On the eve of the iPhone 6s’ launch in India, we look at the ‘premium’ smartphone segment, and enlist alternatives which may give you a strong proposition to consider
The iPhone 6s is almost here. At midnight today, the doors will fling open, and Apple fanatics and enthusiasts alike will queue up with a stash of cash to own the iPhone 6s – the latest bragging right in town. The iPhones, ever since inception, have been trendsetters in terms of the premium factor. Presently on its ninth iteration, the iPhones of the present era have come up against stiff competition from Android-powered devices that have succeeded in their game. Here’s looking at the alternatives that you might consider, keeping superior performance and exclusivity factors intact, against the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.
The Galaxys
Samsung struck the right chords when it came up with the excellent Samsung Galaxy S6, and Galaxy S6 Edge. The Galaxy S6 series have further continued with a Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, in recent times. Successfully providing the premium build quality and feel in hand to complement the streamlined performance and class-leading camera, the Galaxy S6 rocketed its way up the smartphone ladder, becoming a formidable force to reckon with. At present, the Samsung Galaxy S6 is priced at Rs. 42,990, with 64GB of internal storage. In comparison, the iPhone 6s (with 16GB of internal storage) is debuting tonight at an introductory price of Rs. 62,000. The Galaxy S6 might not be the present generation flagship smartphone in the strictest terms, but it is still an excellent device offering uninterrupted performance, along with superior imaging, audio and build quality. Additionally, it is presently available for cheaper, by a margin of approximately Rs. 20,000. Seeing that the festive season is here, the spare money saved might just come handy for all the festive gifts that you can purchase from the ongoing sales.
Alternatively, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is the other option for you to consider, if you want the latest generation smartphone, anyway. At a price of Rs. 53,900, the Galaxy Note 5 is still almost Rs. 10,000 cheaper than the iPhone 6s, despite providing you with ample exclusivity for the price tag. More storage? Check. Better price point? Check. Good alternative? Check.
The Xperias
Behold, Sony’s flagship smartphones – the Xperia Z5 and Xperia Z5 Premium are on their way to India, in about one week’s time. While there have not been much talks about its prices, the ‘premium’ smartphones are expected to launch in India at comparable price points in the vicinity of Rs. 60,000. We got a peek at the new Xperias at IFA 2015, and they are fine pieces of art, crafted with ‘premium’ written all over it. Additionally, the Sony Xperia Z5 Premium will fetch you the tag of owning the first smartphone in the world to feature a 4K resolution display panel (you might not be able to distinguish it from a 2K resolution display, but it looks stunning anyway). On this note, provided that buying the iPhone 6s/6s Plus is not an absolute compulsion for you, the new generation Xperia smartphones are devices that will possibly be a good reason to wait a while for.
The Lumias
Microsoft recently showed off the Lumia 950 and 950XL at its event, keeping the Lumia juggernaut rolling. Yet again, the Lumia 950XL became the first smartphone to feature a liquid cooling mechanism to rid you of any heating issues that you might have had in mind with the Snapdragon 810 running in all its glory. This, while not being an upfront feature that you will get to flaunt to your peers, is a clear signal of intent from the Microsoft stable that the Lumia 950XL means business (read: your favourite films and mobile games in stellar quality on the 5.7-inch Quad HD display). Alongside, the flagship Lumias have been renowned for packing in excellent camera sensors.
Although the price points and release dates are yet to be declared, the new Lumias are expected to launch in India by 2015. Hence, if the Windows 10 Mobile platform is not a constraint in your mind and if you can wait for a couple of months, the new flagship Lumias are two smartphones that are definitely worth considering.
The old iPhone itself
The iPhone 6 might be a generation older, but it still one of the best-performing devices out there. The 8MP iSight camera still delivers very good photographs, so unless you are really gaga over the Force Touch implementation on the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the 16GB iPhone 6 is presently available for Rs. 36,990, a whopping Rs. 26,000 lesser than the iPhone 6s Plus. Additionally, with the festive season here and expected price cuts knocking on the door, the iPhone 6 is a superb proposition for first-time iOS users, or people using older iPhones.
There are multiple options that can be considered, if you are eyeing a premium flagship smartphone any time soon. Whether the iPhone 6s will become an exclusive proposition that puts all of the other options out of question, is something that we will decipher in the coming few days.
Until then, happy choosing.
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Souvik Das
The one that switches between BMWs and Harbour Line Second Class. View Full Profile
