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Enlarge ImageJames Martin/CNET
During its keynote today in San Francisco, Apple took the wraps off its marquee iPhone 6S handset as well as the larger 5.5-inch iPhone 6S Plus.
As a successor to the 6 Plus , the 6S Plus is equipped with 3D Touch, an A9 chip processor and a 12-megapixel camera that can shoot ultra-high-def 4K video. However, its camera still retains optical image stabilization and it has a larger battery to accommodate the bigger display, both of which differentiate it from its smaller 4.7-inch counterpart.
Compared to phones from other manufacturers, however, the 6S Plus isn’t alone in the 5.5-inch-and-above smartphone market. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 , Motorola Moto X Pure Edition and Sony Xperia Z5 Premium all serve up high-caliber hardware and generously sized displays. To see how they all stack up against one another, check out the chart below.
Apple iPhone 6S Plus comparison
| Apple iPhone 6S Plus | Samsung Galaxy Note 5 | Motorola Moto X Pure Edition | Sony Xperia Z5 Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 5.5-inch with 1,920×1,080-pixel resolution | 5.7-inch with 2,560×1,440-pixel resolution | 5.7-inch with 2,560×1,440-pixel resolution | 5.5-inch with 3,840×2,160-pixel resolution |
| Pixel density | 401ppi | 518ppi | 520ppi | 806ppi |
| Dimensions (imperial) | 6.23×3.07×0.29 inches | 6.03×2.99×0.29 inches | 6.06×3.0x0.44 inches | 6.07×2.99×0.31 inches |
| Dimensions (metric) | 158.2×77.9x 7.3mm | 153.2×76.1×7.6mm | 153.9×76.2×11.06mm | 154.4×76.0x7.8 mm |
| Weight | 6.77 ounces (192g) | 6.03 ounces (171g) | 6.31 ounces (179g) | 6.34 ounces (180g) |
| Mobile operating system | Apple iOS 9 | Google Android 5.1 Lollipop | Google Android 5.1.1 | Google Android 5.1 Lollipop |
| NFC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Camera, video | 12-megapixel, ultra HD video (4K) | 16-megapixel, ultra HD video (4K) | 21-megapixel, ultra HD video (4K) | 23-megapixel, ultra HD video (4K) |
| Front-facing camera | 5-megapixel | 5-megapixel | 5-megapixel | 5-megapixel |
| Processor | 64-bit A9 chip with M9 | Octa-core Exynos 7420 | 1.8GHz hexa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 | Octa-core Snapdragon 810 |
| Storage | 16GB, 64GB and 128GB | 32GB and 64GB | 16GB, 32GB and 64GB | 32GB |
| RAM | TBD | 4GB | 3GB | 3GB |
| Expandable storage | No | No | Up to 128GB | Up to 200GB |
| Battery | TBD | Nonremovable 3,000mAh | Nonremovable 3,000mAh | Nonremovable 3,430mAh |
For those considering a big-screen phablet, there are a number of options to consider, especially with Google Android handsets. Based on specs alone, the iPhone doesn’t have the sharpest resolution, the highest capacity battery or the most amount of RAM.
However, users who are already familiar with iOS and its ecosystem will be pleased to know that the 6S Plus features a more powerful camera that captures moving “live photos,” and a more advanced A9 chip processor.
Along with the 6S, the 6S Plus is available for preorder on September 12 and its retail launch begins September 25. For more on what Apple announced today, be sure to see all of today’s Apple news as well as our 6S Plus first take .
