Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. Sony Xperia Z: Polycarbonate or Glass, Which Phone is Right for You?

The Sony Xperia Z is headed to the United States, but will it make it before the Samsung Galaxy S4? And when confronted with a choice between the two flagship phones, which should you choose?

Display
The Xperia Z has a huge 5-inch screen with a 1920x1080 display. The Galaxy S4 also has a 5-inch screen, but the resolution is higher: 1920x1280, at 441 ppi. Either way, both of these phones are near the top of the heap in terms of screen size and quality.

Processor
These are a bit harder to compare, as the Galaxy S4 will come in two different versions, each with a different processor. Some international versions of the S4 will have an impressive 1.6 GHz eight-core Exynos 5 Octa processor, though the American version will run a 1.9 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600.

The Xperia Z features a 1.5 GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro, similar in power to the Snapdragon 600, but last year's model and with a slower clock speed. It's still a good chip, but not as cutting edge.

Storage
The Galaxy S4 has up to 64 GB on internal memory and an SD card slot that can accommodate up to another 64 GB. The Xperia Z only has 16 GB of internal storage and can handle another 32 GB on an SD card. Most people are going to get the 16 GB version of both phones anyway, and 64 GB SD cards are still more expensive than they're worth, especially with cheap and accessible cloud storage.

Operating System
The Xperia Z ships with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but Sony has promised a quick upgrade to 4.2 soon, though there's no specific timeframe yet.

The Galaxy S4 will come with Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean, the latest current build. But Key Lime Pie is due out soon, so fans are hoping the S4 will be fast-tracked for an upgrade. No word on whether Sony is planning a quick rollout of Key Lime Pie, too.

Styling
To keep prices lower, Samsung is continuing to use polycarbonate plastic in the body of the S4. The Xperia Z, meanwhile, is all glass and metal. In terms of looks, the Xperia Z wins, hands down.

In addition, small rubber flaps seal all the ports on the phone, allowing it to be submersed underwater at depths of up to a meter for as long as half an hour. Ads show the Xperia Z being used in the shower or being cleaned off with a pitcher of water.

Camera
In keeping with the Galaxy S4's "make everything bigger and faster" aesthetic, it boasts a 13 megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2 megapixel front-facing camera, and the ability to take photos and video with both cameras at the same time.

Unlike most other high-end smartphone competitors to the S4, the Xperia Z has a camera that is equally impressive, and perhaps even more so. It boasts a 13.1 megapixel rear-facing camera.

The Xperia Z is an impressive and powerful phone with plenty of features to satisfy the tech-hungry. It's also a remarkable aesthetic achievement. For a pretty, pleasant mobile experience, pick up the Xperia Z.

If you want the most powerful phone on the market, grab the Galaxy S4.