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iPhone 6s vs. Galaxy Note 4: What We Know So Far

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Apple still isn’t talking about its new iPhone but that hasn’t stopped leaks and iPhone 6s rumors from surfacing as we push deeper into the year. Today, we want to compare iPhone 6s rumors to the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung’s current flagship. This is our way too early iPhone 6s vs. Galaxy Note 4 comparison.

Last year, after months of rumor and speculation, Samsung took the stage at IFA 2014 to announce its fourth-generation Galaxy Note. On stage, the company debuted two new Galaxy Note models, a Galaxy Note 4 and a curved variant called the Samsung Galaxy Note Edge.

As expected, both devices arrived with a slew of new features including an upgraded design, improved displays, enhanced cameras, and new Android software with TouchWiz on board. A few weeks after the launch, Samsung and its carrier partners around the world released the two devices and the Galaxy Note 4 currently stands as one of the top smartphones available.

Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop Update Review - 7

The Samsung Note 4 a device that some people will be looking to buy. It’s also a device that some people might be looking to replace later this year. If you fall into one of these camps you’re probably weighing your options and one device that’s probably on your radar is the rumored iPhone 6s from Apple.

The iPhone 6s isn’t official but iPhone 6s rumors continue to heat up. As the year’s progressed, we’ve started to hear whispers about the iPhone 6s specs, iPhone 6s design and more. There are still plenty of details that remain shrouded in mystery but we have enough to make an early comparison to the Galaxy Note 4 in an effort to help those of you thinking about upgrading.

This early iPhone 6s vs. Galaxy Note 4 comparison will run down the latest iPhone 6s rumors and show you how they currently compare to a device that many people will think about replacing later this year. Here’s what you need to know as we push into May.

iPhone 6s Release Date

If you’re looking to physically compare the Galaxy Note 4 vs. iPhone 6s, you’re probably going to have to wait several months before you’re able to do so. Apple hasn’t confirmed any plans yet but all signs are pointing to an iPhone 6s release date sometime in the fall.

We haven’t seen a whole lot of chatter regarding the iPhone 6s release but the rumors we have seen put the release in a very familiar window.

Expect a fall iPhone 6s release.

Expect a fall iPhone 6s release.

One rumor comes from the hit-or-miss Digitimes who says that Apple will release an iPhone 6s in the second half of the year. The other comes from the very credible KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who claims that iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus production will start in mid-to-late August. This points to a release in September.

If the iPhone 6s doesn’t come at WWDC 2015 (and it won’t), it’s likely going to arrive in the fall alongside Apple’s brand new iOS 9 update.

Design

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge designs feature a combination of plastic and metal. While they’re nice, they’re not as nice as the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge, both of which use Samsung’s new design language that utilizes both glass and metal.

Don't expect major iPhone 6s design changes.

Don’t expect major iPhone 6s design changes.

The most recent Apple iPhone 6s design rumors don’t hint at a microSD card slot or a removable battery (the Galaxy Note 4 designs both come with these) but they do point to some changes from last year’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus designs.

According to respected KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the big changes could be to the iPhone’s Touch ID fingerprint sensor:

We think the new iPhone,expected to launch in 3Q15, will be equipped with an upgraded Touch ID module, with which Apple (US) intends to offer a better and safer Apple Pay user experience with reduced reading errors. We therefore raise our 2015F shipments of Touch ID module by 12.4% to 262mn sets, boosted by Apple Pay and new iPhone models.

The Galaxy Note 4’s fingerprint sensor is better than the Galaxy S5’s sensor but it’s still swipe-based not touch-based like Apple’s Touch ID. The changes to Touch ID might not be all Apple tacks on to this year’s iPhone design.

According to Taiwan’s Economic Daily News, Apple might use the same custom Series 7000 aluminum alloy that it uses in its Apple Watch Sport. The alloy is designed to be 60% stronger than most aluminum without any additional weight. Apple describes it as being extremely light.

Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop Update Review - 4

While this publication is generally unreliable, the credible Kuo claims that Apple will indeed rectify the “Bendgate” problem with different casing materials and some changes to the internal mechanical design. He also believes that Apple will add another microphone near the speaker grille for enhanced voice quality.

And finally, like The Wall Street Journal, Kuo believes that Apple is considering a brand new color for the iPhone 6s. In addition to the white, gray and gold color options that come standard with the iPhone 6, the iPhone 6s might include a rose gold option. It’s not clear if this will push the price tag into the territory occupied by the rose gold Apple Watch Edition.

Display

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge feature two of top displays on the market. Both come with large Quad HD displays. This means that they feature 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. The screens are simply stunning and they should stay atop the smartphone display heap for the foreseeable future.

s note widget samsung galaxy note 4

It’s also worth noting that the Galaxy Note Edge comes with a curved display that bends over the right side of the phone. It can operate separately from the main screen providing a useful space for notifications and other activities. For more on the display, take a look at our Galaxy Note Edge rundown.

Last year, the iPhone 6 Plus and its 5.5-inch display moved in on the Galaxy Note’s territory and it looks like we’ll see more of the same this year as Apple takes on the Galaxy Note 4’s impressive 5.7-inch screen.

We expect an iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in 2015.

