Premium-range smartphones are becoming ever more powerful and multi-functional, and concurrently ever more expensive, as the gap between budget entry-level models and higher-range devices grows.While global average selling prices for smartphones are declining at pace, manufacturers playing at the high-end sphere of the market are going all out in attracting the consumer dollar, with next-gen smartphones decked out with a range of features conversely driving selling prices up at the top tier.

Apple’s focus on premium-priced smartphones has paid off with the release of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, which have proven wildly successful for the tech giant.

Gartner figures reveal Apple assumed the position of number one vendor in the 2014 fourth quarter,
growing its market share from 17.8 per cent to 20.4 per cent
year-on-year, while Samsung’s share declined from 29.5 per cent to 19.9
per cent.

Australian pricing for the iPhone 6 starts
at $999 for the 16 GB model, with 6 Plus pricing starting at $1,149 for
the 16 GB model.

Samsung’s Galaxy S5, with 16 GB memory, by comparison, retails for around $799.

Now Samsung’s Galaxy S6 is set to go head-to-head with the iPhone 6 in the coming months, with a lot riding on the performance of its next-gen flagship.

Coming up against the likes of the iPhone 6 and M9, Australian pricing for the S6 will be a point of interest, as will be home much consumers are willing to spend in the pursuit of premium features.