LONDON: Christmas is reaching fast and Android fans are left with no time to decide a great phablet, but the Nexus 6 and Galaxy Note 4 are out there as the most distinguished contenders.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note range has long held a reputation for being among the biggest smartphones on the market, and often the go-to phablet for many, but Google’s Nexus 6, with its 6 inch screen and large dimensions, makes the Galaxy Note 4 look almost petite.
Design
The Nexus 6 and Galaxy Note 4 are largely similar when it comes to design. Both are crafted from plastic, Samsung’s with a faux leather effect rear and Google’s with a soft-touch plastic back reminiscent of the Moto X.
Both also come with a metal trim, suggesting that Samsung and Google are looking to give their latest flagship smartphones a high-end flair.
While there’s little in it when it comes to design, the Nexus 6 is the more bulky of the two, measuring 159x83x10.1mm and tipping the scales at 184g.
In comparison, the Galaxy Note 4, while still large, measures a slightly more manageable 154x79x8.5mm and weighs 176g.
Unfortunately, while Samsung’s Galaxy S5 comes with IP67 certification, the Galaxy Note 4 does not, meaning that it’s not resistant to dust and water. The Nexus 6, on the other hand, comes with limited waterproofing.
Still, given its more manageable size, and the inclusion of a baked-in home button, fingerprint sensor and heart-rate monitor, this round goes to the Galaxy Note 4.
Winner: Galaxy Note 4
Display
Much like in the design department, the Nexus 6 and Galaxy Note 4 are fairly evenly matched when it comes to displays, sporting 6in 1440×2560 Amoled and 5.7in 1440×2560 Amoled screens respectively.
Given its smaller screen size, the Galaxy Note 4 has the higher pixel density, which comes in at 515ppi compared with the Nexus 6’s 493ppi.
However, in terms of quality, it’s hard to judge a winner between the two. Both offer great brightness, sharpness levels and viewing angles, but we did notice that both suffer from slight colour distortion probably owing to the Amoled technology.
Getting one up on the Nexus 6, the Galaxy Note 4 has the added bonus of stylus input, allowing users to doodle and make notes on the display.
Thanks to this, and the fact that the Nexus 6 is extremely difficult to use with one hand, the Galaxy Note 4 wins another round.
Winner: Galaxy Note 4
