Neither of these phones were cheap at launch, but quite some time has passed since both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6 hit the market and prices have dropped.
When the S6 launched the two handsets were very similarly priced. The Samsung Galaxy S6, SIM-free prices started at £559.99 (US$750, AU$999) for the 32GB model.
The base 16GB iPhone 6, meanwhile, started from £539 (US$649, AU$999) - that's slightly cheaper, but don't forget that extra storage.
A direct like-for-like comparison is impossible, because there is no 32GB iPhone 6. The 64GB model is the next up (a mistake in itself - Apple should have ditched the inadequate 16GB model instead) for £619 (US$749, AU$1149) at launch.
The Samsung Galaxy S6 has witnessed some major price drops. Shop around and you'll be able to pick up a SIM-free handset for around £340 or US$540 (about AU$710) - a huge saving over the original price.
The iPhone 6 has dropped in price too with the launch of the iPhone 6S, but not by as much, with the 16GB version now retailing for £459/US$549/AU$929, while the 64GB model costs £539/US$649/AU$1,079.
You might think that this makes the price consideration obvious, but it's arguably more problematic for the Galaxy S6. Android phones invariably lose their value quicker than iPhones, which has retained a lot of its value even though there's a newer model.
This means that the iPhone 6 probably has greater resale value than the Samsung Galaxy S6, despite the latter being six months newer.
If you're only interested in the experience, then, price shouldn't be a determining factor for your purchasing decision. These two phones cost about the same, and both are the best in their field. Your decision should come down to every other factor discussed in this article ahead of price.
The only way cost should come into it at this level is if you can envisage yourself selling your phone two years down the line, in which case you might want to take into consideration that you'll probably get more for your iPhone 6.
Verdict
At one stage, both the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the iPhone 6 were both in the top five smartphones in the world. Now both the Galaxy S7 and iPhone 6S have taken the places in our top five, but that doesn't mean the iPhone 6 and Galaxy S6 aren't still great phones.
Both have beautiful metal-and-glass designs, vibrant displays, fluid software, and class-leading cameras. It's in the different approaches to each of these elements that your decision must be made.
If you're a power user who prefers a large-screen experience for things like watching HD videos and intensive web browsing, the Galaxy S6 is the better pick. Its 5.1-inch QHD display is bigger, sharper, and more accurate than the iPhone 6. It's a stunner.
If you prefer a phone that does the basics to the best possible standard, that favours balance and intuitiveness above all, or if genuine single-handed usage is still a major factor, then the iPhone 6 is for you.
In particular, the iPhone 6's iOS platform is just slicker and more intuitive than the Galaxy S6 equivalent, which still suffers for Samsung's sub-par (though much improved) custom UI.
We all like taking pictures on our smartphones, and these are two of the best cameraphones money can buy. You will not be disappointed with the images capture by either, we guarantee. But if you're choosing between these two phones on a photographic basis, ask yourself this: exactly what sort of mobile photographer are you?
If you're a serious photographer who likes to take full control of your shots, composing them with care and attention, then the Galaxy S6 is a clear winner. Not only do its shots pack in more detail than the iPhone 6, it also comes with a comprehensive manual mode that the iPhone lacks.
Still, when it comes to just whipping your phone out for a hasty auto shot, you'll get better - or rather more consistent - results with the iPhone 6. It remains the fire-and-forget champ, thanks to Apple's dependable camera software and intuitive UI.
While this is one of the trickiest recommendations to make, then, it's also one of the easiest. Because when it comes to choosing between the iPhone 6 and the Samsung Galaxy S6, there really is no wrong answer.
Apple has since launched the iPhone 6S, so if you're wondering whether that makes the choice any clearer head over to our iPhone 6S vs Samsung Galaxy S6 comparison.
