Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z

 

The recently unveiled Samsung Galaxy S4 will undoubtedly be a popular smartphone this year, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other contenders to the title of best Android smartphone. Probably one of the most surprising players this year is Sony, who has pleasantly surprised us and many smartphone fans with the Xperia Z.

But is the Sony Xperia Z a real challenger to the Samsung Galaxy S4? Or is Samsung so far ahead of every other Android manufacturer that its devices are without rival?

If you’re looking for a video comparison between the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Sony Xperia Z, you can jump straight to the bottom of this article. But perhaps you will be more interested in joining us as we go through the pros and cons of each device. Sounds fun? Let’s begin.

Specs

Specifications	Samsung Galaxy S4	Sony Xperia Z
Dimensions	136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm130g	139 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.47 x 2.80 x 0.31 in)146 g (5.15 oz)
Display	4.99-inch, Super AMOLED1920 x 1080 Full HD, 441ppi	5-inch TFT LCD Bravia Engine 21920 x 1080, 443ppi
CPU and GPU	International version Samsung Exynos 5 Octa Quad-core A15 (1.6GHz) + Quad-core A7 (1.2GHz) US version Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T Quad-core Krait 300 1.9Ghz	Snapdragon S4 Pro MDM9215M / APQ8064Quad-core 1.5GHzAdreno 320
RAM	2GB	2GB
Storage	16GB/32GB/64GB internalmicroSD, up to 64GB	16/32GBmicroSD, up to 64GB
Cameras	13MP rear, LED flash, autofocus, burst mode, Shot with Sound, Dual record, Smart Erase	13.1MP rear,  autofocus, LED flash, HDR2.2 MP front, 1080p, 30fps
Battery	2600mAh, removable	2330 mAh, non-removable14h talk time (3G)
Networks	GSM, UMTS, HSPA+/LTE	GSM, UMTS, CDMAHSPA+, LTE
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n acWi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, DLNA, NFCBluetooth 4.0 A2DPmicroUSB, MHL 2, infraredA-GPS	Wi-Fi 802.11 a, b, g, nWi-Fi hotspotmicroUSB, DLNA, MHLNFCA-GPSBluetooth 4.0
Operating system	Android 4.2 TouchWiz UIAir View, Smart Scroll, Smart Pause,S Translate, Knox, S Drive	Android 4.1.2

Display

The Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 5-inch Super AMOLED display that shows 1920 by 1080 pixels at a 441ppi ratio.

The Sony Xperia Z uses a 5-inch TFT display that runs at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels, and shares the same 441ppi density.

Both displays are very crisp and both look great, and although some may love the fact that the Samsung Galaxy S4 display has more vivid colors, others call might be put off and consider them gaudy.

Design and Build Quality

Given that the two devices have displays of the same dimensions, they are quite similar in terms of overall footprint. With that said, Sony and Samsung have markedly different design languages, and their philosophy is epitomized in their respective 2013 flagships.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 weighs 130 grams, measures 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9 mm (5.38 x 2.75 x 0.31 in), and features asymmetrically rounded corners, a hardware ,button and two capacitive buttons below the display, with a polycarbonate back.

In the other corner, the Sony Xperia Z features an angular, almost monolithic shape, with on-screen navigational buttons and a glass back.The Xperia Z is quite slim, clocking in at 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.47 x 2.80 x 0.31 in). One of the special features of the Xperia device is its resistance to elements – the device is dustproof and can be submerged under water for up to 30 minutes without any adverse effects.

Internal Hardware

CPU, GPU & RAM

The international version of the Samsung Galaxy S4 uses the new Exynos 5 Octa SoC, which brings together four high-speed A15 cores and four high-efficiency A7 cores. This is ARM’s new big.LITTLE configuration, that is said to provide amazing raw power, without putting too much stress on the battery. Samsung has added a three-core PowerVR GPU, that promises to help the Galaxy S4 run the most intensive games without breaking a sweat.

Although we’ll have to wait for benchmark results to roll in, the Exynos 5 Octa SoC is estimated to overcome the Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 in benchmarks. The Qualcomm-made chipset is used in the North American version of the Galaxy S4 (1.9 GHz Quad-Core Krait CPU, Adreno 320 GPU).

Both versions feature 2GB of RAM, which is the de facto standard in early 2013.

The Sony Xperia Z is powered by a Qualcomm S4 Pro released just a few months ago. However, the specs race in the mobile industry is advancing at breakneck speed, leaving the S4 Pro behind in terms of raw performance, as benchmark scores clearly indicate.

Storage

The Samsung Galaxy S4 comes in three versions, with 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB of internal storage space respectively. The Sony Xperia Z is available in 16GB and 32GB versions. Both smartphones feature microSD card slots.

Cameras

The Sony Xperia Z features a 13.1MP primary camera and a 2.1MP secondary one. Naturally, Sony used its in-house developed Exmor RS for the camera, which is widely considered one of the most advanced in the market.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 uses a 13MP primary sensor and a 2MP secondary camera. Traditionally, Sony’s cameras are slightly better than the ones on Samsung devices, but we’ll have to wait for more test shots before we can know for sure that’s the case here.

Battery

The Sony Xperia Z comes with a 2330 mAh non removable battery, while the Samsung Galaxy S4 features a 2600 mAh removable battery. Battery life is likely to be similar, but Galaxy S4 users will be able to use a spare battery to get through the day.

Android implementation and software

The Sony Xperia Z comes with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box and uses Sony’s own, lightweight overlay on top. Sony’s user interface is tightly integrated with its media services, and does have feature several interesting functions, although some users might consider it not

The Samsung Galaxy S4 runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box, with a fresh version of TouchWiz, one that now adds new features such as: AirView, Smart Scroll, Samsung Knox, Group Play and a quite a few more.

