iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6 (Rumored)

Samsung’s Galaxy Note was the first huge smartphone to become popular. The first “phablet” worth buying, but now everyone wants a piece of the same phablet market. This year Apple finally released a bigger phone, and then an even bigger iPhone 6 Plus with a 5.5-inch display, and now Google’s Nexus 6 is rumored to deliver a phablet experience too.

While the Nexus 6 is still largely just a mystery device that’s been rumored for months, it appears to be a real product that is on track for a release sometime in the next month or so. With the iPhone 6 Plus already available buyers may jump at the opportunity to get the big phone, but it may be worth waiting to see what Google has planned.

Read: Nexus 6 Rumors: What We Know So Far

Last month Apple took the stage in California to unveil the all-new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Both with big screens and a new look. They’ve been wildly popular as we all know, and a worthy successor to the iPhone 5s from 2013, but the new Motorola Nexus 6 looks to be a pretty great phablet too. It’s the first big Nexus smartphone, rumored to have a 5.92-inch display, so read on to see how they both compare.

Lately we’ve gotten a good look at what very well could be the Motorola Nexus 6, a device that’s codenamed “Shamu.” Android Police recently leaked a number of key details including a render of what could very well be the Nexus 6. That render shows a large smartphone running Android L and a form factor that differs from the current Nexus smartphone.

While we wait for Google to make an announcement, enthusiasts are taking it upon themselves to deliver early comparisons to current devices. One user on Reddit was able to figure out the Nexus 6′s potential size. He then compared that potential size to the dimensions of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and the iPhone 6 Plus. We’ll start with that, then break down the rest of the details below.

Based on the image above, the Nexus 6 will actually be the smaller than Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus, all while delivering a bigger and more HD display. While it’s too early to say what the Nexus 6 will offer, simply because it has yet to be announced, we have a pretty good idea of what to expect and hopefully can help prospective buyers decide which of these two phones is right for them.

Display

It’s no secret the iPhone 6 is hugely popular. It sold over 10 million units in the opening days, and finding the bigger iPhone 6 Plus in stock is still a rather hard task. It’s one of the best iPhone releases ever, and won’t be slowing down anytime soon. That’s all thanks to a bigger display.

Apple finally caved to market and user demand and increased the size of their smartphones after years of making fun of Samsung for their massive 5.7-inch screens, and now they’ve done the same. The iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch 1080p HD display, but that won’t compare to the higher resolution Note 4 or Nexus 6.

The leaked images we’ve seen show a Nexus 6 with extremely thin bezels, a front facing speaker similar to the Moto X (considering its made by Motorola) and a sleek design all around. Thin bezels will keep the size down so it doesn’t seem so huge, but 5.92-inches may still be too big for many. We’ll have to wait and see.

Google’s new Nexus 6 will have a 5.92-inch screen with a 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD resolution, much higher than Apple’s alternative, but something that may also hinder viewing angles and battery life. The LG G3 has a great Quad HD display, as does the Note 4, so once it arrives we’ll take a closer look.

Design

The design is something we can’t comment much on yet, as there isn’t a lot of details yet. We know everything about the iPhone 6 Plus already, as does everyone else. We really don’t need to go into the beautiful design and sleek aluminum edges of the iPhone 6 Plus, even if #bendgate is a potential problem.

At the same time, the Nexus 6 will have a lot to offer too. Most likely the same soft-touch matte plastic casing we’ve seen before to house the device, but we may have some customization options or different color choices, considering Motorola is behind the new phone. The Nexus 5 is available in black, white, and red, with rumors of a yellow model that never came to fruition. Motorola could offer custom color backplates, but that’s doubtful at this point. Google’s never done such a thing, and we don’t see that changing.

While the details about the Nexus 6 are still scarce, here’s an image that leaked earlier this week giving us a great look at the front of the phone, and just how big it really is.

The device overall design and dimensions are hidden under a protective case, so we’ll have to wait for more leaks or Google’s official announcement before we learn more.

What it all comes down to though, is the size. If you’re considering the iPhone 6 Plus, the Nexus 6 might actually be a bit smaller even with a bigger display, so take that into consideration. All things aside, I’d try the iPhone 6 Plus in a store before you buy either phone simply to see if the huge size works for your hands. The size certainly isn’t for everyone.

Specs

While specs don’t completely matter, nor does how many cores the processor has, many still love to see the raw numbers. Software will be key, but both of these phones are sporting some of the latest cutting edge hardware and are top-tier flagship smartphones in every sense of the word.

