Can Apple close the gap to the S6's hardware?

[journeyy]

I wonder if Apple is even able to catch up to the S6 hardware-wise? What if Samsung can't produce enough 14nm CPUs and DDR4 chips for both their own phones and Apple's? And is it realistic that there will be a much improved LCD screen ready for mass-production by September?

Could the performance crown go to Samsung (Galaxy) indefinately? Would be sad, i still prefer iOS, but i also like to have the cutting-edge technology..

 

[CEmajr]

Samsungs hardware doesn't directly compare to Apple as it is running a totally different OS with a custom skin on top of it. You should be asking about Samsung competing with HTC, LG, and Sony on hardware.

 

[scaredpoet]

I wonder if Apple is even able to catch up to the S6 hardware-wise? What if Samsung can't produce enough 14nm CPUs and DDR4 chips for both their own phones and Apple's? And is it realistic that there will be a much improved LCD screen ready for mass-production by September?

Could the performance crown go to Samsung (Galaxy) indefinately? Would be sad, i still prefer iOS, but i also like to have the cutting-edge technology..

If you're going to obsess over specs, you might as well just switch over to Smasung now. You're not the market segment Apple is going for.

 

[sunking101]

If you're going to obsess over specs, you might as well just switch over to Smasung now. You're not the market segment Apple is going for.

Indeed. Apple are going for the people who like the name, like the looks and don't care about specs at all. They expect that Apple will provide a product that works well and trust them to spec it correctly. It's a shame that hasn't happened with the 6 Series.

 

[Paradoxally]

Indeed. Apple are going for the people who like the name, like the looks and don't care about specs at all. They expect that Apple will provide a product that works well and trust them to spec it correctly. It's a shame that hasn't happened with the 6 Series.

What? The 6/6+ have great specs to run iOS smoothly and fast. That's what matters.

Not everything is about raw performance and octacores with 4 GB RAM when the OS can't even manage animations smoothly.

 

[sunking101]

What? The 6/6+ have great specs to run iOS smoothly and fast. That's what matters.

Not everything is about raw performance and octacores with 4 GB RAM when the OS can't even manage animations smoothly.

I must have got a bad 6+ then because mine lags more than my old iPhone 5, has an inferior touchscreen and at least half as much RAM as it needs. If you enjoy a device which reloads apps and browser tabs way more readily than an iPhone from two generations prior, then I guess you would love the 6+.
If they had given this thing 2GB of RAM and a much more refined o/s then I would have been perfectly happy with it.
Sometimes specs really do matter and sometimes Apple really do drop the ball.

 

[moldy lunchbox]

It doesn't matter. Apple does its own thing, similar to Nintendo vs. Sony/Microsoft's spec war. How have you been here since 2013 and not known this?

 

[Paradoxally]

I must have got a bad 6+ then because mine lags more than my old iPhone 5, has an inferior touchscreen and at least half as much RAM as it needs. If you enjoy a device which reloads apps and browser tabs way more readily than an iPhone from two generations prior, then I guess you would love the 6+.
If they had given this thing 2GB of RAM and a much more refined o/s then I would have been perfectly happy with it.
Sometimes specs really do matter and sometimes Apple really do drop the ball.

I'm fine with 1 GB, really. Serious browsing is always done on a desktop for me, so I'm not bothered if sometimes my tabs refresh. However, I am also coming from a 5 and that phone was definitely slower, refreshed more often and apps took longer to load. I also don't notice touchscreen differences, both are excellent.

 

[apolloa]

I wonder if Apple is even able to catch up to the S6 hardware-wise? What if Samsung can't produce enough 14nm CPUs and DDR4 chips for both their own phones and Apple's? And is it realistic that there will be a much improved LCD screen ready for mass-production by September?

Could the performance crown go to Samsung (Galaxy) indefinately? Would be sad, i still prefer iOS, but i also like to have the cutting-edge technology..

You don't seem to have understood your own question. Reason I say that is because of the OS, iOS works very differently to Android, and it's why Android devices are a lot more powerful.
But at the end of the day the are BOTH cutting edge, maybe Apple is lacking in screen resolution but not quality it isn't. I prefer an IPS screen myself.

 

[sunking101]

I'm fine with 1 GB, really. Serious browsing is always done on a desktop for me, so I'm not bothered if sometimes my tabs refresh. However, I am also coming from a 5 and that phone was definitely slower, refreshed more often and apps took longer to load. I also don't notice touchscreen differences, both are excellent.

