Intel Corp (INTC)

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Apple got their shit together and completely neutralized the only advantage that Android offered (big screens).

I agree with this. The smaller iPhone 5/5S was a huge turn-off to me, but iPhone 6 for the first time makes me want to consider an Apple phone product. I already have an iPad2, but the majority of my apps are Play Store based. I don't relish buying anything over again. That's probably my only hesitation at this point, since iPhone 6 is just that compelling.

By the way, I have an HTC One, not a Samsung Galaxy. I always considered the latter to be rather cheap looking.

Simultaneously, the lower tier android phone makers are making some pretty nice phones at a fraction of Samsung's cost.

Xiaomi is now #3 in unit sales.

I haven't seen (let alone used) the Xiaomi phones, but most of the high-end phones on Verizon are $199 with 2-year contract. Same for iPhone 6, same for others. The new Droid Turbo from Motorola is also a very compelling design, with a thicker chassis that accommodates a battery that's supposed to last 48 hours (usage hours, not standby). It's also $199.

Unless you mean cost to the vendor. I looked up Samsung and Apple costs, and they look pretty similar.

iPhone 6/6+ is $227 and $242.50, respectively.
http://www.techinsights.com/teardown.com/apple-iphone-6/

Same vendor has Samsung Galaxy S5 at $206.44
http://www.techinsights.com/teardown.com/samsung-galaxy-S5-teardown/

Another teardown vendor estimates $251.52
http://press.ihs.com/press-release/design-supply-chain/samsung-galaxy-s5-carries-astronomical-bill-materials-ihs-teardown

I'm happy to split the difference, and just call the Galaxy S5 "comparable" in cost to iPhone 6.