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iPhone 6 vs. Nexus 6: 5 Things Buyers Need to Know

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In this early iPhone 6 vs Nexus 6 comparison, we take an in-depth look at some of the key differences between the two new flagships and devices that will likely be at the top of consumer wish lists this holiday season.

Back in early September, after months and months of rumor, Apple took to the stage in Cupertino to announce its brand new iPhone dubbed iPhone 6. The iPhone 6 comes in two sizes, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and both are far bigger than the iPhones that came before them. In addition to these new displays, the new iPhones come loaded with powerful hardware, sleek iOS 8 software, and familiar price points.

Apple’s 4.7-inch iPhone 6 is the smaller of the two and it’s a device that we think ranks among the best smartphones on the market. And now that the iPhone 6 is in stores across the world, consumers are starting to weigh it against the top competition, competition that now includes a brand new Nexus 6 from Motorola and Google.

Earlier today, after months and months of rumor, Google announced the all new Nexus 6 from Motorola. Google did not take to the stage like Apple but it did outline many of the Nexus 6’s important features including hardware, software and more. Like the iPhone 6, the Nexus 6 comes with a massive display. It’s also going to find a home on a larger swath of carriers than last year’s Nexus 5, something that should help to make it more appealing to consumers in the U.S.

With an iPhone 6 now on shelves and a Nexus 6 release date on the way in November, we want to take an early look at the most important things buyers need to know, right now, about the match up between the iPhone 6 vs Nexus 6. Our goal is obviously to help send you down the right path if you’re in the market for a new smartphone.

iPhone 6 Display vs Nexus 6 Display

As we mentioned, the iPhone 6 comes with a larger 4.7-inch display. This compared to the 4-inch Retina Displays found on the previous two iPhones, the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5.

Screen Shot 2014-10-15 at 3.15.08 PM

While the display is bigger, it cannot match the full HD 1080p display of the iPhone 6 Plus. It’s also no match for some of the higher displays on the market including the displays on the Galaxy Note 4 and the LG G3.

  • iPhone 6 – 4.7-inch 1,334 x 750 – 326 pixels per inch
  • Nexus 6 – 5.96-inch 2,560 x 1,440 – 493 pixels per inch

Content on the iPhone 6 looks nice but again, after using 2K displays, you’re going to notice some differences especially with photos. Content on 2k displays look crisper. Google’s Nexus 6 comes with a 2k display that measures nearly 6-inches. It’s the largest Nexus smartphone screen ever and there’s also a good chance that it will be the best looking Nexus screen ever. If the quality is anywhere near the LG G3 or Galaxy Note 4, it’s going to visibly trump the iPhone 6.

iPhone-6-pair

We should also note that Apple’s iOS 8 software includes Reachability, an option to make using the iPhone 6 with one hand easier. So far, we haven’t seen anything like this baked into Android 5.0 Lollipop, the software that’s arriving on board the Nexus 6 next month.

iPhone 6 vs Nexus 6 Size & Design

The Nexus 6’s massive Quad HD display comes at a cost: Overall size. Google’s new Nexus is taller, wider, thicker and heavier than the iPhone 6. While the size difference between it and the iPhone 6 Plus is comparable, the difference between it and the iPhone 6 is very noticeable. The photo below will give you an idea about how the three phones compare.

Nexus 6 vs. iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 6 Plus.

Nexus 6 vs. iPhone 6 vs. iPhone 6 Plus.

The overall design of both phones includes a metal frame, but the Nexus 6 features a curved back not found on the iPhone 6. This is at least partially why the Nexus 6 is much thicker than the iPhone 6’s design. For those that aren’t visual learners, here’s how the two smartphones stack up from a dimensions standpoint.

  • iPhone 6 – 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm – 129 grams
  • Nexus 6 – 159.26 x 82.98 x 10.06 mm – 145 grams

The Nexus 6 design borrows heavily from the Moto X 2014 design. The photo below shows the iPhone 6 Plus and the Moto X 2014 together, which illustrates the overall differences in design. The iPhone 6 Plus design is similar to the iPhone 6 design.

iPhone-6-vs-Nexus-6-Design-620x292

One thing that we should note: the breaks in the frame for the antennas are not nearly as visible on the Nexus 6. They are very visible on the iPhone 6 aluminum design.

iPhone 6 vs Nexus 6 Features

These are two flagship smartphones from 2014 which means that they both come with the latest and greatest features. While we won’t review and compare every single iPhone 6 and Nexus 6 feature here, we’ll run down some of the more important features that we think prospective buyers should keep an eye on going forward.

