Time is certainly of the essence. And we all know that Apple and Samsung have better understanding of this one. For example, Apple really knows when the time is right for it to launch its new iPhone, and apparently this year, it has launched even two: the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 5c, making the competition in the market even tougher than it already is. However, it seems that Samsung wouldn't allow its market share to even lose just a smidge of its now wider demographics. Thus, it launched its new Note installment, the Galaxy Note 3, just a week after Apple's release. Now the fanfare for the new devices are clashing, and we all know that many are now contemplating if making the big switch to the other would be all worth it, especially that the holidays are fast approaching. With two very different devices, the iPhone 5s (let's just omit the iPhone 5c in this comparison for very obvious reasons) and the Galaxy Note 3, it is rather quite difficult to choose the better pick unless we put them side-by-side and compare all their features, specs, etc. to the last bit. Without further ado, let us take a look at the four-one-one of these new "hot for the holiday" devices.
Size, Weight, Build, & Design
It is fair enough to group these specifications in to one category since one is not well understood without the rest. For size, it is very obvious that the Galaxy Note 3 takes the lead on this one. With its 5.7" 1080x1920 (1080p) Super AMOLED screen display, it is not surprising that this too-big-for-a-phone device - hence coined as phablet - pretty much beats the iPhone 5s in the size spectrum. It is 22 percent taller, 39 percent wider, and 8 percent thicker than the new iPhone which sports a 4-incher 640x1136 Retina Display screen. However, despite the literally big difference between the two, we can see that resolution-wise, we cannot really differentiate them unless we look at them very closely that we see the Galaxy Note 3's superiority over the other. But (with a capital B), viewing both phones outdoors will somehow shock Samsung fans as the iPhone 5s takes the lead on outdoor visibility and readability despite its lower resolution. Additionally, the colors in the iPhone appear more realistic and vibrant as opposed to the over saturated colors on the 3 that give off an iridescent glow, making it appear too strong to the eyes.
When it comes to weight, it is also obvious which one owns this round. The 168g weight of the Note 3 comes with its beyond-average size and build while the 112g iPhone 5s is just enough and not quite noticeable to the hand or to the pocket. In terms of build and design, we can't really point out a major difference between the iPhone 5s and that of its predecessor, the iPhone 5. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Note 3 is far from the Galaxy Note 2 and relatively similar and perhaps even reminiscent of the Galaxy S4 build. One notable improvement we can point out though is the fact that Samsung has finally ditched it flimsy and glossy back casing with its "still plastic" casing with soft-touch faux leather finish and tricky stitches on the side.
Interface & Functionality
Again, as two very different devices running quite dissimilar Operating Systems, it is also hard to judge this round. The iPhone 5s comes with its newly-designed iOS 7, which in many ways than one is more appealing, given its modern look, minimalist yet stunning design, and added functionality. But of course, the Galaxy Note 3 also has its charm to brag with its TouchWiz Nature UX on top of its Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS - the last installment in the trilogy. The animations in both are superb and the personalization and customization feats are very inviting, but comparing them side-by-side, we saw that the iOS 7 gets more attention because of its detailed and more precise design while the TouchWiz seems to exude a very cartoony look.
For functionality however, we truly agree that this goes to the Galaxy Note 3. Aside from its responsive screen to both finger touch and the stylus, the S PEN features are just as impressive as its REAL multi-tasking capability. The S Pen, of course, is a proud feature of Samsung's Note series, and this time around the South Korean company has incorporated more favorable options that make the Note 3 experience smoother and faster. Although the iPhone 5s has its task switching capacity that is said to be a feature that would allow smooth transition in between task and app switching, we can definitely say that Samsung's multi-window, multi-tasking functionality clearly blows the other out of the water. Additionally, Apple is still far behind when it comes to personalization since Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 - like other Android devices - has widgets and icon packs to choose from. However, we are not really sure if Apple is planning to incorporate widgets to its OS as of late, but given the fact that its iOS7 now supports more customizations including live wallpapers, we should not be shocked if ever Apple jumps into the widget bandwagon.
Camera & Other Accessories
Galaxy Note 3's camera comes with a bunch of manual controls and camera modes, which for the photographer at heart could really come in handy. On the other hand, the iPhone 5s sticks to Apple's more simplified yet sophisticated camera experience without the added feats of editing modes and the likes. Although the 8-migepixel iSight camera on the iPhone may prove to be weaker in specs to the Note 3 13-megapixel shooter, we can't really tell the difference on the quality of the pictures they take. On brightly-lit spaces, both smartphones are capable of snapping sharp and vibrant photos. Under low light however, it seems that Apple's camera is a tad higher in quality score because of its ability to take photos without blurring and less noise. Video quality is almost the same except that the Note 3 has this distinct ability to capture videos in 4K resolution (3840x2160).