Hands-on video

Conclusion

Although Samsung is in a totally different situation than Sony as an Android manufacturer, the truth is that the Sony Xperia Z is quite an interesting and attractive device.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is the faster smartphone of the two, that’s for sure, but the Sony Xperia Z wins some points back thanks to its better design and protection against water and dust.

My opinion is that choosing between the Samsung Galaxy S4 and the Xperia Z could ultimately boil down to this question: are you comfortable with SAMOLED displays and don’t put too much price on the design and build quality of a high-end smartphone? Then the Samsung Galaxy S4 is clearly the better smartphone for you. However, Sony Xperia Z is a very interesting choice for almost every type of user.

What do you guys think? Does the Samsung Galaxy S4 blow the Sony Xperia Z out of the water? Or is it the other way around? Drop us a comment and let us know what you think.

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U.S. Galaxy S4 vs HTC One vs NVIDIA Tegra 4 fight in early benchmark comparison

 

Two of the most important Android handsets of the year aren’t even out in stores yet, the Galaxy S4 and the HTC One, but early benchmarks for these devices have already been performed and compared to the results of an important player in this year’s mobile processor business, NVIDIA’s Tegra 4 chipset.

Laptop Mag was able to benchmark the U.S. Galaxy S4 version – which packs a 1.9GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor under the hood – using AnTuTu Benchmark and found the device ready to outperform various contenders.

The Galaxy S4 scored a total of 21,089 points in the test, significantly higher than the Galaxy S3 (16,301,) the Galaxy Note 2 (17,531,) and the Nexus 4 (18,096). In our own AnTuTu benchmarks we found the U.S. Galaxy S4 to score even higher, almost 26,000 points (check out the following image).

The international Galaxy S4 version which will pack Samsung’s eight-core Exynos 5 Octa chip was been tested, and it will be interesting to see the scores for this model too once they’re available.

According to Android and Me’s HTC One AnTuTu benchmark, the HTC One performs even better than the U.S. Galaxy S4 version tested by Laptop Mag, scoring slightly over 21,089 (an actual number has not been given.)

The same publication offers the comparison table above, including the NVIDIA Tegra 4 processor in the mix. While the processor is not found on any flagship Android device yet, and won’t be for some time to come, it’s very powerful, at least according to NVIDIA’s own benchmarks. The Tegra 4’s AnTuTu score is over 36,000, but we’re definitely looking forward to see the processor in actual user testing.

The same goes for the HTC One and the Galaxy S4, since we’re still looking at pre-release devices in these early tests, which means their performances can improve by the time they hit stores.

We’ll certainly be back with more Exynos 5 Octa vs Qualcomm vs Tegra 4/4i benchmark comparisons in the future, but in the mean time we’re curious what processor you’d choose for your next smartphone.

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Does Samsung's Galaxy S4 make the iPhone 5 look lame?

With the introduction of the Galaxy S4, Samsung is making Apple's iPhone look like yesterday's hot smartphone. But will that be enough to make Apple respond when it releases its next iPhone?

With a massive marketing campaign, a 5-inch screen, 13-megapixel camera, and a host of new software features on top of Google Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2, the S4 could attract a following at the iPhone's expense, even at a high price (Samsung has not yet revealed pricing). The S4 will also be more widely distributed than the iPhone, with 327 carriers in 55 countries carrying the device starting in April.

Based on specs, the S4 outclasses the iPhone 5.

On the software front, the S4 includes a number of built-in apps that are lacking or less robust on the iPhone, such as Drama Shot, which turns a string of photos into a time lapse; Dual View, which lets S4 owners use both the front and rear cameras at the same time, which can also be used during video calls; and S Voice Drive, which takes voice commands while driving, turns up the size of text, and works over Bluetooth with Bluetooth-enabled cars. In addition, motion-detection technology lets users control features, such as pausing a video, with face .

The question now is how and when will Apple respond. Or even whether Apple will respond. On the eve of the S4 announcement, Apple marketing chief Phil Schiller said, "At Apple we know that it's not just enough to have products pumped out in large numbers. You have to love and use them. There is a lot of data showing a big disparity there."

The new Galaxy S4 was clearly an evolutionary leap in terms of hardware. But hardware innovation is what Samsung fans have already come to expect from the company. Even the early Galaxy devices offered more in terms of hardware features than a comparable iPhone. And Samsung has continued that legacy with the Galaxy S4, offering consumers a bigger screen, a thinner and lighter device, a better camera, and a faster processor.

But now Samsung is trying to add more software features and capabilities to its devices to show consumers why they need all those hardware bells and whistles.

"We've always been known as a hardware innovator," said Drew Blackard, director of product planning for Samsung Mobile in the U.S. "And now we have become a software innovator. And I think that's surprised people."

While it may be true that Samsung has once again raised the bar in terms of hardware and has packed in a ton of new software features, where Apple has outshone its competitors has been in making its devices simple to use with an elegant design. And there's no sign that the company will move away from that strategy.

Current Analysis analyst Avi Greengart said Apple doesn't need to play catch up to Samsung. And he doesn't think the S4 will spur Apple to respond in any significant way when it announces its next iPhone.

"I don't think that Apple ever sold devices based on simply being cool," he said. "Apple is a strong brand because it makes technology that is usable, with an elegant design."

Greenart added that Samsung's software-feature deluge may be too much for the average consumer.

"Samsung showed off so many features that I think the average user will be overwhelmed," he said. "Many of these are what I call gee whiz features. They might show their friends once when they first get the phone, but they may never use them again."

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