  1. Security – The iPhone 6 comes with a feature called Touch ID. Touch ID is a fingerprint sensor that can unlock the phone and make purchases. The Nexus 6 does not include a fingerprint reader.
  2. Trusted Devices – The Nexus 6 knows when it is connected to a trusted device like a smart watch or a Bluetooth headset. And because it knows this, it will not lock on you.
  3. Mobile Payments – The iPhone 6 supports Apple Pay which will arrive later this month. The Nexus 6 supports Google Wallet which delivers mobile payments for practically any credit or debit card.
  4. Users – There is an option on Android 5.0 for the Nexus 6 to set up another profile on the phone so a child can’t use all of your apps and access your email and contacts. There is no option for this on the iPhone 6 or iOS 8.
  5. Fast Charge – The Nexus 6 can fast charge 6 hours of use in 15 minutes using the included Turbo Charger. The iPhone 6 does not come with any sort of fast charging capabilities.
  6. Water Resistant – The iPhone 6 is not water-resistant according to Apple’s specs, and even though some tests show it can survive a brief dip it’s not listed as an official spec. The Nexus 6 is water-resistant, but there are no specific details so you shouldn’t take it swimming. It should, however, survive a drop into a puddle.
  7. Wireless Charging – The Nexus 6 includes wireless charging with a Qi charger. The iPhone 6 requires a lightning cable to charge.
  8. Camera – The Nexus 6’s 13MP camera comes with Optical Image stabilization. The iPhone 6 Plus features OIS but the smaller iPhone 6 does not. We can’t make any camera comparisons yet but if the Nexus 6’s 13MP camera is anything like the new Moto X’s, the iPhone 6 camera should come out on top.

iPhone 6 Plus vs Nexus 6 Specs

The features offer a better look at what the Nexus 6 and iPhone 6 are capable of, but if you want to compare specs, here’s a look at how all of those stack up against each other.

iPhone 6 Specs

  • Apple A8 64-bit Processor
  • iOS 8
  • 4.7-inch display – 1334 x 750  – 326 pixels per inch
  • 16GB / 64GB / 128GB storage options
  • 1.2MP front-facing camera
  • 8MP rear-facing camera
  • 1810 mAh battery
  • 4G LTE
  • 802.11ac WiFi
  • Bluetooth
  • Touch ID Fingerprint Sensor
  • NFC
  • iOS 8

Nexus 6 Specs

  • Snapdragon 805 Quad-Core w/ Adreno 420
  • Android 5.0
  • 5.96-inch display – 2,560 x 1,440 – 493 pixels per inch
  • 32GB / 64GB storage options
  • 2MP front-facing camera
  • 13MP rear-facing camera with Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3,220 mAh battery
  • 4G LTE
  • 802.11ac WiFi
  • Bluetooth
  • NFC
  • Android 5.0 Lollipop

iPhone 6 Price vs Nexus 6 Price

Google’s Nexus 6 will be coming to five carriers in the United States. AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular, and Verizon will all stock the Nexus 6 later this year. This is a big difference from the Nexus 5, a device that arrived only on AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile. We’re still not sure how much the Nexus 6 will cost on contract though a recent leak hints at a $50 price point. At this point, that seems low.

Off-contract, the Nexus 6 is going to cost $650 for a 32GB model and $700 for a 64GB model. That’s far more expensive than last year’s Nexus 5 which remains on shelves as Google’s budget alternative.

Motorola-Nexus-6

Apple’s iPhone 6 is available on all five of those carriers and tons of others including C Spire Wireless, Bluegrass Cellular and others. The iPhone 6 offers more choice to prospective buyers.

Unlike the Nexus 6, the iPhone 6 comes in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB which amounts to $199.99, $299.99 and $399.99 on-contract. Off-contract, the iPhone 6 should start at $650, or, the same price as the Nexus 6.

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