Now, this round is also another that is in favor of the Galaxy Note 3. For one thing, the S Pen feature is not at all that mind-blowing without Samsung's Note series-available styluses. This distinct feature just gives the Note it essence of being a high-end "notebook" for the organized and the artistic. But, of course, we can't expect Apple to include the pen-like accessory in its iPhones, given that the late Steve Jobs himself mocked styluses during the company's first iPhone release way back in 2007. Another thing that the new Galaxy Note takes pride on is its companion accessory/device, the Galaxy Gear (you need to understand though that this is sold separately). This smartwatch, in all its advanced glory, serves as an extension to the phablet while being concealed as a stylistic wristwatch. Hence, making calls, snapping pictures, and running certain apps would just be as easy as tapping on to the smartwatch instead of taking the entire ginormous phone out of the pocket.
To the delight of Apple however, it has all the right to brag about its latest quite advanced fingerprint scanning technology that is incorporated into its home button. This remarkable accessory is something that is hard to beat, as it gives the iPhone 5s an identity of its own when it comes to unlocking and making purchases online. It gives users that sense of ownership while at the same time serving as an extension to their indelible mark as a unique human being. The Touch ID sensor scans its owner's fingerprint for a more secured access. Anyone else who tries to unlock the phone must simply resort to using the passcode as the case may be.
Processor, RAM & Storage
As high-end smartphones, both the Galaxy Note 3 and the iPhone 5s are well endowed with stellar processors. While the new iPhone brags its one-of-a-kind dual core 1.3 GHZ Apple A7 processor that runs on 64-bit technology, the Note 3 also packs its own irresistible powerhouse, a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 SoC processor with Adreno 330 GPU. By way of benchmark testing or not, we can see that these devices are on top of their game when it comes to speed of processing. However, noticeable choppines could be seen every now and then on the Note 3 despite its very powerful processor. RAM-wise, the iPhone 5s has 1GB of it while the Note 3 has a very potent 3GB, which is seen as an advantage, especially when one is multi-tasking. In terms of storage, Apple has always been stubborn on not having a slot for expandable memory. Its base model comes with 16GB internal memory, half of what the Note 3's base model flaunts. Aside from that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has a microSD slot, which could be very useful for people who want to use their device as a mini-library of multimedia, ebooks, etc.
Connectivity & Local File Sharing
In terms of connectivity, it is safe to say that this round is a draw for both smartphones since they support the speedy 4G LTE connectivity that is proven to be very useful for downloading any type of file. As for gadget-to-gadget connection, the Note 3 takes the lead with its Near Field Communication technology or NFC, which powers the device's S Beam feature that allows users to transfer files to other Galaxy devices with just a single tap. Although we might not live to see this technology in Apple devices, thanks to its iOS7 upgrade, Apple fans can also establish this type of connection through AirDrop, a combination of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi that does a great job when it comes to quick file transfers. Nonetheless, similar to the Samsung Galaxy S4, the new Note features an IR Blaster, which gives the phablet the capacity to act as a remote control for the Television.
Voice Control
With the new iOS7 comes the improved version of Siri, a voice control technology that allows users to pretty much command their devices by voice without the need to encode data or press certain keys. Meanwhile, for Samsung's new devices, smartphone users are given two voice control options: the Samsung S Voice (which as experts put is just an inferior rip-off of Apple's Siri) and Google Now (the much better alternative due to its speed and predictive capabilities). Although it is undeniable that Apple takes the lead on this one, it is important to note that with the addition of the Galaxy Gear, Note 3 users can take advantage of that Bond-style technology, where they can simply voice out commands to their smartwatches with or without synchronization to the main device, making the Note 3 experience very high-end.
Conclusion
Indeed, the Galaxy Note 3 and the iPhone 5s are two of the greatest smartphones as of late, and they may be qualified as rivals in their target market. If you want something that is more portable and simpler without compromising design, performance, and quality, the iPhone 5s, which starts at $200 for a two-year contract of its 16GB base model, is the one for you. But if you want something that is quite grand, bigger that packs in a lot of voluminous features and productivity-based functions, the Galaxy Note 3, which starts rolling at $300 for a two-year contract of its 32GB base model, is the better pick.
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