Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Sony Xperia Z Ultra: By the numbers

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs Sony Xperia Z Ultra: By the numbers

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has held its own against some stiff competition in the past, but with its successor still a few months away, a rather large shadow has loomed upon it. The Sony Xperia Z Ultra might just be the Galaxy Note 2’s biggest competitor yet, and in more ways than one.

So after pitting the Note 2 up against the LG Optimus G Pro last time, the Galaxy Note 2 has returned to go up against the Xperia Z Ultra in a “by the numbers” smackdown.

1,152,000 pixels

That’s how many more pixels the Sony Xperia Z Ultra has, when compared to the 720P display on the Galaxy Note 2. While the Xperia Z Ultra carries a Full HD Triluminous display, packing over 2 million pixels, the Galaxy Note 2 clocks out at just under a million with its 720P Super AMOLED.

0.9 inches

The difference in screen-size between the Xperia ZU and the Note 2. While the Note 2 has an already quite large 5.5-inch display, the Xperia Z Ultra contains a 6.4-inch display inside of its waterproof shell. The Xperia ZU is a gargantuan of a smartphone that makes even the Galaxy Note 2 look relatively small.

77 PPI

That’s the difference that the extra million pixels on the Xperia ZU make when looking at pixel density. While the Xperia Z Ultra has a much higher resolution display, its larger screen limits it to just 344 pixels per inch. The Galaxy Note 2 on the other hand, has a pixel density of 267 PPI.

28.3 mm

You didn't expect the Xperia Z Ultra to fit a much larger display into the same size shell, now did you. Something’s got to make room for that 6.4-inch screen, and as a result the Xperia Z Ultra is a full 28.3 mm taller than the Galaxy Note 2. So if you thought pocketing the Galaxy Note 2 was hard, just wait till you try this.

31 percent

Where the Xperia ZU lacks adds in height, it makes up for in its thin frame. The Xperia Z Ultra is razor blade thin, coming in at just 6.5 mm thick, while the Galaxy Note 2 is a little bit chunkier, as its 9.4 mm frame suggests. That makes the Xperia ZU 31% thinner than its rival.

29 grams

That's how many more grams the Xperia Z Ultra weighs. While the Xperia Z Ultra is thinner, it can’t quite repeat the wizardry with its weight. The tempered glass front and back certainly don’t help it keep its weight down, and this means that the Xperia Z Ultra tips the scales at a hefty 212 grams. The relatively light weight plastic construction on the Note 2 however, allows it to come in at just 183 grams.

The difference in clock speed between the Note 2 and the Xperia Z Ultra. While the Note 2 is nearing its first birthday, the Xperia Z Ultra has just been announced and it takes advantage of the new Snapdragon 800 SoC that’s been blazing a trail through the benchmarks ever since it was unveiled.

The Galaxy Note 2 utilizes the Exynos 4 Quad clocked at 1.6Ghz, and the Xperia ZU has a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, clocked at 2.2Ghz. Based on preliminary benchmarks, expect the Xperia Z Ultra or any smartphone that uses the Snapdragon 800, to destroy the competition.

1.5 metres

How deep underwater the Xperia Z Ultra can go without being damaged. Thanks to its IP58 rating, the Xperia ZU can be plunged underwater for 30 minutes at a depth of 1.5 metres and remain functional. The Galaxy Note 2 on the other hand, does not feature such capabilities so for those of you who like to take bathroom snaps, please keep your Note 2’s away from any water basins.

50 mAh

While it’s not looking too good for the Xperia Z Ultra on the battery side of things, we’ll leave the full judgements until after a full review.That’s how much bigger the battery is on the Galaxy Note 2. The 3050 mAh battery on the Xperia Z Ultra might make power users struggle to get through a full day of use. The Galaxy Note 2 is renowned for its great battery life, and not only does the Xperia ZU have a slightly smaller battery, it’s also got a larger, more power hungry display.

Wrap up

One thing we didn’t mention above is that the Xperia Z Ultra features new capabilities which allows pens, pencils, even paintbrushes to be used as a stylus. The Note 2 features the ever present S-Pen which has become the hallmark of the Note brand. It’s also a Wacom digitizer, meaning it can detect up to 1024 levels of pressure.

Keep in mind that while the Note 2 seems a little outclassed when compared to this year’s competition, the Galaxy Note 3 is only a few short months away and is expected to be announced at IFA 2013 this September.

We’ll be sure to get a review out for the Xperia Z Ultra as soon as possible, but in the meantime check out the written review for the Galaxy Note 2 by clicking here, or watch the video review below.