Battle of the sixes: iPhone 6 vs Galaxy S6

The technology inside a handset is as important as the value offered on a contract.

---

Those looking for a new cellphone deal will get more bang for their buck if they opt for an Apple iPhone 6 rather than a Samsung Galaxy S6, but analysts do not expect this to hamper Samsung's market share.

A comparison of the contract deals on offer for each of the top-end devices, compiled by BMI-TechKnowledge (BMI-T) and ITWeb, shows contract deals for the iPhone's latest device beat out Samsung's newest top-end phone when it comes to offering value for money.

The calculations work out the two-year cost of the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6, and add back the value of the inclusive minutes, data and SMSes provided with each deal, with the value of minutes being normalised across all of the operators.

If end-users opt for the S6 from Vodacom, on a Smart S deal, they will claw back R509 over the two-year period. On MTN's MyChoice 100, however, the contract will cost an additional R887 after 24 months expire, while Telkom's SmartPlan 100 benefits contract users by R211. Cell C fares the worst: its SmartChat 1GB contract adds an additional R1 211 in cost for users over the contract period.

Conversely, those who opt for a 64GB iPhone 6 from Vodacom will score network services worth R1 231, R3 767 from MTN, and R2 535 from Cell C.

Despite the additional value inherent in the Apple deals, World Wide Worx MD Arthur Goldstuck does not expect this to widen Apple's local market share because he says the Samsung handsets offer superior technology.

Apple and Samsung have been at market share loggerheads for some time, with Samsung recently losing market share to rival Apple. The IDC has noted Apple shipped only 600 000 units less than Samsung in the fourth quarter of last year. For 2014, Apple shipped record volumes, but saw its market share drop slightly.

Apple has been putting in a "huge effort" to make its handsets more competitive, such as through trade-in vouchers, while Samsung has not made the same move, notes Goldstuck. Despite this, Samsung still has a "great" market share because of its range, and is "dramatically" ahead of Apple in the local market, he adds.

BMI-T director Brian Neilson adds Samsung's "steep" pricing has surprised analysts, and the manufacturer does not seem to be cutting deals like Apple, which could be Apple's way of buying back market share.

Goldstuck says the technology behind handsets is "as important as what you are getting back on contract". He notes that although the cost of a Samsung device is more than that of an Apple, this is because it is technologically superior, despite what Apple fans say.

According to preliminary research from IHS, the S6 Edge is the most expensive Galaxy S line smartphone yet built, but has a lower retail price than a comparable iPhone 6 Plus.

Samsung Galaxy S6 by contract numbers