10 Android Smartphone Alternatives to the Apple iPhone 6

By Don Reisinger

The Samsung Galaxy S5 is easily one of the most popular iPhone alternatives in this roundup. The device, which launched earlier this year, comes with Android 4.4 KitKat and runs a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with a clock speed of 2.5GHz. The handset features a 5.1-inch screen and a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera. It’s a top-notch alternative to any iPhone.

Sony’s Xperia Z2 comes with an outstanding design that puts it on equal footing with just about any other product on the market. The device has a 5.2-inch full HD display and can last 19 hours on a single charge. Like the Galaxy S5, the Z2 runs Android 4.4, but boosts its rear-facing camera to 20.7 megapixels. The Z2 is Sony’s flagship smartphone, and one can easily see why given its impressive specs.

Although LG doesn’t have the kind of market share it had hoped to secure over the last couple of years, the company’s G3 flagship is widely viewed as one of the best on the market. The device boasts Android 4.4 and comes with the same 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 chip found in the Galaxy S5. LG’s device, however, comes with a 5.5-inch screen size and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera. In some third-party tests, its battery life lasts longer than a day on a single charge. Not bad.

HTC has been down on its luck the last couple of years, due in large part to its inability to capture the attention of the average consumer with its flagship devices. However, the HTC One M8 has bucked that trend, thanks to its strong design. The device has a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and runs on Android 4.4. Compared with some of its competitors, its screen size is small but still generous at 5 inches.

The feature that arguably stands out more than any other in the Galaxy Alpha is its metal chassis. Samsung achieved a thin and elegant design for the Alpha with its 7mm thickness and metal case. In addition to design, the Galaxy Alpha comes with a 4.7-inch display and 32GB of onboard storage. The device runs Android 4.4 on Samsung’s Exynos 5 Octa 5430 processor and has a 12-megapixel rear-facing camera.

Motorola Mobility’s Moto X is all about customizability. While its standard design is appealing to some, Motorola attempts to improve upon that by allowing users to fully customize the design of the device before they buy. It’s a feature that has caught on among many consumers. Internally, the Moto X is no slouch, either. The Android 4.4 smartphone has a quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and up to 32GB of onboard storage. The smartphone also includes a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera and a 5.2-inch display that packs 423 pixels into every inch. Like the iPhone 6, the device supports near-field communication for mobile purchasing.

The Motorola Moto G is by no means the most powerful device in this roundup, but it is designed to hit the mark among people who want to save a little cash, rather than drop hundreds on a new iPhone or Android device. The smartphone comes with a respectable 5-inch screen and 8-megapixel rear-facing camera. It also offers a 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor. Like the Moto X, the Moto G can be heavily customized when consumers choose different cases.

Most of the devices included in this roundup are running Android but have a vendor-specific skin placed atop the operating system to provide a differentiated experience. The Google Nexus 5, however, ditches all of that for a standard build of Android. The device also comes with a 5-inch screen, 8-megapixel rear-facing camera and quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. It’s not a bad option for those who want the pure Android experience.

The Amazon Fire Phone arguably provides the biggest difference in software experience compared with other Android phones. The device, which has a 4.7-inch display and a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, comes loaded with Amazon’s own software, including access to its Appstore, Prime Instant Video and more. The handset also comes with a feature called Firefly that can snap images of everything from phone numbers to bar codes, and immediately provide actionable options to customers based on what was captured. Just don’t expect a standard Android experience with the Fire Phone or full compatibility with all Android apps on the market.

Samsung makes the list again with the upcoming Galaxy Note 4. That device, which is slated to hit U.S. store shelves in October, is the company’s top-of-the-line offering, boasting a 5.7-inch screen, an enhanced S Pen stylus for interacting with the operating system and a quad-HD display featuring a 2,560-by-1,440 resolution. It’s the device Samsung is pitting against the Apple iPhone 6 Plus, and based on its specs, it’s easy to see why the company wants to make that comparison.