iPhone 6s Plus, Nexus 6P Battle for High-End Smartphone Supremacy

The iPhone 6s Plus has a new rival to contend with—the Nexus 6P. Both have are high-end smartphones with screens. Here is a comparison of the two devices.

Display size is of major concern to consumers and enterprise customers, so it’s no surprise that the Huawei-designed Nexus 6P tries to trump Apple on that front. The Nexus 6P comes with a 5.7-inch screen, compared with the 5.5-inch model in Apple’s handset. The iPhone 6s Plus has 401 pixels per inch, which is substantially lower than the 518 pixels per inch available in the Nexus 6P.

From the front and side, the iPhone 6s Plus and the Nexus 6P look surprisingly similar. Both devices have a slim design and metal finish and come with a front panel that is dominated by a large screen and small bezel. The big difference, however, is the back of the devices, where the Nexus 6P has a camera area that adds some more depth. And since the Nexus 6P has a slightly larger screen, it’s also a bit bigger than the iPhone 6s Plus.

Fingerprint sensors have become the go-to security feature for smartphone makers, and both these devices feature them. The iPhone 6s Plus has a fingerprint sensor on the front, called Touch ID, while the Nexus 6P’s fingerprint sensor is on the back panel that provides slight haptic feedback when it’s activated. Both sensors are capable of opening the operating system and making payments with their respective mobile wallets.

The operating systems built into the Nexus 6P and the iPhone 6s Plus are about as different as they come. The Nexus handset comes with the standard version of Google’s Android Marshmallow. Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus, meanwhile, features the company’s recently launched iOS 9. Those who prefer one over the other should keep that in mind before choosing a handset.

There are some companies that have a special affinity toward device makers. Many in the enterprise, for example, have seemingly taken a liking to Apple’s products. Customers in China, especially, have a desire for Huawei-based products. Although both companies use China-based manufacturers for their product designs and have a strong track record for building solid devices, some may ultimately choose one over the other simply because of the company that makes them. In this battle, it’s Huawei against Apple.

It’s hard to say which device will ultimately win on power, since proper benchmarking for both products hasn’t been completed. That said, it’s quite possible that the Nexus 6P, equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 processor, featuring a 2GHz clock speed, is an early front-runner. The iPhone 6s Plus, however, is no slouch, boasting Apple’s A9 chip that the company says is by far more powerful than previous models. When both devices do go up against each other in a power showdown, it will be interesting to see which one will ultimately win the day.

Cameras matter greatly in today’s selfie-obsessed world, which is likely why both the Nexus 6P and the iPhone 6s Plus come with updated snappers. The iPhone 6s Plus comes with a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera with 4K video recording capabilities. The device’s front-facing camera has 5 megapixels and 720p HD video recording. The Nexus 6P, on the other hand, has a 12.3-megapixel rear-facing camera and 4K video recording, while the front-facing camera tops out at 8 megapixels. The front-facing Nexus 6P camera also has HD video capture.

Built-in software is a major selling point for both iPhones and Android-based devices. With Apple’s handsets, customers will find everything from Apple Pay to Apple News to the new and improved Notes. The iPhone 6s Plus also includes Apple Music and Apple Maps. The Nexus 6P, meanwhile, has a treasure trove of Google apps, including Google Maps, Gmail, Chrome and others. Choosing between the devices means choosing between Apple and Google apps.

One of the key features in Apple’s iPhone 6s Plus is support for 3D Touch, a feature that allows users to gain extra functionality by modifying how they press down on the touch screen. Apple’s 3D Touch is a feature not found in many of its competitors, but whether it’s a killer feature that will take out the competition remains to be seen.

If it’s pricing that will ultimately determine success in the marketplace, the Nexus 6P may have the advantage. The handset starts at $499 unlocked for the 32GB model and goes up to $649 for the 128GB option. If customers don’t choose the iPhone Upgrade program that amortizes the cost of Apple’s handsets over several months, the iPhone 6s Plus starts at $749 for 16GB of storage. The 128GB iPhone 6s Plus is available from $949.