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Awesome interactive chart shows the cost of building every iPhone and Galaxy phone

Published Dec 5th, 2014 7:05PM EST
iPhone 6 vs. Galaxy S5: Price
Image: MacMixing | YouTube

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Since Apple and Samsung are the most important players in the smartphone business — two fierce rivals bound by a complex supply partnership and engaged in a complicated legal battle — IEEE Spectrum has taken a look at both Apple and Samsung’s “changing smartphone recipes,” putting together a neat infographic that shows how much it cost Apple and Samsung to build every iPhone and Galaxy S model to date.

FROM EARLIER: The iPhone 6 might be low-res, but Apple’s highest-resolution device ever is coming soon

The resulting interactive chart (available below), shows not only the overall cost of each iPhone and Galaxy S generation made to date, but also the various prices Apple and Samsung were willing to pay for certain components, how these prices changed over the years, and the areas where each company decided to invest more money for future handset generations.

When it comes to manufacturing costs, the infographic reveals the iPhone 6 is Apple’s most expensive device to make yet, with the company paying $228.07 per iPhone 6 unit, significantly higher than the $211.80 paid for an iPhone 5s unit.

Comparatively, the Galaxy S5 costs $215.44 to make, less than a dollar more than the Galaxy S4 ($214.54).

The full infographic follows below — hovering with the mouse over any segment and clicking on a component category will bring up more information about it.

Chris Smith Senior Writer

Chris Smith has been covering consumer electronics ever since the iPhone revolutionized the industry in 2008. When he’s not writing about the most recent tech news for BGR, he brings his entertainment expertise to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe and other blockbuster franchises.

Outside of work, you’ll catch him streaming almost every new movie and TV show release as soon as it's available.