Apple is great at manufacturing smartphones and we all know that, but so are Samsung and LG. Apple’s latest phone, the iPhone SE, seems to have struck a nice chord in the market and will definitely sell well. On the other hand, many buyers are confused between going in for the iPhone SE and considering other alternatives like the LG G5 or the Samsung Galaxy S6.
iPhone SE vs. LG G5 vs. Samsung Galaxy S6
First of all, comparing the iPhone SE with the LG G5 and Galaxy S6 is something that the experts won’t do. That’s because iOS and Android are very different, and it all boils down to which OS you are more happy with. However, for most of the buyer, specs are more important. So let’s compare the specs and features and see which phone is the best here.
Design and Display
The iPhone SE essentially looks like the iPhone 5S but with some air of freshness to it. The Galaxy S6 has already been praised for its premium look and the smooth curves. Meanwhile, the LG G5 is the most innovative phone among this lot, with a modular design that looks great.
The iPhone SE sports a 4-inch 640×1136 display with a pixel density of 326 ppi. The LG G5 gets a 5.3-inch QHD (1440×2560) screen with 554 ppi. The Galaxy S6 gets the best screen here with a 5.1-inch AMOLED QHD display with 577 ppi of pixel density.
Processor and Memory
The iPhone SE gets powered by Apple’s own A9 chip and is accompanied by 2GB of RAM. And trust us, 2GB RAM for the SE is great, and the phone will run snappily. The SE gets 16GB/64GB onboard storage.
The Samsung Galaxy S7 is run by a 1.5GHz octa-core Exynos 7420 processor. It gets 3GB of RAM and 32/64/128GB of onboard storage, which is not expandable due to the lack of a microSD slot.
The LG G5 comes with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard storage expandable up to 2TB via microSD slot. The G5 is powered by the latest 2.1GHz quad-core Snapdragon 820 processor, which is the best mobile chipset right now. Clearly, the G5 wins here.
Camera and Battery
In terms of camera, the iPhone SE has taken a real bump over the iPhone 5S. The SE comes with a 12MP rear camera, probably the same one found on the iPhone 6S. It can shoot Live Photos and 4K videos too! The front camera is a 1.2MP snapper, nothing to complain about.
The LG G5 gets a 16MP rear camera with laser AF, OIS, and LED flash, while there’s an 8MP camera at the front. The Galaxy S6 gets a 16MP rear camera with OIS and LED flash, but this one is a better performer in low-light and gets a 5MP camera.
The iPhone SE gets a small 1624mAh battery and will need to be charged twice a day for those with medium usage. The LG G5 gets a 2800mAh battery, and the Galaxy S6 gets a 2550mAh battery, both come with fast charging.
Software and Extras
The iPhone SE runs iOS 9.3 out of the box, and the updates are regular for many years. The LG G5 and the Galaxy S6 now run the latest Android Marshmallow with their custom UIs on top.
All the phones here come with fingerprint sensors and NFC. The LG G5 gets USB Type-C for faster charging and data transfer and also ease of use.
Price and Verdict
The iPhone SE starts at $399, while the LG G5 prices start at around $636. The Galaxy S6 now costs around $600. So yes, it’s a tough call, but not that hard to decide.
If you want to use iOS or want an iPhone under $400, then get the iPhone SE and you won’t regret. It is more powerful than the iPhone 6, though we would have loved it if the SE got the same design as the iPhone 6 and 6S.
As for Android lovers, the LG G5 is the best bet right now with the latest features it offers. Great camera, modular design, all the latest features, cool accessories, etc. make it a great overall package.