The 5.5″ inch LG G3, Apple iPhone 6 Plus comparison – Apple Plays Catch-Up By Anthony Sabatini for Advicesisters.com
There are so many different types of phones you can choose, and different operating systems that offer a myriad of options, but the most popular are Android and Apple. The Apple 6 introduction is all about bringing the iPhone equal to the latest generation of smart phones by the other major manufacturers. Let us see how they compare:
Tech Specs:
1. Size: The LG G3 is both narrower, and shorter than the iPhone 6 Plus even though they have the same screen size. This is due to Apple’s inclusion of their large round button , their single control, on the front of the unit, as opposed to the G3’s inclusion of its three buttons in the screen area. Although the inclusion of a physical button allows the iPhone to house a fingerprint reader, in actual use, most people rely on a lock screen to protect the phone rather than a fingerprint sensor.
The G3, although it has controls in the screen area, thus reducing the effect of screen available, is smart about the use –and when not needed — disappear from the screen, such as in full screen video playback. Note that since the 6 Plus has only one control, the functions of the other two button, also require screen real estate.
2. Thickness: The 6 Plus is definitely thinner than the G3, however, it’s thickness does not allow for two of the G3’s major advantages: a removable battery (since the battery is always the first thing to die after about three years) and; a slot for a Micro SD card, and it is still very slim at 8.9 mm vs. 7.1 mm for the 6 Plus. In spite of the additional depth, the curved back of the G3 feels comfortable in the hand.
3. Weight: Despite the G3 being thicker, it weights 3/4 of an ounce less at 5.26 ounces vs. the 6 Plus at 6.07 ounces.
Apple home screen
LG Home Screen
4. Screen: With the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, Apple has finally acknowledged HD video over three years after the rest of industry included it as a feature on their phones. The Apple 6 is a native 720P (1 megapixel the resolution of ABC/NBC and Fox Broadcasting). The 6 Plus comes with a 1080P (movie quality HD, CBS, 2 megapixel display), thus bringing at least the 6 Plus to where the industry was a year ago. The G3 on the other hand, has a 1440P (next generation movie quality display).
LG Camera display
Apple iPhone camera & video
5. Camera: Back Camera: Although Apple added optical image stabilization to the 6 and 6 Plus , the camera remains 8.0 megapixels, a generation behind the 13..0 megapixel (with optical stabilization) of the G3 and the G3 has a laser distance sensor which is a huge focusing help in low light. Front Camera: The G3 offers a current generation 2.1 megapixel 1080P camera vs. the 1.2 megapixel 720P on the 6 Plus.
6. CPU: The G3 offers a very speedy 2.5 GHz quad-core vs. a *rumored 1.4 GHz processor in the 6 Plus. (Apple does not advertise the speed of their processor). * from GSMarena.com
7. Features: Apple has finally included NFC (the ability to use touch-to-pay) and the future ability to hold the phone to an item in a store and get complete information about that item to the 6 and 6 Plus , a feature the G-line has had for some time. The G3 adds wireless charging which the 6 Plus doesn’t have. The G3 has an infrared capability to allow you to change channels and control infrared devices (any type of remote control device) whereas the 6 and 6 Plus do not. *Editor’s Note: if you have used Android for any length of time and then use Apple devices, you may find yourself becoming a bit frustrated at the lack of flexibility in being able to manipulate functions.
LG G3 Battery
8. Battery Life: In standby the G3 has a much better specification at 553 hours than the 364 hours claimed for Apple. As far as talk time, they would appear to be similar (21 hours for the G3, 24 hours for the 6 Plus). Apple does not directly advertise a key element in comparing talk time.
9. User Experience: One buys an Apple product for the continuity of user experience, not for its advanced technical features and capabilities. The single button concept is one that reduces decisions and training to simple choices. The integration from iTunes to iCloud to the device features is flawless, but at a huge price, and that is the ability to do more complex functions on the phone or even a tablet. *Editor’s Note: Although I didn’t test the phone personally as Mr Sabatini did, I have been advised that the ON/OFF switch and the volume controls are in the center on the back of the G3 phone. This isn’t normally going to be an issue if you are already holding the phone, but I can see it as a nuisance if your phone is flat on a surface and you want to adjust the volume or turn the display on or off. However, this was an attempt by LG to make the phone more user-friendly for both left-and-right-handed individuals.
Every technical detail in using the Android operating system such as in the G3, surpasses the capabilities of Apple’s IOS8 from active icons to widgets, to split screen, to seamless multi-tasking, all of these appeared in Android first and do not appear in Apple’s IOS8 operating system. Also, Apple confuses the use of its single button between its use as “Home” and “Go Back One Screen” where Android is simpler in the use of separate icons for each function. That said, Apple does have some additional functions, but if you want to discover what they are and how to use them, it would be helpful to have a friend who understands the Apple IOS system fully or take a course at the Apple store and hope you can remember what the “secrets” are.
10. What you’ll pay: Both the 6 Plus and the G3 are available on all major carriers. The retail price of a G3 32GB is approximately $600. The Iphone 6 Plus 16GB retails for approximately $720. Should you wish to buy one of these phones, they are available with two–year contracts. On a two year contract for example, the LG G3 is available for between $99-$199 down and the 26GB 6 Plus from iPhone on a 2 year contract is $299 down. Since every carrier has different offers, do your homework and be sure you know you’re getting.
The Bottom Line: Editor’s Note: I asked Mr, Sabatini who he thought would be the quintessential customer for the LG G3 phone. He suggested that people who like to surf the web and look at web pages will like the phone because you can see a lot more of a web page on the G3 (the same for viewing videos). Mr. Sabatini also came up with another good point: While the LG G3 phone is a great one for both men and women, it’s a big big to fit in a man’s pocket, so it might be more appealing to women, who could pop it into a handbag. However, as phones get larger, handbags designers need to also change the size and shape of the inner pockets that are supposed to securely house mobile phones and other such devices. Right now, a lot of the smart phones are too tall or too wide to fit securely in an inner pocket on a handbag. G3 comes in black, white and gold as does the 6 Plus.
For more information on LG visit their web site and for more information on Apple visit the Apple Web Site
