Despite the Android smartphone market becoming increasingly crowded with worthy competitors, there are still a few that manage to stand head and shoulders above the competitors. Samsung's Galaxy S4 and Sony's Xperia Z are two such handsets - here's a look at how the two stack up against each other.
Samsung Galaxy S4
The Samsung Galaxy S4 is currently the "it" phone, becoming the fastest-selling Android phone ever since its release a couple months ago. The smartphone sports a 5-inch 1080p HD Super AMOLED display, a 1.9GHz quad-core processor (some international variants have an Exynos 5 Octa eight-core chipset instead), 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, a 2-megapixel front-facing camera, and Android 4.2.2. The Galaxy S4's 2,600mAh battery is rated for 17 hours of talk time, and the entire phone is housed in Samsung's well-known plastic design.
Sony Xperia Z
The Sony Xperia Z debuted early this year and went on to become one of the most talked-about phones on the market. Sony's flagship comes equipped with a 5-inch 1080p display, a 1.5GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB memory, a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera, and a 2-megapixel shooter. Sony claims the Xperia Z's battery can deliver 11 hours of talk time, and while the handset originally released with Android 4.1, an Android 4.2.2 update is now making its rounds worldwide. And let's not forget the Xperia Z's most novel feature: it's waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof, making this an ideal smartphone for someone on the go.
The Galaxy S4 is the more powerful of the two, beating the Xperia Z in most benchmarks, but at this level of power, it's not much of a difference. Apps will run fine, and the experience will eventually come down to whether the user prefers Samsung's interface (which includes the multi-tasking feature Multi-Window) or Sony's. What Sony's handset lacks in power, it makes up for in functionality with its waterproof body. In the end the Xperia Z is a great alternative for anyone looking for a more unique Android handset, although for those in the United States there is one catch: the Galaxy S4 is available on most carriers while the Xperia Z will be launching through T-Mobile in July, and possibly AT&T as well. Verizon and Sprint customers will have to settle for the Galaxy S4 in this battle.
Let us know which one of these smartphones you prefer, and why, in the comments section below.
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