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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 vs iPhone 6 – Which one is worth waiting for?

• Jacob Chambers
• August 23rd, 2014

Both the iOS and the Android fans have something to look forward to this fall, as the two main mobile industry giants, Samsung and Apple, will once again compete for their share of the mobile market by releasing two flagship phones. Samsung is preparing its sequel for the popular Note 3, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, while Apple is getting ready to reveal the next important member of the iPhone family, the iPhone 6.

Both smartphones have been shrouded in mystery, and there aren’t too many known facts about either. The iPhone 6 is believed to come with two variants, a 4.7 inch standard version, and a 5.5 inch, larger phablet, that will likely be released later this year and will come with a higher price-tag. Apple will introduce its new A8 64-bit chip for both iPhone 6 versions, and we’ll likely see a considerable spike in performance.

Most importantly perhaps, the resolution of the iPhone 6’s display is going up, but we don’t know exact numbers yet. A Full HD display is almost surely out of the question, but from what we’ve heard, whatever Apple is cooking up is likely to impress visually. Besides, Apple phones were never about impressive numbers on paper, but were more focused on providing excellent features and quality. Just thing about the seemingly modest megapixel camera found in the iPhone 5S, which surprisingly takes considerably better photos than larger megapixel phones. The same can be said about the iPhone 5S’ display, which does indeed seem to be lackluster on paper, but manages to provide excellent colors, brightness and general visual appeal.

Apple promised on multiple occasions to radically change the design of iPhones with the iPhone 6, so we’re expecting a lot of tweaks to the phone’s design, durability, display and even battery life. Sapphire crystal displays for the new generation of iPhones is not out of the question, however, rumors and insider hints about this particular issue are extremely contradictory, so it’s hard to jump to conclusions without proper evidence. One thing’s certain – Apple has been investing into Sapphire display technology, and the iPhone 6 certainly seems like a worthy candidate to introduce it to the public.

On the other hand, Samsung is aiming to once again establish itself as the manufacturer of the biggest and best smartphone in the world. Currently, the company has been struggling to compete with the recently released (and, might we add, exceptional) LG G3, which does a lot of things better than Samsung’s current flagship, the Galaxy S5. The successor to the Note 3 thus has to be better in almost all regards. It’s certainly going to be larger, and rumors hint towards a 5.7 inch colossal screen. At this point, we’re wondering how easy to handle such a large phone will be, if at all.

Samsung has apparently grasped the importance of selfies, and that’s what a lot of the Note 4’s features will be focused on. Not only will the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 have a 16 MP rear camera, but a 3.7 MP front camera will also make its way into the phone, according to TechRadar. That, in addition with the long anticipated Side Touch feature (designed for selfies, among other things) and gesture-based functions should make the Note 4 a prime candidate for photo enthusiasts. Not that the phablet won’t have top of the line hardware either – We’re expecting 3 GB of Ram, a Snapdragon 805 CPU and 32 or 64 GB of internal storage in the next Samsung flagship. The Note 4 is also likely to sport a QHD display similar to what we’ve seen in the LG G3, but no specifics have been made public just yet.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is expected to make an appearance at IFA in Berlin early in September, so we have less than two weeks until we know more. To be perfectly honest though, my interest in Samsung flagships has been wavering as of late. There’s little the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 promises to bring that we can’t already get with the LG G3. Sure, I love Android and am curious about Android L more than anything, but I can just as well see it on a Google Nexus 5, ahead of any other manufacturer’s personalized version.

Thus, my interest for this fall’s big reveal seems to go towards the iPhone 6, despite preferring Android overall. The latest versions of iOS 8 have more than peaked my interest and might just win me over, and with all the secrecy going on at Apple, I’m willing to bet an arm and a leg that we’re in for a treat with the iPhone 6. Unfortunately, it’s likely going to be awhile before we get some hands-on time with Apple’s upcoming posterchild. If you’re not leaning towards iOS or Android but are waiting to snatch a top of the line smartphone this fall, I’d suggest to keep an eye on IFA 2014 for the Galaxy Note 4, but hold off until Apple unveils its own powerhouse phone. It’s likely going to obliterate its competitors.