Nexus 6P vs. Galaxy Note 5 vs. iPhone 6S Plus: How Does Google's Smartphone Stack Up Against Apple And Samsung Phablets?

Google’s Nexus 6P is the latest to join the ever-growing market of phablet smartphones -- handsets with screens that measure 5.5 inches to 7 inches. When it begins shipping, it will face off against two of the biggest competitors in the phablet market, the Apple iPhone 6S Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5.

Here’s how the Nexus 6P stacks up against the two.

Screen Size and Resolution

The Nexus 6P and Note 5 boast the same screen size of 5.7-inches and a 2,560-by-1,440 pixel QHD resolution. The iPhone 6S Plus is smaller in both respects, with a display size of 5.5-inches and a 1080p resolution (1,920-by-1,080 pixels). In lieu of a larger screen size and resolution, the iPhone 6S Plus has one trick up its sleeve in the form of a 3D Touch display, which can detect how much pressure is applied to the screen. This enables new controls and functions, such as previewing emails or launching shortcuts from any screen.

Colors

The iPhone 6S Plus has the largest number of color choices available of the three smartphones -- Space Gray, Silver, Gold and Rose Gold. The Nexus 6P comes in three finishes: frost white, aluminum and graphite. In the U.S. the Note 5 is available in white pearl and black sapphire. However, additional colors are available in other markets, such as silver and gold platinum.

Battery

The Nexus 6P packs the largest battery of the bunch, clocking in at 3450mAh. The Note 5 comes in second with its 3000mAh battery and the iPhone 6S Plus comes in last with its 2915mAh battery -- slightly smaller than the one packed in the 2014 iPhone 6 Plus.

Stylus

Only the Galaxy Note 5 has native built-in support for a stylus both in its software and hardware. The stylus of the Note 5 allows owners to take notes while the screen is off, make quick sketches or use it in applications that need more precise controls, such as spreadsheets.

Connector

All three smartphones use entirely different connectors. The Nexus 6P sports the reversible USB type-C port. The Note 5 comes with the ubiquitous micro USB and the iPhone uses the Apple proprietary lightning connector. USB type-C is expected to replace micro USB as the standard connector for devices. But for now it’s only in a handful of products, such as Apple’s MacBook, Google’s Chromebook Pixel and the OnePlus 2 smartphone.

Camera

Both the Nexus 6P and the iPhone 6S Plus come in around 12 megapixels for their sensors, below the 16MP of the Galaxy Note 5. But that’s only one of many ways to measure quality. Google claims the Nexus 6P performs better in low-light conditions compared to the iPhone 6S Plus. But customers will have to wait and see how it stacks up against the Note 5’s camera in low-light conditions.

Price

The Nexus 6P comes in cheaper than its competitors, starting at $499 for the 32GB unsubsidized and unlocked model through the Google Store. In comparison, Apple’s iPhone 6S Plus starts at $749 for the 16GB version and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 starts at $700 for the 32GB model, depending on where it's purchased.