iPhone 6 Vs. Nexus 6: The Battle Between iOS And Android Rages On

The battle between iOS versus Android has never been more evident than when Apple unveiled its latest iPhone, with Google’s latest Nexus arriving in the market shortly after that.

Apple fans were of course, quick to side with the latest iPhone 6, even going as far as to claim that it can convert the staunchest Android user to its fold. Thankfully, fresh from the coattails of its release, Google unveiled their latest offering, seemingly bringing balance to the universe once again.

Looking back to when Apple and Android announced their new flagship products, both phones veer so far away from its predecessors that it’s almost like both Apple and Google anticipated the need to offer something bigger and better this time around. The iPhone 6 for instance, is not only bigger, but Apple also decided to create a phablet version of it — the iPhone 6 Plus.

And Google, instead of releasing an LG-made Google phone as they have before, decided to create a supersized version of the MotoX and brand it as their own.

Each has its own merits that any iPhone or Nexus fanboy, siloed in their individual love for each OS, can spout by memory. So for those on the fence, here’s a side-by-side showdown:

Design

You can’t expect smartphones to veer too far away from the standard candy bar design that users have become accustomed to since it was first introduced. How creative can one really get with it? The most its makers can do is create a sleeker, more durable version of whatever came before it.

Which is exactly what Nexus 6 did. It features a striking, curved back with a large camera, taking its design cues from traditional Motorola designs. This is a big difference from the previous Nexus 5 design that generally has been thought of as a little plasticky as opposed to sleek.

The iPhone 6 changes things up as well. Instead of the traditional block, we’re given a more curved, rounded chassis. It’s thinner, bigger and looks the most different from all the other iPhones ever introduced. In fact, it looks closer to a Samsung S3 than an iPhone.

Bottomline? Nexus 6 offers a sleeker version of the classic candy bar design; but so does the iPhone — so it might all come down to personal preference for design and size (as the case may be for Apple’s 4.7 inch iPhone 6 or 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus).

Display

Let’s do this by the numbers:

Nexus 6 will have a 2,560 x 1,440 pixel resolution, with a density of 493 pixels per inch. iPhone 6, which introduced a retina HD LCD (which just basically means it will have a pixel density above 300), has a screen resolution of 1,334 x 750 pixels.

Nexus 6 takes this one.

Operating System

Both phones will be released already installed with the latest operating systems. Nexus 6 will carry the new Android Lollipop, while the iPhone 6 will have iOS 8.1.

In terms of deciding which OS is best for you, again, it all boils down to personal preference. But in a nutshell, Google’s latest OS gives its classic system a fun and colorful facelift. Apple, on the other hand, has just given its OS its biggest change since they first introduced it in 2007.

Camera

The Nexus’ camera has become the most recognized Achilles heel of the Google phone. While it’s not enough to deter Android users, the fact that its competitors are improving on this feature highlights its importance. That said, Google seems to have bumped up their camera standards with their newest offering, which now has a 13 MP camera with optical image stabilisation, and a 2 MP front facing camera.

The iPhone has always been known for its beautiful camera, and the iPhone 6 is no exception. The iPhone 6 sports an 8 MP iSight camera, with the iPhone 6 Plus running with an OIS on board.

While the Nexus’ efforts to compete is commendable, the iPhone to win this one, hands down.

Battery Life

Let’s be honest: no one is really happy with their phones’ battery life. But objectively, the iPhone has never really been good with its battery life. And if it comes down to the iPhone and the Nexus going head to head, the Nexus will probably win this one.

All things considered:

Truth be told, the Nexus 5 was an impressive smartphone — and the Nexus 6 is an even better and more impressive version of it, which should please even the most jaded Android user. It essentially raises the bar for the Android experience, and will definitely give Android fans more reason to stick to the OS.

Improvements in the iPhone 6, in terms of OS and variety, are also notable. But its insane aesthetic draw, combined with these new features, may actually convert some Android users to Apple’s side. Its biggest drawback, as usual, may be price: the iPhone retails at at least $100 more than the Nexus off-contract, on average.

But there are other differences that make each stand out from the other. The camera of the iPhone, for instance, still trumps the improved camera of the Nexus 6. So if you’re an Android user partial to snapping quick pics on a daily basis, this might be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, prompting you to finally switch.

The Nexus 6, while impressive and being intended as the “iPhone killer”, is still hardly it. It’s still a game between Apple fans and Android lovers; as much as Google would like to think that they’ve finally won the battle, I doubt the world’s iPhone fans will give up their shiny new iOS toy for an Android one.

Props for a great effort though, Google — and for what its worth, this Android fan is here to stay.