Optimization, Lower Resolution Help iPhone 6 Destroy Galaxy S6 in Gaming Benchmarks

Samsung’s new Galaxy S6 features impressive specs on paper that seemingly overwhelm the iPhone 6: a quad-core processor, 3GB of RAM, and a high density 1440×2560 display. But when it comes to gaming, the iPhone overcomes the supposed limits of its technical specifications and flat-out destroys the Galaxy S6 in many high-end games. That is, according to new game benchmarks from mobile performance service GameBench.

The report, released this week, reveals that the iPhone 6 outperforms flagship Android phones, including the S6, by a wide margin in many benchmarks. Games such as Modern Combat 5, Marvel: Contest of Champions and Dead Trigger 2 all run at higher frame rates on the iPhone 6 than on its Android-based competitors, the HTC One M9, Google Nexus 6, and Samsung Galaxy S6.

Games that are capped at set frame rates, such as Marvel Champions, are handled nearly equally well by all devices, but the iPhone posts nearly twice the performance in Modern Combat 5 and Dead Trigger 2. Even in games where it offers reduced frame rates, such as Real Racing 3, the iPhone 6 provides the best frame stability, meaning that it offers the smoothest and most consistent visuals.

The report notes that the results don’t necessarily mean that the new Android phones are less powerful than the iPhone 6, but there are many factors that give the iPhone the edge, such as games that are better optimized for iOS. One big factor that gives the iPhone an advantage is screen resolution. The Galaxy S6 in particular has a much higher resolution display, with about 3.6 million pixels, than the iPhone 6, at just 1 million pixels. As a result, some games run at 1080p or higher on Android, but at just 720p on the iPhone.

But the difference between 720p and 1080p on a relatively small screen will likely go unnoticed by users, meaning that even though there is no apples-to-apples comparison between iPhone and its Android-based competitors, users will enjoy a better experience with many high-end games on Apple’s flagship device, at least for now.

GameBench’s report only looked at the performance of the 4.7-inch iPhone 6. They promise to also evaluate the iPhone 6 Plus in the future, which will give us a closer look at 1080p game performance thanks to the larger device’s 1920×1080 display that is powered by the same hardware as the smaller iPhone 6.