Head-to-head: iPhone 6s vs Sony Xperia Z5

Camera

Amongst the new additions to the iPhone 6s are a 12-megapixel camera and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, which is a major upgrade from the paltry 1.2-megapixel selfie shooter on the iPhone 6. The front camera also comes with a clever screen-based flash that flickers on once in bright white to provide full illumination, then again in a lower intensity yellowish colour in an attempt to balance out the skin tone.

The iPhone 6s has Live Photos, which captures 1.5 seconds of motion footage before and after you touch the shutter button to make Vine-esque shorts. While the iPhone may include a few fun features, the Sony Xperia Z5 blows Apple's camera efforts away with a new  23-megapixel Exmor RS rear camera module. This is where the Xperia Z5 really comes into its own, incorporating SteadyShot optical image stabilisation (OIS) and hybrid autofocus by adding phase-detect pixels to the image sensor.

Talking in broad strokes, we're giving this category over to the Sony Xperia Z5.

Winner: Sony Xperia Z5

Battery

The iPhone 6s comes with a 1,715mAh battery, while the Xperia Z5 comes with a 2,900mAh battery. The iPhone offers a comfortable day's worth of use, and this can be stretched to a day-and-a-half if you limit your interaction to occasional email checks and browsing. In our experience, the Xperia Z5 can last around the two-day mark. You can hash out the specifics in our reviews, but we're giving battery to the Sony Xperia Z5.

Winner: Sony Xperia Z5

Price and verdict

In terms of price, both phones are firmly wedged in the premium ballpark. The 5.2in Sony Xperia Z5 comes at $999, while the iPhone is a small step up at $1,079. Considering that the iPhone 6s will have a sizably better resale value, those extra few quid are certainly worth considering.

Overall, you're going to get an excellent device regardless of whether you opt for Apple or Sony's offering. If you're looking for the best camera and battery, the Xperia Z5 is definitely where you want to focus your attention. Overall, however, the iPhone 6s slips a few inches in front for its stylish design, excellent contrast ratio and headline-grabbing features such as 3D Touch.

Overall winner: iPhone 6s