Nexus 6 (Rumored)

• 5.92-inch 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD Display
• 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 805 processor with 3GB of RAM
• 32GB internal storage
• Android 5.0 “L Release” (64-bit support)
• 13 Megapixel camera with OIS, 2.1 front camera
• Ring Flash similar to Moto X
• Front Facing Speaker (bottom, look close)
• Aluminum frame around device like the new Moto X 2014
• 3,200 mAh battery

iPhone 6 Plus Specs

• 5.5-inch 1920 x 1080p Full HD Display
• 1.4 GHz Dual-Core Apple A8 with 1GB RAM
• 16/64/128GB storage
• iOS 8
• 8 Megapixel Rear and 1.2 facetime front camera
• Dual LED flash
• Unibody aluminum design
• TouchID Fingerprint scanner
• 2,915 mAh battery

The iPhone 6 is readily available and surely most buyers have seen one already. We know what to expect from size, quality, design and more. We can’t compare iOS to Android, or won’t because that never ends well. Both phones are quite powerful, but as usual, Apple has a dual-core compares to the quad-core chipsets in Android smartphones these days. The Nexus 6 is certainly more powerful on paper, but that isn’t everything.

Software

We’re not going to dive into the software too much here, simply because comparing iOS to Android is like comparing Apples or Oranges. It just doesn’t work. They both have their respective pros and cons, fans, and haters. iOS 8 is the biggest change to Apple’s OS in years, and Android 5.0 L is the biggest change for Google in quite some time too.

Read: Android L Preview: Hands-On

Android L is the next major version of Android. It’s rumored to debut on the Nexus 6 and 9 later this month and possibly be called Android 5.0. Google announced it back in June and let out a developer preview, which you can see below, but we’re expecting things to look a little different and more refined come release date.

Again the video above is a very early preview of Android L, and surely things will be different once it arrives. We can expect the Note 4 to get Android L in the future, but it won’t be for at least a month or longer. This means that those wanting the latest Samsung experience will want to head to the Nexus range.

Release

One factor between which device a buyer will choose is the release date. We’re potentially less than a month away from the Nexus 6 release date, but that’s yet to be confirmed.

Same source: Announcement rather than launch of the HTC Nexus 9 on 16th October. 8.9" (of course!)

— Paul O'Brien (@PaulOBrien) September 18, 2014

Above, is a tweet from a popular Android developer who’s been accurate with leaked information in the past. His anonymous sources confirm the new HTC Nexus 9 tablet will be launched on October 16th, and officially released and available to buy at a later date. This has also been rumored as the release date for the Nexus 6. We’ve been hearing November 3rd, but can’t confirm

However, another report from AndroidAuthority claims October 15th or 16th, as the date isn’t final. Their tipster says both the new Nexus smartphone and tablet will debut with Android L on the 15/16th, as a general announcement, and the release will be on or slightly after November 1st. This means that right around the time the Galaxy Note 4 becomes available to buyers is when Google will reveal the Nexus 6, potentially leaving buyers in a tough spot regarding which to buy.

The Nexus 6 will be available from the Google Play Store, and eventually from a few other outlets. We’ve heard a few small rumors that a Verizon Nexus 6 is coming in 2014, but we’re not holding our breath. The unlocked model from the Google Play Store will work on AT&T, T-Mobile and other GSM carriers, and it’s somewhat possible we’ll also get Verizon 4G LTE support, but that’s something we’ll have to wait for announcement to confirm. Verizon does things much different, and haven’t played nice with Google in the past.

As you all know, the iPhone 6 Plus is available just about everywhere. From everyone, on all carriers.

Price

Price is another thing we don’t yet know, so buyers will have to wait this one out. Well, for the Nexus 6 at least. The iPhone 6 Plus isn’t cheap, and Google’s usually tried to undercut the competition, so this will be key.

iPhone 6 Plus Prices

• iPhone 6 Plus 16GB – $299
• iPhone 6 Plus 64GB – $399
• iPhone 6 Plus 128GB – $499 (all on contract)
  

You can also buy the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 plus off contract for $649 to $949 depending on the model and storage you want. The cheapest model outright is $649.

Google’s Nexus 5 rings in at $349 or $399 without a contract, and they’ve always kept Nexus prices lower than the competition. We can expect the same this year, even though the device is getting some major improvements. Motorola has some of the best and least expensive phones on the market (read: Moto X, Moto G) and that same strategy will likely be in play for the Nexus 6.

It’s highly possible the new Nexus 6 will be $399 for the 16GB variant and $449 for the 32GB model, but we’re also hoping Google makes a few changes and offers 32 and 64GB models instead. Sadly we won’t know until more leaks surface, or until Google and Motorola announce the all-new Nexus 6 hopefully in the near future.

You can expect Google’s new Nexus 6 to be roughly $200 less than the iPhone 6, and more depending on how much storage you decide you need.

Final Thoughts

These are two vastly different devices. The Motorola-made Nexus 6 will be a pure Android experience aimed at developers, enthusiast, or those looking for a different smartphone than the norm. All while the iPhone 6 Plus is a polished experience that Apple’s been building on and improving for years and years.

If you want a pure Android experience with the latest version of Android and quick updates, the Nexus 6 is your phone. If you’re an Android user at heart, you know what phone you wait.

However, if you’ve been a long time Android fan and always wanted to try iOS but the displays were too small, now is your chance. The iPhone 6 Plus has a huge screen, great camera and battery life, and an improved iOS 8 worth checking out. It’s a tough call, but in the end it’s all about what you need.