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It took a long time for Apple to finally embrace the “phablet” category, but now we’re in the third generation of their big phone. The iPhone 7 Plus was just announced at Apple’s September event. As usual, we like to compare the Best Android Phones with the best of Apple. Let’s see how the big boys compare.
Build Quality
Build quality is something you don’t have to worry about with any of these devices. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is beautiful and feels great (after you exchange it for a new one). The LG V20 is built like a tank. The Nexus 6P is probably the cheapest feeling device on the list, but it feels every bit like a premium device. Of course, the iPhone 7 Plus is “al-u-minium” (as Jony says) and looks great.
It’s hard to pick a winner for build quality, but we have to disqualify the Note 7 for that nasty battery issue. It’s a great looking phone, but when a device can explode there are major build issues. The best design and materials are purely subjective. If you like metal and glass, these devices will work for you.
Display
The three Android contenders all come in at the same size and resolution: 5.7-inches and 2560×1440 resolution. This has become the standard size for “phablets.” The iPhone 7 Plus comes in at slightly smaller in size and resolution. It has a 5.5-inch display and only 1080p resolution. Many people will say 1080p is too low for a display of this size, but Apple claims it looks great.
The one phone that has a unique display feature is, of course, the Note 7 and the Edge screen. The iPhone 7 Plus does have curved glass on the sides, but not the display. The Note 7 takes advantage of the curved display with Edge Screen software. Apple doesn’t offer nearly the amount of features that you can get with the Note 7.
Camera
Apple did something different with the camera in the iPhone 7 Plus. It has a second camera (not found on the iPhone 7) with a telephoto lens. This allows users to zoom in without using digital zoom. It’s not exactly the same as optical zoom, since it’s two cameras, but the effect is the same. The LG V20 also utilizes dual cameras, but in a different way.
The V20 has a normal camera and a wide-angle camera. Instead of being able to zoom in far you can get more people in a shot. Two different approaches to dual cameras. The Note 7 and Nexus 6P obviously don’t have dual cameras, but they are no slouch. The Note 7 has the best camera on the market right now. We’ll see if the iPhone 7 Plus can beat it.
Performance
Performance is an area where all devices can differ drastically. Most Android devices these days are using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor, but the Nexus 6P has the Snapdragon 810. Apple has their own A10 processor. It’s hard to compare performance based solely on the processor. RAM plays a big part as well. The Android devices are mostly on 4GB, but again, the Nexus 6P is a little behind (it’s older). The iPhone 7 Plus lacks in RAM, which is something people have complained about for a while.
iOS doesn’t require as much horsepower as Android, but the iPhone has traditionally been slower than top Android phones. Battery life is another performance area where the iPhone has struggled. Apple has skimped out on battery again with the iPhone 7 Plus. It’s more than 500 mAh smaller than the Note 7 and Nexus 6P.
Which phone has your attention?
Apple is relatively new to the phablet game, but the iPhone 7 Plus looks like a great entry. Android devices have been big for a while. The Note 7 is one of the best phablets ever made. It has everything you could ever want. The LG V20 and Nexus 6P are also great, but the 6P will soon be replaced. Which phablet do you think is the best on the market right now?
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