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The iPhone SE vs. the competition: Small but strong
In the ongoing march to larger screen sizes, the new iPhone SE might seem like a step backwards. But it's welcome relief to people who find large handsets unwieldy. However, even if few phones aren't as little as the new 4-inch iPhone, there are still plenty of options with smaller-than-average screens and prices to match. We've stacked up the SE against some of the more notable of these petite phones to see which could be worth buying.
How does the SE stack up to the rest of the iPhone line?
The iPhone SE is the newest member of Apple's smartphone line, with a smaller size that makes it more pocket-friendly than either the 6s or 6s Plus. But, while the SE boasts a diminutive frame and familiar design, is that enough to make you choose it over its bigger siblings? Though you'll have to wait for our review for the ultimate verdict, we can at least compare the specs side by side to see how the SE stacks up on paper.
Lumia 950 XL vs. the competition: The big flagship phones are here
It's become commonplace for phone manufacturers to offer two sizes of their flagship phones: big and bigger. Microsoft is following suite with the new Lumia 950 and 950 XL, the latter of which is poised to compete directly with devices like the brand-new iPhone 6S Plus and the Nexus 6P. If you're looking for a flagship phone running your platform of choice, now's a great time to be in the market. The most notable difference about these devices is what operating system they run, but if you want to see how they stack up on a spec-by-spec basis, check out the table below.
The Lumia 950 vs. the competition: A battle of flagships
The smaller of the new Lumias is quite the powerhouse on paper, but how does it stack up against the latest iOS and Android devices? At first glance, Microsoft's newest flagship, the Lumia 950, seems plenty powerful with its 1.8GHz hexa-core Snapdragon 808, 3GB of RAM and 5.2-inch Quad HD AMOLED display. However, we've got the face-off after the break with a side-by-side comparison between the Lumia 950, iPhone 6s and Nexus 5x so you can decide for yourself which one best suits your needs.
Surface Book vs. the competition: Flagship laptops go head-to-head
And then there were three: with the introduction of the Surface Book, Microsoft has joined Apple and Google in offering a premium laptop that runs its own platform. But how does it stack up next to its rivals, the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the Chromebook Pixel? We've put the specs of each side by side to help you sort things out. As you'll soon see, the three only share a few things in common. They reflect the unique philosophies of their creators, whether it's Microsoft's fondness for tablets, Apple's preference for powerful (if conventional) laptops or Google's desire for lean-and-mean web machines.
The new Chromecast vs. the competition: Which will you watch?
The original Chromecast stood out for how it offered a cheap, easy way to get content on your TV in a super small form factor. Its successor adds even more features like Fast Play, an integrated HDMI cable and even a redesigned app. However, the digital set-top player arena has gotten a lot more crowded since 2013, with heavyweights like Roku and Amazon offering their own streaming sticks to compete. With so much shared content and affordable prices across the board, we took a look at what each player has to offer in terms of specs and features to see if it's more than just the Chromecast's new shape that makes it stand out.
The Nexus 6P vs. the competition: More than just big screens
Google might not have a new 6-inch handset this year, but fans of larger phones will still be pleased with the 5.7-inch Nexus 6P. It's got a 12.3-megapixel camera, laser-assisted autofocus and, as always, a stock version of the latest Android. But with manufacturers increasingly putting lighter, less intrusive Android skins on their own devices, what does the latest large-screen Nexus do to stand apart? We've matched up the Nexus 6P up against some of its biggest rivals to find out.
The Nexus 5X vs. the competition: Smaller is still powerful
If last year's Nexus 6 was too big for your hands, this year Google and LG have scaled things back a bit with the Nexus 5X. It sports a more manageable 5.2-inch screen size, while also dropping some new features into the mix like USB Type-C and Nexus Imprint. But are these added bells and whistles enough to carve out a space for LG's new Nexus among smaller flagship handsets? We've stacked up the 5X versus the similarly-sized Galaxy S6 as well as Apple's latest 4.7-inch iPhone to find out.
The iPad Mini 4 vs. the iPad Mini 3: What's changed?
The iPhone might have gotten bigger, but there's still a place in our hearts for small tablets, as evidenced by today's announcement of the iPad Mini 4. It offers more screen space than the iPhone 6s Plus while being more pocketable than the iPad Air 2. And, unlike the iPad Pro, you can still easily hold this in one hand. But what makes this worth upgrading from the (now discontinued) iPad Mini 3? We've got the specs for both lined up right here so you can see if the Mini 4 is fresh enough for your dollars.
The iPhone 6s Plus vs. the iPhone 6 Plus: What's changed?
With today's announcement of the iPhone 6s Plus, it looks like larger-screen iPhones are here to stay. And, while plenty of users jumped on board when the iPhone got a bump to 5.5 inches with the 6 Plus, Apple isn't going to try and entice anyone with another screen size bump -- the 6s Plus' major upgrades are on the inside. While you'll have to wait for our full review, we've lined up the specs of the 6 Plus and 6s Plus to get a better idea of what improvements you can expect if you pick one up.
