iPhone 6s Plus vs. Lumia 950 XL vs. Galaxy Note5 vs: The tri-platform throwdown

20 January, 2016
Google's Android dominates the market in sheer numbers while Apple's iOS fights in the premium market and is winning the profit margin game. And then there's Microsoft's Windows 10 Mobile, trying to find its place under the sun. We've handpicked the best phablets from each of these platforms to put them head to head, focusing on the devices rather than the platforms they represent.

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  • D
  • AnonD-490811
  • 9xx
  • 22 Jan 2016

I must admit, as per the previous cam shootout, the Note 5 blows far too many highlights in the images for me - look at the second shot; there's barely any detail on that sunlit wall, or on the silver office block behind the garage in the first shot. Totally blown out. I prefer more consistent exposure across the frame.

    • w
    • wer
    • 9E7
    • 22 Jan 2016

    AnonD-265082, 22 Jan 2016Note5 is clearly the King of 2015. Can't wait to see the Note 6nice joke

      • D
      • AnonD-265082
      • Gjc
      • 22 Jan 2016

      Note5 is clearly the King of 2015. Can't wait to see the Note 6

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • 2CF
        • 22 Jan 2016

        iPhone all the way.. all I know it works with all the stuff I have perfectly.. iCloud is so good at syncing.. iTunes is more beautiful than anything android has.. iMessage is awesome.. a few specs on the camera aren't enough to bring me back to android.

        PS whats a power user.. i think most people are these days..

          • D
          • AnonD-491742
          • X}e
          • 22 Jan 2016

          In an analytic review like this gsm arena could bring in Blackberry too as another platform. Maby, the passport or priv . We would love to see blackberry compete .
          Or u could make a review like this for blackberry.

            • h
            • helmi233
            • fvq
            • 22 Jan 2016

            What is the sony xperia z5 premium it is very fantastic phone great camera and amazing display and fronds facing stereo speaker

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • sE5
              • 22 Jan 2016

              im a power user,
              it means games, multimedia
              it means more time in front of my phone.
              That mean removable battery is everything at the top list.
              with removable battery i never off from the phone more than 1 (one) minute.
              so it is NOTE 4 for me,
              and now im consider that LG V10.
              LG V10 so handsome so durable, perfect camera, manual video, ir blaster, radio, removable battery, it has everything, i fall in love with it.

                Lumia 930 user here and very satisfied
                It's just a matter of personal favorite and style.

                  • D
                  • AnonD-454153
                  • S9u
                  • 22 Jan 2016

                  Note 5 clearly the best :D thats why i use one

                    • D
                    • AnonD-150607
                    • pdw
                    • 22 Jan 2016

                    Anonymous, 21 Jan 20166S Plus is so last day. Clearly you haven't tried the 950XL... more950XL? Good joke, mate :))) All i need in my life is phone with embarrassing windows beta OS and with 700 eur price tag :))

                      • D
                      • AnonD-142922
                      • mxx
                      • 22 Jan 2016

                      why Parena and Garena MUST remind that ancient iphone all the time ? why still that phone ? why why why ?

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • sS0
                        • 22 Jan 2016

                        Anonymous, 21 Jan 2016there is no silent war. GSMarena is the most unbiased site... moreYeah. I agree with it. I have seen a lot of sights and people just saying apple is good without even reviewing thoroughly

                          • D
                          • AnonD-77443
                          • v6K
                          • 22 Jan 2016

                          One missing GN5 negative on page 1.

                          It is limited to 64GB of storage and even limited to 32GB in several countries. SHAME SAMSUNG!

                            • D
                            • AnonD-491575
                            • FZa
                            • 22 Jan 2016

                            In the selfie section you stated the Note 5 is so afraid of noise is even loses detail in the skin.
                            That is actually a "feature" from Samsung, as this type of processing is so popular in Asia (especially South Korea) that they bake it right in.
                            I don't have any of these phones, but I really want a V10 now.

                              • M
                              • Mike
                              • jeX
                              • 22 Jan 2016

                              AnonD-150607, 21 Jan 2016"Most unbiased site in the world" - maybe, who knows. But f... more-GSM Arena again and again failed to mention about windows phone
                              Web rendering issues that many Web pages impossible to use (on many Web pagesite screen jumping against the scrolling pattern, many websites don't display properly or horribly, many websites or pages still freeze)

                              -Moreover: Interface of winown phone 10 is way more uglier than Windows phone 8.1 . Contacts with the same name still get merged automatically and in the most confusing fashion (you have no idea who called you until you unlink them one by one ), still too, many clicks to find basic commands, still no normal folder management . The list goes on and on . I won't be sure pice if you still can't attach files to email.
                              Samsung's latest TouchWiz interface is the best and easiest interface I've ever seen (used on galaxy s6, note 5 and on galaxy tab s2)

                                • M
                                • Mkdc
                                • 5Mb
                                • 22 Jan 2016

                                Anonymous, 21 Jan 2016Note 4 - exynos version is better. Same CPU as Note 5 (just... moreYeah, note 5, aside faster and better looks, is clearly a huge downgrade from note 4. Even though iphone 6 plus sold better than note 4, the note 4 was clearly the better phone of the two based on useful features for power users. The note 5, on the other hand, is basically an iphone clone with android and stylus. This time, i definitely favor 6s plus over note 5.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • v0q
                                  • 21 Jan 2016

                                  AnonD-150607, 21 Jan 2016"Most unbiased site in the world" - maybe, who knows. But f... more6S Plus is so last day. Clearly you haven't tried the 950XL. And nope, your Z5 won't save you. I've tried the Z5 Premium and after taking a photo... yuck ala Steve Jobs.

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-150607
                                    • niH
                                    • 21 Jan 2016

                                    Anonymous, 21 Jan 2016there is no silent war. GSMarena is the most unbiased site... more"Most unbiased site in the world" - maybe, who knows. But for 100% not the most professional, that's for sure :) Gsmarena's camera test's is just a joke :) Not because in this review iPhone lost (by the way, i'm using 6s Plus and Xperia Z5 compact. And i love both phones), or something, but it seems that Arena are talking just about resolution and pixels. And this kind of talks is so last day :) Nobody cares about pixel wars already :)

                                      Anonymous, 21 Jan 2016Here's a photo comparison using GSMArena's own tool. http:... moreI saw that few days or weeks back, can't remember. But I feel that the image was little shaky and because of that the output is blur.

                                        May I have your attention please?
                                        May I have your attention please?
                                        Will the real Apple Fanboys please stand up?
                                        I repeat, will the real Apple Fanboys please stand up?
                                        We're gonna have a problem here.. :P