I strongly disagree. My iPhone 5 acted like it had twice the RAM that my 6+ has. Although they both have the same 1GB, the i5 is 32Bit and the 6+ is 64Bit. Plus the 6+ is powering a larger higher resolution display. The iPhone 5 reloads browser tabs and apps way less readily than the 6+. The i5 isn't all that much slower but coupled with iOS 7.1.2 it was a much smoother experience than any phone running iOS8.
8.3 is ok but it still can't touch 7.1.2 for fluidity and that traditional iPhone slickness.

 

[I7guy]

If you look at benchmarks when flagship iPhones are released, These new devices are near the top in their respective tests despite having supposedly inferior hardware.

Apple is doing just fine with their specs.

 

[scaredpoet]

Indeed. Apple are going for the people who like the name, like the looks and don't care about specs at all.

Actually, they're going more for people who care about functionality, integration and directness/ease of use.

It's a shame that hasn't happened with the 6 Series.

That would be your opinion.

 

[sunking101]

If you look at benchmarks when flagship iPhones are released, These new devices are near the top in their respective tests despite having supposedly inferior hardware.

Apple is doing just fine with their specs.

I'm not complaining about processor speeds or graphics, merely RAM and to a lesser extent, iOS8. The processor specs are just fine and the speed my apps open etc are just fine. RAM though, which is cheap as chips and not a cutting edge piece of hardware, is woefully underspecced. It's the spanner in the works and if you use your phone in a certain way, it destroys the whole enjoyment.

Opening single apps, doing what you've got to do and then closing them is fine. If you want to swap between a couple of apps and a browser tab for instance, spend a bit of time in each and then go back to one then it will reload. If you have a search set in Amazon or Ebay, you're filling a webform or halfway down a webpage reading something, then being thrust right back to the beginning/start/homepage or finding your webform empty is a PITA. This is a RAM issue and I find it infuriating but like I said, those who don't use their phone in the manner I suggested will wonder what all the fuss is about. To make matters worse, the two generations older iPhone 5 handled this kind of frankly minor workload with aplomb.

 

[Luis G.]

Just because it doesn't affect you or you don't use some features doesn't mean it is not relevant to comparisons.

Somethings are just puzzling for people to parrot because of tech blogs filled with people who know little of the technical side.
For the love of technology-loving and understanding geeks stop saying it isn't comparable because of OS. They're using the same ARM architecture on a custom wafer, however it's using the same hardware technology already available. There is nothing on an iPhone that is not on another wafer's technology or wouldn't work on another phone. IT IS comparable.

Back on topic:
Apple doesn't document or alert you that you shouldn't have more than 5 tabs open on safari unless you want constant refreshing nor they document software related restrictions. It's safe to assume that the iPhone 6 should be capable of multitask, but fails to do so well as well as the competition.
I think it's beyond discussion when Apple's own diagnostics marks memory usage at 100% as a problem (red) and was the reason for replacing my phone.
To add to the safari I also have webpages refreshing in the same instance that I use safari, as I may have 7 tabs or more open. I switch between tab and tab, and it refreshes despite me just using that tab 2 minutes before (all without minimizing, or switching apps).

Another example of hardware nerfed is NFC which is Apple pay only, on the tech specs of the iphone 6 and 6+ they do not mention that limitation.

I feel like Apple does really well for what they use and in some uses they are better than the competition, but they also have some potentially serious flaws due to hardware limitations they purposefully make.

I can be pretty realistic and non bias when it comes to looking at the products I use and know largely what cons and pros exist for the iphone. And if I don't I can understand why it's happening. I don't think pointing out flaws in a product or anything one enjoys should be taboo or met with resistance.
Imagine if we practiced this mentality for politics. We'd been a tyranny decades or a hundred years ago.

 

[Technarchy]

I wonder if Apple is even able to catch up to the S6 hardware-wise? What if Samsung can't produce enough 14nm CPUs and DDR4 chips for both their own phones and Apple's? And is it realistic that there will be a much improved LCD screen ready for mass-production by September?

Could the performance crown go to Samsung (Galaxy) indefinately? Would be sad, i still prefer iOS, but i also like to have the cutting-edge technology..

The answer is no. At least not in 2015. Don't expect a real S6 rival from Apple till iPhone 7.

I personally prefer the S6 over iphone 6. The lack of Ram, blah display, and lesser camera are reasons I don't have an iPhone currently.

Looking foward to the 14nm iPhone 6S though with more Ram.

 

[journeyy]

I know iOS is still a bit better optimized (and i don't even think the iP6 is under-specced besides the obvious lack of RAM). The 6s will probably be near perfect performance-wise either way if they do iOS 9 right . It's just the tech nerd in me that it also wants to have the most advanced parts of the industry in it

The iPad mini 2 on the other hand would really profit from an a9 upgrade IMO, not just on paper. My 5S peforms well in 8.3 (besides app/tab reloads), but if i use the iPad semi-productively, it could react a bit quicker to my input.