The iPhone 6s Plus vs. the competition: Big is beautiful
Apple may have finally embraced larger phones last year, but this year's announcement of the 6s Plus doesn't mean we're going to see a 6-inch iPhone any time soon. We're still looking at the same 5.5-inch screen size, though with faster internals and some snazzy new features like 3D Touch. But, with larger displays becoming the norm, users now have to think about more than just the screen size. We've matched up the iPhone 6s Plus against some leading handsets to make it easier to decide which big-screen phone has what it takes to be your next device.
The iPhone 6s vs. the competition: Is it enough?
The iPhone 6s is here, featuring the same basic body as last year's edition but with a new rose gold aluminum finish, a stronger glass display and pressure-sensitive 3D Touch. There are quite a few improvements under the hood as well, including a faster processor and an improved OS. But, with rival companies coming out with phones that are lean, fast and affordable, is the 6s still the must-have handset this fall? We've been impressed with offerings from Samsung and LG this year, but how do they fare against Apple's latest?
The new Apple TV vs. the old Apple TV: What's changed?
The new Apple TV is here to finally put all the rumors to rest. But, with three years since the last version was released, Apple's new box has a lot of catching up to do. Resolutions, apps and games -- a lot has changed for set-top players. To make things a little easier, we've lined up all the need-to-know information about the 2012 and the 2015 Apple TVs to see the difference a few years can make.
The iPhone 6s vs. the iPhone 6: What's changed?
We've just wrapped up this year's big iPhone event, which means iPhone owners now get to ponder over whether or not to upgrade their handsets. It's easy enough when there are plenty of cosmetic changes and new features to really distinguish a new iPhone from your old one, but this time around we're looking at an iterative 'S' version where, aside from a new rose gold color, the improvements are not always obvious at first glance. Fortunately, we've got the specs for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6s lined up for your perusal right here. So you can decide whether it's got enough additional oomph for you to dig out your wallet now, or wait until next year's edition instead.
The iPad Pro vs. the competition: Super-size your tablet
Last year Apple embraced the mantra that "bigger is better" for the iPhone. Now it's done the same with the iPad line, in the form of a larger-screen 12.9-inch tablet. But Apple isn't the first to make a big tablet, and not even the first to call it "Pro." How does the iPad Pro compare to other large tablets, like the Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 and the Surface Pro 3? We've lined up the specs side by side so you can decide which one you'd rather hold in your lap while you work.
Apple Watch vs. the competition: Where does it stand?
Now that Mobile World Congress has come and gone, bringing with it a slew of smartwatch announcements, it's time to learn more about Apple's own highly anticipated entry into the market. We finally have a firm release date and a price -- April 24, starting at $349 for the 38mm Apple Watch Sport. But the field it's entering has changed quite a bit since the Apple Watch was first announced in September. What can the Apple Watch expect to face off against when it hits stores, and how does it ultimately stack up? We've compared some of the top models in the table below, and you can walk through our gallery to learn about even more options on the market.
Watch, contrast and compare as GTA 5 slides from PS3 to PS4
Rockstar's new PS3/PS4 comparison vid for Grand Theft Auto 5 sits somewhere between chill-out and trippy. One moment there's greenery, deer and dolphins, the next there are people magically appearing out of nowhere. Were those people on the street always there, but just... invisible before? Are they ghost people? Maybe we're all ghost people? Whoa. Revelations aside, GTA 5 hits PS4 and Xbox One on November 18, and PC in 2015. [Image: Rockstar Games]
iPad Air 2 vs. the competition: Is it the tablet to beat?
There was a time when it was hard to find someone who would argue with Apple's claim that the iPad was heavyweight tablet champ. But now Android slates like the Galaxy Tab Pro 10.1, the Xperia Tablet Z2 and the recently announced Nexus 9 are making a run at the title. Sure, the iPad still has some great apps, but how does the latest iPad Air compare to the competition under the hood? Check out the tale of the tape below, and decide for yourself if the iPad Air 2 has what it takes to stay on top.
How Shadow of Mordor PS4 stacks up to PC's huge textures
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is a great action game, and a pretty (gruesome) one at that. Those playing on consoles will get a good sense of Monolith's interpretation of the Tolkien universe, but high-end PC players have access to an even more detailed version of Middle-earth. Players with beefy computers can download the HD content pack on Steam, which patches Shadow of Mordor with the "highest resolution textures available." The content pack requires a 64-bit version of Windows 7 or Windows 8 as well as a minimum of 8 GB of system RAM and a video card with at least 6 GB of RAM. Digital Foundry put together a comparison video with the PC version's ultra textures and a PS4 copy of the game, found after the break. For more footage of Shadow of Mordor in action, check out Tuesday's hour-long archived Joystiq Streams. [Image: WBIE]
Tesco's Hudl2 vs. Hudl: what's changed?
The Hudl2 has finally been unveiled. Sticking to what it knows, Tesco has retained much of what made the original Hudl unique, but it's now bigger, thinner and a lot more powerful. Wondering how the specs compare to its predecessor, though? Well, we're glad you asked because we've laid everything out for you below.
