing searches for iPhone 6 or Apple iPhone 6 and Samsung Galaxy S5 or Galaxy S5 we get a good idea of which devices consumers are searching for.

The graph above shows interest in the iPhone 6 is nearly twice as high as that in the Samsung Galaxy S5 in January and the start of February. Speculation that Apple was planning an iPhone 6 release last year gave the iPhone 6 a bump much earlier than the Galaxy S5. Even now as the Samsung Galaxy S5 launch is set to take place this month the interest is less than that for an iPhone that may not arrive until September.

With a deeper dive we can see where the biggest areas of interest are for the iPhone 6 and the Galaxy S5 in the U.S. New Jersey and New York are the highest ranking states for searches in both of these devices.

Top 10 Cities Searching for iPhone 6

1. Hialeah, Fla.
2. Alexandria, Va.
3. New York, N.Y.
4. Los Angeles, Calif.
5. Philadelphia, Pa.
6. San Diego, Calif.
7. Atlanta, Ga.
8. San Francisco, Calif.
9. Houston, Tex.
10. Chicago, Ill.

Top 10 Cities Searching for Samsung Galaxy S5

1. Hialeah, Fla.
2. Plane, Tex.
3. Alexandria, Va.
4. New York, N.Y.
5. Sheridan, Oreg.
6. Philadelphia, Pa.
7. Los Angeles, Calif.
8. Newton, Mass.
9. Chicago, Ill.
10. Atlanta, Ga.

An early lead for iPhone 6 searches doesn’t necessarily translate into a win for Apple. Last year searches for the new iPhone including possible names like iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s ranked above the Galaxy S4 until the launch in March. After the large public launch, marketing blitz and release the Galaxy S4 topped the iPhone searches until the iPhone 5s release in September.

Samsung is reportedly working on a new design and experience for the Samsung Galaxy S5 to excite consumers and prevent any quick trade-ins later in the year.  Data from Gazelle points to a spike in Galaxy S4 trade-ins in the fall near the iPhone release window. As the chart above shows, Galaxy S4 interest starts to fade at the end of the year after spending the last quarter underneath the iPhone searches.

Samsung Galaxy S5 Rumors

The Samsung Galaxy S5 launch event is reportedly set for February 24th. Samsung announced an Unpacked event with an invitation using the number 5, similar to the use of a 4 on the Galaxy S4 invite. The company has not confirmed the Galaxy S5 for the event, but an insider tells the NY Times the Galaxy S5 is confirmed for the event.

The latest reports suggest Samsung may not be ready to include a super-high resolution display, but enough reports claim it is a Galaxy S5 feature that it is possible. Many sources claim the Galaxy S5 will feature a 5.2 to 5.25-inch display with a 2560 x 1440 resolution and will come with a new Snapdragon 805 or Exynos processor. Multiple rumors suggest a 16MP camera is on board and that it will come complete with a collection of special features that Samsung likes to include.

Read: Galaxy S5 Rumor Roundup

The Galaxy S5 design remains under wraps, but according to comments made to Bloomberg in early 2014, Samsun is planning to focus on the display and the feel of the phone to help the Galaxy S5 stand out.

Samsung will ultimately show the final design on stage in late February and the rumored new TouchWiz software that will ship with the Galaxy S5. We could see the Galaxy S5 release in April or May according to multiple sources.

iPhone 6 Rumors

The iPhone 6 launch is rumored for summer or fall, with a September launch and iPhone 6 release more likely based on Apple’s history. There are no specific details about the launch and for now the rumors focus on the display and components that help paint a picture of a new iPhone.

Read: iPhone 6 Rumors Compared

The iPhone 6 will arrive with a bigger screen according to multiple reliable sources. These sources don’t agree on the specific size or resolution, but it looks very clear that Apple is planning a larger screen to better compete with users who are attracted to the Galaxy S5, Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 3. At this point we could see two iPhone 6 models with different screen sizes; a 4.5inch to 4.8-inch model and one with a 5.5-inch display.

Apple is good at keeping the design under wrap, so the only thing we really know from leaks is that Apple is likely to stick with anodized aluminum. It looks like we could also see a Sapphire screen on the iPhone 6, though Apple is also keeping that information under wraps.

The iPhone 6 camera rumors suggest a 10MP camera or an improved 8MP camera and an Apple A8 processor that enables other iPhone 6 features.