[promo title=”Samsung Galaxy S5″][/promo]
It’s only a few more days until the Samsung Galaxy S5 is due to drop across multiple stores. 4/11 is the anticipated release date that was stretched across Verizon stores for the next Samsung “super phone” that’s expected to stamp out the previous Samsung Galaxy S4. But will it be enough to also erase the competition, namely the highly-anticipated addition to the Sony Xperia series?
Design & Specifications
The Samsung Galaxy S5, at first glance, looks like it shares a lot of the same sheik design that made the Samsung Galaxy S4 so popular. Its dimensions are around 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in) and the design has been praised for being “lighter [and more comfortable] to the touch.” Samsung hasn’t skimped on the specs, either– Samsung hasn’t been fickle with its top-tier phones and the Galaxy S5 won’t be any different. Centre stage is its quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor, which runs at an impressive 2.5GHz. This chip, paired with 2GB of RAM, means the phone shouldn’t have any problem running an accessible app with renowned ease.
You’ll also have a choice between 16GB and 32GB of expandable storage (you can add up to 64GB extra via microSD), and there’ll be a microUSB 3.0 port for quick transfer speeds. So it’ll prove to be rather customizable to your personal needs.
Display & Audio
With a rather pristine appearance, the phone comes with Android 4.4 KitKat and the newest version of Samsung’s TouchWiz interface. At the moment, there’s no information on whether the Samsung Galaxy S5 will host either Android Google Play or Nexus. The resolution is an aspect that Samsung has focused itself on with 1080 x 1920 pixels, namely 5.1 inches and an average of 432 ppi pixel density.
The audio is going to maintain its 3.5mm radio and jack, delivering an all-together crisp experience for anyone looking to download music.
Camera
The Galaxy S5 is going to maintain at least 16 MP, 5312 x 2988 pixels, phase detection autofocus, and LED flash for primary camera use. Hosting a 1/2.6” sensor size, 1.12 µm pixel size, Dual Shot, Simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization, and HDR. If you’re looking to create videos on the phone its expectations are also quite high; with 2160p at 30fps, as well as 1080p at 60fps alongside HDR, video stabilization, and dual-video recording.
Battery Life
Samsung guarantees at least 21 hours of juice with the Galaxy S5’s 2800mAh battery. Although you might want to take note that Samsung referred to 21 hours as “talk time” it will be exponentially better if your phone is constantly on stand-by. As with previous Galaxy S phones in the series, the cable and recharge ports are easily exchangeable. So there’s no need to pour extra money into that if you’re going to simply upgrade from the Samsung Galaxy S4.
[promo title=”Sony Xperia Z2″][/promo]
Since the release of the Sony Xperia Z1, the creators overseas have been looking to amplify their share in the mobile market. The awaited Sony Xperia Z2 is their attempt to take on the Samsung Galaxy S5 on its own playing field. But is it a successful, worthy attempt? Most are beginning to believe so, even if the price will leave an otherwise deep hole in your pocket. Going quickly over the upgrades, we’ll debate whether or not these enhancements are worth the bill.
Design & Specifications
While lighter than the Xperia Z1, the Sony Xperia Z2 is a little heavier and bulkier of a phone. Albeit slimmer in comparison to its predecessor; the phone weighs in at about 163g, the dimensions are 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm (5.78 x 2.89 x 0.32 in) and can support up to 30 minutes submerged underwater. Sony commented that the Xperia Z2 has a slimmer and more comfortable feel over the Xperia Z1 due to its glass panels, which are encased in a singular, solidified aluminum frame with lighter edges. It’ll be powered by a quad-core 2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor with Krait CPUs and 3GB of RAM, giving the phone an appropriate amount of power to run any spectrum of apps you’re planning on throwing at it.
With a microSD, you’ll be liable to receive up to 128 GB of memory. The Sony Xperia Z2 comes with an initial 16 GB, which should be enough to appease even the most avid of app, music, and video-lovers.
Display & Audio
The phone’s display and audio are both factors that Sony took into consideration when glancing back at the Xperia Z1. The interface is relatively clean, and the audio is going to be high-quality. It also will host a 3.5mm jack with an option to maintain stereo-speakers in addition to its high resolution. Its display will also host IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, and 16M colors. Shatter proof and scratch-resistant glass (or as I like to call accident-proof) alongside Triluminos display and X-Reality Engine.
Camera
This device’s standout feature is its ability to record 4K video due to resolution four times that of full HD at 3840×2160. This feature has not been seen on previous Sony smartphones, and thus is the prime talk of the development and marketing following the eventual release of the Xperia Z2. The phone has a similar 20.7MP rear-facing camera as the prior installment of the Xperia series but with an overall improved shooting capability with 20.7 MP, 5248 х 3936 pixels, autofocus, and LED flash.
The in-depth features for camera are 1/2.3” sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, image stabilization, HDR, and panorama. Whereas video will be 2160p at 30fps, 1080p at 60fps, 720p at 120fps, video stabilization, as well as HDR. Secondary video is also available at 2.2 MP and 1080p at 30fps.
Battery Life
The Xperia Z2 features another 3,200mAh battery and support for 4G LTE connectivity. Sony has not chosen to comment on what the battery life will be, but in assumption to the power of the battery in comparison to its competition, it’ll most likely be around 15-16 hours of “talk time.”
[promo title=”In Conclusion”][/promo]
So there’s the outright comparison, now onto the big one—the price. The Samsung Galaxy S5 is estimated to run around $199 before the mail-in rebate. And that is on contract, if you’re going to get the phone off-contract it’ll be a steep price of $699.99.
On the other hand, the Sony Xperia Z2 has yet to be given an official price tag from an available contract. But on estimate, some of the pre-orders being listed are around the general area of $499 depending on the specs chosen. Non-contract versions of the phone are listed as being around a staggering $799.99 for purchase.
So which one will be your choice, in my opinion if you’re looking for a sleeker looking phone the Sony Xperia Z2 will be your choice. It also has a lot more protection, as well as that wonderful camera and can parallel the power of the Samsung Galaxy S5. The downturn is its price, and the weaker battery that can drain itself faster than the Samsung Galaxy S5. If you’re looking for a phone that is more stable, reliable, and overall lighter than the Xperia Z2, you’ll gravitate toward the Samsung Galaxy S5.
In all honesty, one of the major points is going to be that camera function as well as battery life. If recharging your phone constantly doesn’t bother you (or that current price range, yikes) then the Xperia Z2 is worth the investment.
What’ll be your overall choice?