The phablets comparison: Galaxy Note 5 vs. iPhone 6s Plus vs. LG V10

February 20, 2016 Android Apple iPhone LG Reviews Samsung

The phablets of the season are no other than the three we have up there. No doubt, you would want to know which of these phones could capture the best scenarios when you have the photo opportunity. 

The recently announced Huawei Mate 8 also warrant inclusion here but there was a software glitch with the phone, which have affected the camera function, specifically taken the photos taken with the cameraphone out of focus.

Introducing the three undertakers 

LG V10 

LG v10

The LG V10 is a unique phablet. Unlike the crop of smartphones on the market, it comes with a removable battery that allows you to install a fresh one when you are through with the charge.  It has an extra durable design and as well as a microSD slot. The camera test on Gsmarena.com confirmed that the cameraphone is one of the best for taking photos, at night and during the day. 

Overview of Features 

  • Compared to the other flagships, the LG V10 screen has the lowest contrast in direct sunlight. 
  • The phone is a bit heavier, compared to the other two on the list. 
  • It has a IR blaster as well as FM radio capability. 
  • The camera has dual 5MP front facing camera and 80-degree and 120-degree field of view. 
  • The Phone has a replaceable battery. 
  • The phablet has double glass over its screen, steel rail cover the sides and the back is covered in rubber. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 

Galaxy note 5

The newest Note from Galaxy has sparked interest when the company revealed that it would be making the phone available in Europe. The Note 5 comes with the state of the art S-Pen and probably will be cheaper than the Galaxy Edge+. Unlike the LG V10, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 can be used with gloves on when you are in the cold, thanks to the high sensitivity screen. 

Not surprisingly, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 follows the design of other flagships like the Huawei Mate 8 and Meizu Pro 5 in that you the battery on it is non-removable. In addition, the Galaxy Note 5, like the Mate 8, is the only flagship that can be handled with your gloves on. And this can be a good thing to consider if you are going to use the phone in -10C temperature. Talk about mountaineering and skiing. 

Overview of Features 

  • The Note 5 has non-removable battery 
  • You need to use a case with the smartphone to prevent it from slipping. 
  • The flagship is still scarce in Europe as at the time of this writing. 
  • The Note 5 has blood-oxygen and heart rate sensors and can work with your gloves on. 
  • The cameraphone can shoot High-res 3600 panoramic images. 
  • The phone is covered in metal and glass with 16MP/2160p camera. 

iPhone 6s Plus 

iphone 6s

Even though the iPhone 6s Plus has the biggest screen Apple has on offer for its customers, it still has the smallest screen compared to the other phones. The phone is also designed with Live Photos for those who want to shoot action packed, short video scenes. 

Overview of Features 

  • The iPhone has non-removable battery and the touchscreen does not work with gloves on. 
  • The iPhone comes with 5.5" 1080p smaller resolution screen. 
  • The case on the iPhone is slippery with its all-metal unibody design. 
  • The phablet has 12MP camera with f/2.2 aperture as well as High-res HDR panoramic photos. 

Daylight Saving Images 

When the three phones were used to take pictures when the sun is still high, there are variations in the results. 

In the samples taken by a test from Gsmarena.com, the iPhone 6s plus was found to take better and more aesthetic images than the rest. However, it scores lower than the LG V10 — which was reported to capture the sharpest and wildest of images — because of its lower screen resolution. The iPhone 6s Plus was not able to capture the finer details like the LG. 

In the middle is the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, which is rated okay in contrast and color reproduction, although the images it took were not as sharp as that of the V10's. 

Overall, the three smartphones took images that were satisfactory. Therefore, either of the three could be chosen for a great camera phone. 

Backlit, sunset and panorama 

When the three of the phones were used in taking pictures against the sun, the iPhone 6s Plus repeatedly performed better, followed closely by the LG V10. However, the performance of the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is not bad at all. 

Therefore, if you are shooting against the sun, you will take the iPhone over the LG. The Samsung will take the last position but that does not mean its pictures are not good, just not as great as those from the other two. 

In addition, if you use the three phones in taking pictures in a dusk condition, you may like the performance of the Note 5 as it performed great in the test. The Galaxy Note 5 shows great attention to detail as well as accurate color and contrast. The next in line is the iPhone 6s Plus, followed by the V10. 

As for the test of panoramic photos, all the three perform excellently. They all have high dynamic range, high resolution, and accurate colors and were able to capture plenty of details. Therefore, if you intend to capture panoramic photos, any of the three phones will do just fine. 

Handling 

When it comes to handling, the LG V10 perform better especially in cold weather. Both the Apple iPhone 6s Plus and the Samsung Galaxy Note 5's performance were abysmal. If you handle each of the two without gloves on, there is a significant risk of dropping them. This is because the two phones are made with all-metal body design that is slippery. If you are buying any of them and will likely use them during winter outside, then put the phone in a casing. 

Battery Life 

A test was carried out on each of these three items and they perform better in a warm environment than in a cold environment. There is a certainty that any of the phones' battery will exhaust quickly when used under a cold weather because each of them were sensitive to cold weather. So, if you use your phone under sub-zero conditions, you know what to expect. As for the warmer environment, all three performed impressively. 

Conclusion 

If you intend to embark on a snowy adventure and your sole camera is your smartphone, then any of the three cameraphones we have reviewed will do the job. And if you are looking at them in terms of performance, there is not much gap in that aspect as well.