This year, Sony released its Xperia Z2 and Samsung its much awaited Galaxy S5. Both smartphones are powerful and come with great features, but the question remains – which one is better? We’ve put down their specs in one place to help you make the decision.
Design
An aluminum vs a plastic casing.
The Galaxy S5 looks very similar to the Galaxy S4 and the Note 3, whereas the Xperia Z2 reminds us of its predecessor, the Z1. The S5 measures 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm and weighs 145 grams, making it slightly smaller than the Z2, which measures 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm and weighs 158 grams.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is made of light plastic and its removable back has a leathery feel to it. On the other hand, the Sony Xperia Z2 comes with an aluminum frame and a front and rear tempered glass, which gives it a premium look. Both handsets are water and dust resistant: the S5 offers the IP67 certification and the Z2 the IPX5 and IPX8 certification.
Display
Both phones come with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
The Galaxy S5 boasts a Super AMOLED 5.1in display with a Full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and a pixel density of 432ppi. The Xperia Z2 has a somewhat larger 5.2in IPS LCD screen, with the same resolution as the S5 and a pixel density of 424ppi. Both screens are very detailed and sharp, with rich colors, although Sony Live Color Screen with LED technology on the Z2 increases color saturation and provides you with even more vivid colors.
Processor, Storage and Battery
The Xperia Z2 is powered by a 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 processor and has 3GB of RAM. The Galaxy S5 sports a Snapdragon 801 processor, too, at a slightly faster 2.5GHz and with 2GB of RAM.
The Z2 offers 16GB of internal storage, expandable via a microSD card (up to 128GB), and the S5 either 16GB or 32GB, which you also expand (up to 128GB).
In terms of the battery, the Xperia Z2 comes with a 3,200mAh one, while the S5 has a 2,800mAh battery. The Z2′s battery is larger, yes, but bear in mind that you can remove and change the S5′s battery, which you can’t do with the battery found in the Sony Xperia Z2. Thanks to great energy saving features on both devices, you can extend your smartphone’s battery life.
Camera
Both cameras shoot great quality photos.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 16-megapixel camera on its back, with improved speed and focus point (can shoot a photo in just 0.3 seconds). It can capture 4K videos and has a number of useful options, such as HDR Live, Selective Focus etc.
The Sony Xperia Z2 comes with a 20.7-megapixel rear shooter and a 4K video option, too. Like the S5, it brings some remarkable options with it: the stabilization SteadyShot digital for video recordings, shooting videos in slow motion, effects of augmented reality etc.
UI, Software and Connectivity
Both handsets arrive with Android 4.4 KitKat and both are adapted by Sony and Samsung, respectively. Sony added a new TouchWiz interface to the Z2, while Samsung put in programs such a S-Health (helps you monitor your heart rate, among other things) and a fingerprint sensor. When it comes to connectivity options, both phones include Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC and LTE.
Release Date and Pricing
Both smartphones will become available very soon.
The Galaxy S5 is expected to hit the stores on April 11 and will cost approximately from €600 to €700, The Z2 was supposed to be released in April as well, but due to some unexpected issues with stock, it will become available in May at the price of €699. Sony did say, however, that those who pre-ordered the Z2 will receive it in April, as promised.
