iPhone 6 Runs the Gauntlet: Samsung Galaxy S5 mini

We’re on the search for an alternative to the iPhone 6 that won’t break the bank. Next up is the classic rivalry between Apple and Samsung. It’s tempting to serve up a Samsung Galaxy S5 match-up, but that’s not the point of the Gauntlet series. We’re here to do something different. Instead of pitting the goliath with another giant, we’re fighting the iPhone with the giant’s little brother, the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini. Being a “mini” has the upside of price and portability, but lacks the high-end spec sheet of the big brother. Let’s check out a head-to-head comparison of the S5 mini with the iPhone 6.

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Size

The iPhone 6 is actually smaller overall than the S5 mini, being a full 7 millimeters taller and 2.2 millimeters wider. Apple’s flagship gets the edge on thinness, however, at around three millimeters sleeker than the S5 mini. The iPhone 6 is also around 9 grams heavier, no doubt thanks to its aluminum body. Apple’s device also has a slightly bigger screen at 4.7 inches, compared to the S5 mini’s 4.5 inches. If you’re used to the 5-inch displays that seem to be today’s standard in phones, then you might squint just a bit when looking at the screen.

Performance

The S5 mini uses Samsung’s Exynos technology for the processor and a Mali graphics chip. While having homegrown hardware is helping Samsung to cut costs while retaining performance, it doesn’t hold a candle to Apple’s newest A8 chip. In a battle of company-made processors, the S5 is outclassed.

Battery Life

As far as battery life goes, the Samsung Galaxy S5 performs well enough to get you through the day. Its 2,100 mAh is a little small for an Android smartphone today. Despite being a mini version, we can expect more from the Samsung-grown smartphone. Compared to Apple’s 1,810 mAh battery, however, the S5 mini gets the leg up.

User Interface

Samsung is infamous for including a bundle of bloatware, reducing overall free memory on the phone. At 16GB stock memory, you may get a few months’ worth of photos, music, and videos before you’ll want to plug in a microSD card (up to 64GB). The iPhone 6, however, has non-expandable 128GB of memory. That’s a whole lot more bang for your buck, despite the inability to expand.

Durability

The Galaxy S5 mini is built to go where your active life takes you. It has an IP7 rating for water and dust resistance, a trait inherited from its big brother, the Galaxy S5. The iPhone 6 cannot stand more than a light splatter of water, so keep that in mind. When it comes to bumps, we feel that the iPhone’s aluminum body will stand up against a few light tumbles, but at that price point, it would be much better to use a bumper case anyway. The Samsung Galaxy S5 mini with its plastic body however, may be a bit forgiving but take note that the plastic is a hard-type, so you would also want to get the device in a sturdy protective case.

Price

Compared to the iPhone’s starting P35,990 price tag, the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini comes in at an estimated P21,600. The device doesn’t have a local SRP, as of yet. However, this price tag doesn’t come close to the iPhone’s hefty one, even with importing fees or telco plans.

Verdict

As with the Xperia Compact, the S5 mini can’t compete with the A8 processor, but beside that point, it’s a worthy competitor. As long as you don’t mind the smaller storage space, the Samsung Galaxy S5 mini substitutes for the Apple iPhone 6 quite well.