iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6

iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Here's the difference

These two top flagship smartphones both pack high-end designs and features to boot. Here's how they stack up against each other.

Josh Miller/CNET

Apple and Samsung's flagship phones, the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6, are sure to dominate the smartphone world this year. Both phones are remarkably similar, in design, features and cost, but there are some telltale differences.

If you're looking to switch phones this year and have your sites on either the iPhone or Galaxy S6, we've built a handy guide of what each phone has that the other doesn't, and what both have in common.

What the Galaxy S6 has that the iPhone 6 doesn't

Wireless charging and quick charging

Like many other top Android phones, the Galaxy S6 supports wireless charging with a separate wireless charger, which you can find in many stores today. You simply place the phone on a wireless charging pad to add juice without fumbling with wires. Additionally, the S6 promises to charge quickly, so you're not waiting around for enough battery to go about your day.

Built-in heart-rate monitor

The S6's LED flash doubles as a heart-rate monitor that can also measure your blood oxygen saturation. You can use it to test your resting heart rate, or while exercising to see how hard you're pushing. Ourreal-world tests show that these kinds of heart-rate monitors aren't the most accurate, but it's nice to have the option. The iPhone 6 can measure your heart rate through the LED flash, but you'll need a third-party app to do it.

Bigger, higher resolution screen

The Galaxy S6 benefits from a large, supersharp screen that looks impressive in person and has a higher resolution than the iPhone 6. Samsung's latest has a 5.1-inch AMOLED 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution (577 ppi) screen. In contrast, the iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch 1,344x750 IPS (326 ppi) display. If you want a five-plus-inch screen, you'll need to look at the iPhone 6 Plus, which costs an average $100 more than the iPhone 6.

A dedicated VR accessory

Looking at future tech, Samsung's got a leg up over Apple with both smartwatches and virtual reality. The Samsung Gear VR headset pairs with the Galaxy S6 to create an immersive video-watching and game-playing experience. VR might still be a bit ahead of its time, but if you're into it, you'll be able to use it with the S6.