The Google Nexus 6 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are being pitted against each other in a battle to determine the better phablet phone.
Both phablet devices are currently angling for a spot in the market and are offering different user experiences to satisfy tech and gadget fans. In Computer World's review, they compared the size, style, design, software and physical features of both phones.
Size and Material
In terms of size, style and design, both the Nexus 6 and Note 4 are considered plus-sized phablets but posses differing physical features. The Nexus 6 has an aluminum frame and an handheld-friendly curved back made of a soft-touch plastic material, while the Note 4 is flat with a removable faux-leather feel and a boxy feel that gives its user a harder feel.
OS
The Nexus 6 runs on Google's latest Android 5.0 Lollipop, which allows it more frequent software updates and gives the home screen a clean and cohesive look. It also displays the standard buttons for Back, Home and Recent Apps at the bottom of the phone.
The Note 4, on the other hand, runs on Samsung's TouchWiz combined with Android 4.4 Kitkat OS, meaning it is less likelier to receive updates but offers multiple apps viewing via a split-screen design. The phone has the Home button at the bottom and has physical buttons placed at the sides and top for users to press on.
Sound
The Nexus 6 has stereo speakers placed at the front of the phone, while the Note 4 has a single speaker at the back. The Note 4, however, trumps the Nexus 6 as it also has its own stylus for those who want to draw, write or operate the phone without hassle.
In terms of specifications, both smartphones are packed with the same high-end physical features and their internal workings are exactly the same, according to 9 to 5 Google.
Specs
The Nexus 6 and Note 4 both operate using a similar quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 3,220 mAh battery. They differ only with display size, with the Nexus 6 showing off a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display of 551ppi and the Note 6 showcasing a 5.96-inch AMOLED display of 493ppi.
Battery
In terms of battery life, both devices may have a 3,220 mAh battery but testing has shown that the Note 4 beats Nexus 6, Phones Review claimed.
Phone Arena performed a battery capacity testing using a custom script that replicates the activities of the average phone user. The testing has shown that the Nexus managed to perform in 7 hours and 53 minutes, which the Note 4 bested with 8 hours and 43 minutes.
Price
In terms of price, users may go for the less expensive Nexus 6. For the Nexus 6, its 32GB model is available at a price of $649, while the Note 4 provides the same internal capacity at $815 to $825. The Nexus 6 is also available for $200 on a contract with major U.S. carriers, which is lesser than the Note 4's $300 offering for a similar contract.
