It’s almost hard to believe that it’s been already months since the Google Nexus 6 officially launched, and in that time frame, it’s also equally as mind-boggling that many flagship phones are still not running the latest version of the platform – Android 5.0 Lollipop. Bestowed with the Nexus moniker, naturally, the Nexus 6 from Motorola is one to showcase the latest and greatest there is to offer with the platform. At the same time, it’s also not one to be overlooked because it’s riddled with some astounding specs.
Like a kid amped up on some sugar, the Samsung Galaxy S6 edge is a fresh new entrant running on all cylinders. Not only is it incredibly fast, but it’s setting the bar high for everything else that intends on coming out the rest of the year. Best of all, there’s just something alluring about its unique looks, which is further complemented by the new premium design language Samsung has bestowed its flagship line this year.
At the end of the day, there can only be one phone to stand tall, rise above its rival. It’s old versus new, big versus small, and stock versus custom, so which one of these two venerable smartphones will have the guts and glory to reign supreme?
Staring at them longingly, there’s no denying that the two are just two very differently designed phones – crafted to appeal to certain demographics more than other. In terms of aesthetics and appeal, we’d give the Samsung Galaxy S6 the nods on achieving more glances and looks from bystanders, mainly because it has the luxurious qualities that cater to a wider audience.
Brandishing one sharp design, thanks in part to its Corning Gorilla Glass 4 surfaces and metal trim bezel, the entire package is enhanced even further by the way light reflects off the glass, producing this cool shimmering and dazzling effect. Add to that, it’s incredibly skinny, super lightweight, and far more compact, it all translates to an unprecedented change we’re happy to experience from a company that wasn’t all that notable that long ago for its smartphone designs. Lastly, the dual-curved display is a neat touch that gives the phone a cool-looking, unique aesthetic.
Conversely, the Google Nexus 6 is pretty much on the other side of the spectrum with its gargantuan size. That alone, will probably keep some folks at bay, but then again, others favor its phablet-esque dimensions. Yes, it’s obnoxiously large, which surprisingly enough, can catch the attention of some people. However, it’s just a handful to operate – requiring two-handed operation more than anything else. Visually speaking, it’s a bit more contemporary with its design language, comprised out of mostly durable plastic.
Impressively enough, even with its compact stature, Samsung is able to stuff several other goodies into its already tight package – like an improved finger print sensor, wireless charging, IR blaster, and heart rate senor. Meanwhile, the Nexus 6 also boasts wireless charging, in addition to dual front-firing speakers, but that’s all. For having so much real estate to work with, you’d imagine that Motorola would’ve been able to crap a few extra stuff in the process. Guess not.
5.59 x 2.76 x 0.28 inches
142.1 x 70.1 x 7 mm
4.66 oz (132 g)
6.27 x 3.27 x 0.4 inches
159.26 x 82.98 x 10.06 mm
6.49 oz (184 g)
In being true pioneers in the space, it’s wonderful to know that the two handsets tip the scales with their quad-HD resolution displays – something we feel that’s necessary to stand head-above-water over the rest of the high-end crop. For the Galaxy S6 edge, it’s fashioned with an incredibly sharp 5.1-inch 1440 x 2560 Super AMOLED dual-curved display, which achieves a higher pixel density count of 577 ppi. The figures alone paint something exquisite with the Galaxy S6 edge, but we can’t neglect the same level of attention paid to the Nexus 6’s 6-inch 1440 x 2560 AMOLED display – one that still pulls in a respectable 493 ppi pixel density.
Seriously, the two panels cram a ton of pixels, giving plenty of detail in everything that’s being displayed. Whether it’s viewing them up close and personal, or from a normal distance, we can’t argue that they deliver sharp visuals that make it easy on eyes to decipher the most miniscule of things. All told, it purely boils down to size preference – where the Nexus 6 carries more real estate, which some can find useful for specific occasions.
Even though they both rely on AMOLED technology, the S6 edge’s Super AMOLED panel produces higher quality results. To be fair, however, we have to applaud both companies for getting the displays to very close to that ideal color temperature reference value of 6500K – giving them a very neutral tone, neither too warm, nor too cold. Still, the S6 edge’s screen drives away with its stronger brightness output of 553 nits, versus the Nexus 6’s poor mark of 270 nits. Naturally, the vast discrepancy between the two becomes apparent outdoors when viewing the displays under the gaze of the sun. The Nexus 6’s display is just unviewable.Moreover, Sammy has calibrated its display perfectly in Basic mode so that it’s one of the most color accurate screens out there, which is something noteworthy for AMOLED technology in general. With the Nexus 6, it’s evident that it favors a more saturated color production, made more profound as it doesn’t technically hit each of the target values in the color gamut chart below.
And lastly, we can’t forget to mention the added functionality brought on by the dual-curved display of the S6 edge. From being able to access some of our favorite contacts from the lock and home screen, to the cool visualizing pattern when we receive incoming calls from our favorite contacts, and the notification tickers that bring info to one of its edges, the dual-curved display adds to the phone’s arsenal, but as we’ve detailed already, it’s most profound for the aesthetics.