 

[Fireblade]

Sure they can, but won't because they want your $$$$

 

[I7guy]

Just because it doesn't affect you or you don't use some features doesn't mean it is not relevant to comparisons.

Somethings are just puzzling for people to parrot because of tech blogs filled with people who know little of the technical side.
For the love of technology-loving and understanding geeks stop saying it isn't comparable because of OS. They're using the same ARM architecture on a custom wafer, however it's using the same hardware technology already available. There is nothing on an iPhone that is not on another wafer's technology or wouldn't work on another phone. IT IS comparable.

Back on topic:
Apple doesn't document or alert you that you shouldn't have more than 5 tabs open on safari unless you want constant refreshing nor they document software related restrictions. It's safe to assume that the iPhone 6 should be capable of multitask, but fails to do so well as well as the competition.
I think it's beyond discussion when Apple's own diagnostics marks memory usage at 100% as a problem (red) and was the reason for replacing my phone.
To add to the safari I also have webpages refreshing in the same instance that I use safari, as I may have 7 tabs or more open. I switch between tab and tab, and it refreshes despite me just using that tab 2 minutes before (all without minimizing, or switching apps).

Another example of hardware nerfed is NFC which is Apple pay only, on the tech specs of the iphone 6 and 6+ they do not mention that limitation.

I feel like Apple does really well for what they use and in some uses they are better than the competition, but they also have some potentially serious flaws due to hardware limitations they purposefully make.

I can be pretty realistic and non bias when it comes to looking at the products I use and know largely what cons and pros exist for the iphone. And if I don't I can understand why it's happening. I don't think pointing out flaws in a product or anything one enjoys should be taboo or met with resistance.
Imagine if we practiced this mentality for politics. We'd been a tyranny decades or a hundred years ago.

It's the custom side of it that makes the difference. Apple uses their own designs and they must do it for a reason.

The benchmarks are not biased either. At any rate Apple seems to tune its hardware to do more with less, it's not a matter of how much hardware does Apple need, they seem to do just fine.

If hardware alone sold phones, people would not buy iPhones.

 

[jamezr]

Sure they can, but won't because they want your $$$$

Exactly...... no need to add current tech in iphones. They can stay 2 years behind the curve because they have such a great adoring fan base. If Apple released a slightly changed IP5 and called it the IP6s...it would still sell millions. Some will buy it just because of the logo then say they don't need upgraded specs.

 

[JaySoul]

I think a fairer assessment is the camera, which is a huge battleground for Apple vs Samsung.

The camera on the S6 is ridiculously good, and the iPhone 6S needs to improve a lot (which is should).

 

[albertfallickwa]

Exactly...... no need to add current tech in iphones. They can stay 2 years behind the curve because they have such a great adoring fan base. If Apple released a slightly changed IP5 and called it the IP6s...it would still sell millions. Some will buy it just because of the logo then say they don't need upgraded specs.

Indeed, Apple doesn't sell based on the tech specs alone. They sell because people worship their stuff like idols.

 

[nickchallis92]

How much are apple paying for the production of those 720p screens? Surely just the scraps that other manufacturers threw out in the trash years ago.

 

[HiDEF]

Exactly...... no need to add current tech in iphones. They can stay 2 years behind the curve because they have such a great adoring fan base. If Apple released a slightly changed IP5 and called it the IP6s...it would still sell millions. Some will buy it just because of the logo then say they don't need upgraded specs.

It's almost as if Apple has manipulated their consumers to believing the latest isn't the best.

It's really a trend I wish Apple would snap out of.

 

[jamezr]

It's almost as if Apple has manipulated their consumers to believing the latest isn't the best.

It's really a trend I wish Apple would snap out of.

Yep...... Then they charge very premium prices. Hopefully some competition will spur them on.

 

[tbayrgs]

I think a fairer assessment is the camera, which is a huge battleground for Apple vs Samsung.

The camera on the S6 is ridiculously good, and the iPhone 6S needs to improve a lot (which is should).

I believe I recall reading iPhone will be sourcing a new sensor from Sony--a 20MP version I believe, but also that it's unlikely to be ready/included in the next version. Apple traditionally doesn't change much with the 'S' models so I don't expect to see much different this year either, unfortunately. Biggest change will likely be the RAM upgrade.

The camera is still really good. Yes, it's been passed by the S6 but, that's arguably the only smartphone using a better camera. I think its greatest deficiencies are in RAM and the display (iP6--the 6+ is just fine with 401 ppi). My guess is the iPhone 7 will have significant changes (camera, including OIS in smaller model, display, improved battery using the same technique used on the new MacBook) including what I think would be their first true innovation in years--a force touch display.