It may seem strange to compare smartphones and tablets, but they aren't exactly apples and oranges. Phablets, or large-screen smartphones, have been in the market for quite some time, but Apple's 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus clearly signaled the smartphone's encroachment of tablet territory.
At first glance, there is no discernible difference between the two Apple devices, with the iPhone 6 Plus looking like a smaller iPad mini 3, or the iPad mini 3 passing off for a larger iPhone 6 Plus. But the $350 price difference between the two devices shows there are major differences between the two comparable devices.
Performance
The iPhone 6 Plus, which runs on Apple's latest A8 64-bit processor, is the winner in the performance department. The older A7 processor powering the iPad mini 3 is by no means slow, and most users will likely love how their iPad mini 3 will run as smooth as butter. However, the most nitpicky users will notice the fraction of a second's difference between the two. In real-world and benchmark tests, the iPhone 6 Plus has proven to be much faster than the iPad mini 3 (and plenty of other smartphones in the 5.5-inch range and up).
Geekbench, for example, gives the iPhone 6 Plus 2,917 points and the iPad mini 3 2,483 points. In GFX Bench, the iPhone 6 Plus scored 18.7fps in Manhattan and 41.1fps in T-Rex, while the iPad mini 3 trailed behind with 8.9fps and 22.7fps. In SunSpider's testing, the iPhone 6 Plus is significantly faster with 449 mms than the iPad mini 3's 369mms.
Design
The two devices look like different versions of each other, but each one's size makes for a big differentiator. The iPhone 6 Plus is smaller and lighter with dimensions of 158x78x7mm, but it is simply too big for many people. On the other hand, the iPad mini 3, at 200x135x7.5mm, is the perfect size for a tablet, allowing the user to take it around in a bag and use for various activities, such as browsing the web, playing games and watching videos. Still, the iPad mini 3 is a poor upgrade from the iPad mini 2, which costs $100 less than the newer tablet. The only difference between the two is the addition of the TouchID fingerprint scanner to the iPad mini 3, a feature that Apple has taken a long time to add to the iPad mini.
Moreover, the iPhone 6 Plus is not without its flaws, despite Apple's insistence of their non-existence. The camera, for instance, protrudes out of the phone's body, making it rock back and forth instead of sitting flatly on the table. And, of course, there is Bendgate, Hairgate and other problems with the iPhone 6 Plus reported by multiple iPhone 6 Plus owners on the Internet.
Display
The iPad mini 3 has a 7.9-inch 2048x1536 multi-touch display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, while the iPhone 6 Plus has 5.5-inch 1920x1080 display with a 16:9 widescreen. Little difference is seen in color vibrancy, contrast and sharpness, but the aspect ratios make all the difference.
While the smaller screen on the iPhone 6 Plus makes things such as typing email a less comfortable experience than on the iPad mini 3, the iPad mini 3's 4:3 aspect ratio means viewing videos on the tablet may include having to lose information on both sides of the screen or compressing the picture to include all information but ending up with two black bars on the top and bottom of the screen.
Software
Both devices run on Apple's latest iOS 8.1, but that doesn't mean both devices offer the same functionality. In this department, the ability to make phone calls and send text messages on the iPhone 6 Plus give it a big leg up over the iPad mini 3. The latest mini tablet can still let users make phone calls, but only via FaceTime and other video calling apps for iOS. It can also now send text messages via Continuity for the latest iOS, but not without having a connected iPhone nearby, which negates the point of having to choose between buying an iPad or an iPhone.
Another feature not found in iPad mini 3 is HealthKit, which lets users collect their health and fitness information in a single central hub. That's likely because most users don't like having to carry their iPads around while running or doing other forms of exercise, while they can easily have their iPhones, albeit their 5.5-inch iPhones, during physical activity.
Battery
Apple itself says it so. The smaller iPhone 6 Plus has a bigger battery that can last up to 12 hours of use with Internet connection or up to 16 hours on standby, whereas the iPad mini 3 can only last 10 hours of continuous browsing.
Camera
Taking pictures with a tablet is socially frowned upon, and that alone makes the iPhone 6 Plus a better camera than the iPad mini 3. But looking into the camera technology also supports this assertion. The iPhone 6 Plus has an 8-megapixel iSight rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) to reduce the effects of shaking while shooting and compensate during low-light conditions. The iPad mini 3 has a 5-megapixel rear camera, which makes it better than older iPad models but not as good as the iPhone 6 Plus.
Price
The entry-level iPhone 6 Plus, which is available in silver, space gray and gold, is pegged at $749, making it nearly two times more expensive than the $399 16GB iPad mini 3. Even the 128GB iPad mini 3 is still $150 cheaper than the 16GB iPhone 6 Plus. For price-conscious buyers, the iPad mini 3 wins this round hands down.
Verdict
Simply comparing Apple's two hottest new devices, the iPhone 6 Plus emerges as the strong victor over the iPad mini 3. It's clear from the side-by-side comparison that iPhones can do more things that only an iPad used to do, including watch better-looking videos, type emails and play graphics-intensive games. However, tablets can't seem to adapt many of the functionalities that are exclusive to smartphones, including the very important function of sending texts and making calls without an Internet connection. Still, any buyer's options are not limited to choosing between the iPhone 6 Plus and the iPad mini 3, and they can ultimately decide to purchase both in the end.
However, buyers without the budget for both devices might find better value in the iPhone 6 Plus, which offers features the iPad mini 3 can't. But anyone bent on buying a smartphone and a tablet can go for both, but not necessarily for the iPhone 6 Plus or the iPad mini 3. For instance, one can get the newer tablet for $499 and an iPhone 5S for $549. Similarly, they can get the iPad mini 2, which is not very different from the iPad mini 3 Wi-Fi only model, for $299 and pair it with an iPhone 6 Plus.