We expect an iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus in 2015.

Apple’s rumored to have two iPhone 6s models in development, an iPhone 6s and an iPhone 6s Plus. Unsurprisingly, Kuo believes that the display sizes will remain at 4.7-inches and 5.5-inches respectively. While the size might stay the same, Kuo believes that Apple will implement its Force Touch technology into the new iPhone.

The company’s new Force Touch technology can determine the action a user wants to perform based on the strength of a tap. Apple built this into the Apple Watch, the new MacBook and the MacBook Pro Retina. One iPhone 6s rumor indicates this will appear on the iPhone 6s display and another suggests it will be exclusive to the iPhone 6s Plus.

The video above highlights Force Touch actions inside OS X and shows how the new hard press works. On the iPhone 6s, the technology could make it easier to use many apps where users want to see information with a hard tap instead of using multiple taps.

Processor

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor in the United States. The two devices are among the most powerful on the market thanks to the processor’s power and thanks to the 3GB of RAM Samsung installed on board. The iPhone 6s’ processor should be comparable though we’re (obviously) unable to benchmark it.

Every year, Apple introduces an improved chip and this year should be no different. In a report outlining a special division within Samsung that will focus on developing displays for Apple, Bloomberg says that Samsung will deliver the new iPhone processor for 2015.

This will likely be the Apple A9 processor which will likely include more power than the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus both of which sport A8 chips. Early reports also indicate Apple will boost the RAM from 1GB to 2GB. Kuo also believes that Apple will add 2GB of RAM to the new iPhone.

Camera

Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4 models come with an upgraded 16MP sensor that features Optical Image Stabilization and one of the best camera apps found on Android. For more on the Galaxy Note 4’s camera, take a look at our review.

Apple’s iPhone 6s camera could be one of its biggest selling points. Earlier this year, we heard about iPhone 6s camera upgrades and now we may know more about what Apple could do to deliver better iPhone cameras.

Apple invests in tech that could deliver a better iPhone 6s camera.

Apple invests in tech that could deliver a better iPhone 6s camera.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple acquired LinX, an Israeli Camera technology company that develops cameras for smartphones. While there are some cool features that this tech can bring out in the iPhone 6s camera, the really exciting part is that it could dramatically improve the quality of iPhone photos.

LinX previously described the camera technology as enabling better low light performance, faster exposure. It also said that it can deliver the same image quality as a big DSLR camera.

Kuo also believes Apple will shift from its 8MP sensor to a larger 12MP camera sensor.

Software

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 now runs Android 5.0 Lollipop which you can read about in our review of the software. It’s a solid operating system.

The Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop adds connectivity features.

The Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Lollipop update adds connectivity features.

As for the iPhone 6s, it will probably run Apple’s new iOS 9. The iOS 9 update is all but confirmed for arrival at WWDC 2015 and it’s expected to deliver new features, fixes and more.

iOS 9 release rumors have suggested that the update will be focused on improving the stability of the operating system. Many iPhone users have been plagued by a number of bugs since the arrival of iOS 8 back in September.

According to a new leak, Apple is working on a new look for Siri that mirrors the colorful look found on the Apple Watch. The update is also expected to feature a new background that features blue and green as well as a major round of security enhancements.

Apple is known for adding software exclusives to “S” iPhone models so there’s a very good chance that the iPhone 6s will feature something that’s unique, something that Apple uses to promote the phone against rivals like the Samsung Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

iOS 9 Release for iPhone & iPad: 10 Things You Can Count On

iOS 9 Launch at WWDC 2015

iOS 9 Launch at WWDC 2015

Apple hasn't confirmed the iOS 9 update just yet but you can count on an announcement at WWDC 2015 during its keynote address on June 8th. There, Tim Cook and company will take the stage, probably to talk about OS X and iOS 9.

For several years now, Apple’s introduced its yearly iOS and OS X updates during its WWDC keynote. And while the company hasn’t come right out and announced a new iOS update for WWDC 2015, there are some clues.

In its press release for WWDC 2015, Apple states that “at WWDC, Apple’s renowned developer community will come together to learn about the future of iOS.” The statement doesn’t mention iOS 9 by name but it’s a sign that we’ll probably see more than an iOS 8.4 update announced on stage. iOS 8.4 is a big update but it's not that big.

In the WWDC 2015 information section, Apple outlines what developers can and cannot do with pre-release information disclosed at the event. This is further proof that we will likely see the iOS 9 update arrive during the keynote and WWDC 2015. 

We also have a collection of iOS 9 rumors that point to an arrival at WWDC 2015 in June. If Apple doesn't announce an iOS 9 update at WWDC we, like many others, will be in complete shock. 

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. Lol

    05/14/2015 at 6:21 pm

    Wouldn’t you want to Compare the 6s to a (note 5)? I mean, note 4 is not far from year

    • Adam is a douche

      05/15/2015 at 7:27 pm

      Adam mills is an idiot he’s don’t know his dick from his thumb

  2. Jonathan

    05/19/2015 at 6:16 am

    These verses they do are so stupid comparing rumors to a phone that has been out almost one year. Stop these flame war causing click bate no nothing poorly written pieces of tripe please. Just list what you think of the next item and when it comes out then do the verses.

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