Battle of the phablets: Nexus 6 vs Note 4

The second half of 2014 has been all about the phablet and without a shadow of doubt the biggest and best of these include the Nexus 6 and Note 4. The latest Samsung Galaxy Note delivers an even more refined and interactive experience whilst the Nexus 6, made by Motorola and commissioned by Google, aims to challenge for a chunk of this market.

So enjoy this battle of the phablets with our Nexus 6 vs Note 4 comparison.

Sized to impress

Sized to impress, the latest Google phone and the new Note from Samsung are closely matched in both size and visual experience.

The Google phablet has been crafted with an curved design that begins at 3.8mm at the edges and increases to 10mm in the middle.

Weighing in at 184 grams the handset from Google isn’t light, but the payoff is a huge 5.96-inch quad HD display with a superb resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels, which equates to 493 pixels per inch.

The Note device boasts the same resolution on its 5.7-inch quad HD Super AMOLED display and the performance is glorious with reaction times that exceed a millionth of a second. The 8.5mm thick body includes a premium metal frame and soft textured rear cover for superior grip and this makes it even more remarkable that the phone weighs in at only 176 grams.

Can the Nexus 6 Specs rival that of the Note phablet?

The water resistant handset from Google has dual front-facing speakers to ensure your media is unmuffled and the whole experience is powered along by a superb 2.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor with 3GB RAM. The devicec also gives you the option to choose a 32GB or 64GB internal memory and there is always Cloud storage for those who wish to back everything up!

The 3,220mAh battery gives a full days use under mixed usage scenarios but the best part is that just a 15 minutes charge will extend the standby time by up to six hours, making the phablet a very practical device to own.

The Galaxy Note boasts the same powerful 2.7GHz quad-core processor with 3GB RAM but it isn’t waterproof, which is a real shame and surely an oversight by Samsung. You also only get the option of a 32GB internal memory but with Cloud storage freely available this probably isn’t a device deciding factor.

Once again we see a 3,220mAh battery with a fast charge feature that sees 60% more battery life added in just 30 minutes. The Galaxy Note smartphone has another trick up its sleeve though with Ultra Power Saving Mode that shuts down all non-essential features and apps to extend the standby time should you find yourself short and away from a power supply.

Nexus 6 vs Galaxy Note 4 features

Android Lollipop or S Pen?

Google’s range of handsets always introduce you exclusively to the latest Android operating system – while the rest of the manufacturers play catch up- and the story is the same this time with the inclusion of Android Lollipop v5.0.

This Android update has clearly been focused on improving the user experience and as such we see a new vertical scrolling carousel that is far more friendly for multitasking. Edge-to-edge imagery is accompanied by realistic shadows and lighting and the overall look is more colourful.

The Google assistant can now be used from standby by simply saying “OK Google”.

You can also bring the smartphone out of standby by either picking it up or by double tapping the screen.

The Note smartphone however will have to wait for an Android Lollipop update so you will be greeted by KitKat v4.4, but of course Samsung has worked its magic with its own user interface to combat this. Three types of multitasking windows can be used and a single swipe of a finger repositions and resizes apps.

Air Commands offer another level of interaction while the standout feature is the S Pen which simulates writing on paper with a fountain pen as well as allowing you to create natural brush effects. Action Memo, Image Clip, Screen Write and Smart Select are all S Pen compatible so this tool is clearly no gimmick!

Note 4 vs Nexus 6 camera?

The Google smartphone has by far the best camera we have ever seen on a phone made by the famous internet giant, and this 13 megapixel snapper boasts a few tools to keep you entertained and in focus. These include panorama shot, a 4x digital zoom, the Lens Blur feature and PhotoSphere.

Video recording is also at its best with the option to record at 4K 2160p (30fps) or at lower resolutions of 1080p and 720p which could be useful when memory is short. A secondary 2 megapixel camera takes care of selfies and video calls and with intelligent Wi-Fi switching for VoIP calls your conversation doesn’t need to end when moving onto a mobile phone signal.

The Samsung phablet outdoes the Nexus in the camera department though with a 16 megapixel camera that features HDR rich tone, a dual camera mode, beauty shot and virtual tour shot.

Video recording is captured at a quality of 4K 2160p at 30fps but if you are looking to capture fast-paced action then recording can be switched to 1080p at 60fps. The secondary camera also rules the day at 3.7 megapixels and with 90 or 120-degree shooting angles it is absolutely perfect for both lone or group selfies and video calls.

Verdict

In many ways the latest handset from Google and the Galaxy Note 4 are carbon copies of each other but there are subtle differences that could sway you towards one device or the other.

The Nexus gives you the latest version of Android and protection against liquid ingress whilst the Samsung phablet has the S Pen and more flair in the camera department, so the final verdict is yours!