LG G2 vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs. Sony Xperia Z1: The triumvirate

17 October 2013
We’ve been enjoying an open season for a while, and yeah, the shootouts will keep on coming but it’s a different kind of game now. What we have here is exactly the type that can, and will, see...

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  • ?
  • Anonymous
  • X3t
  • 28 Nov 2013

AnonD-206697, 16 Nov 2013One question - this review was done before Sony released a ... moreHi even after the update for Sony xperia z1 the camera is still hasn't dramatically improved. If you really want good camera buy actual camera or Nokia 1020. Sony is waste of money

    • ?
    • Anonymous
    • X3t
    • 28 Nov 2013

    SNK, 25 Nov 2013profarmance wise note 3 is best ever. But display wise LG G... moreThere's no doubt LG G2 and Samsung galaxy note3 is the top two DROID both made by South Korean companies. I have to admit Sony made a pretty good camera however not everyone wants camera. They want battery, function and reliability. And Sony does not fit into that. Sony is a decent brand. But for mobile phones they're no where near Samsung and LG yet.

      • a
      • aliastral
      • TRj
      • 28 Nov 2013

      Anonymous, 20 Nov 2013I don't know where you live, but it is quite obvious from y... moreNot defending either comment, but the prices here (Kaohsiung, Taiwan) are at the moment:

      16GB:
      LG G2 (16GB): 13,500 NTD [~454 USD]
      Samsung Note 3 (16GB): 19,100 NTD [~644 USD]
      Sony Z1 (16GB): 19,000 NTD [~641 USD]

      32GB:
      LG G2 (32GB): 15,100 NTD [~509 USD]
      Samsung Note 3 (32GB): 20,300 NTD [~683 USD]
      Sony Z1: n/a

      I still think I'm overlooking some detail, because from specifications and prices alone the LG G2 seems to stand out.

      From my limited research (from last night, my HTC One died unexpectedly and I'm looking for a replacement), it seems the G2 has the best bang for buck, but I'd appreciate it greatly if someone could offer an opposing view in favor of the Z1 or the Note 3, taking into account the price difference of 200 USD.


        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • 4QS
        • 26 Nov 2013

        SNK, 25 Nov 2013profarmance wise note 3 is best ever. But display wise LG G... moreSorry, but best display goes to Note3 as well. Full HD Amoled and customizable settings of saturated with true black and contrast or natural colors with true black and contrast. Plus outstanding sunlight legibility.
        Where as the G2 screen is actually oversaturated a bit, though LG claims it near perfect. While still lacking true blacks and deep contrast and being a lot less sun legible.

          • S
          • SNK
          • 6PH
          • 25 Nov 2013

          profarmance wise note 3 is best ever. But display wise LG G2 is the best ever which have full HD display truely ever made i think..
          And Z1 is aloso have better profarmance..
          If u want better browsing experiance u go with note 3...
          and if u want better display and also browsing experiance so choose the LG g2.....

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • 4QS
            • 20 Nov 2013

            AnonD-207610, 19 Nov 2013I didn't read all comments but the review is lacking in a p... moreI don't know where you live, but it is quite obvious from your comment that you are an excessively fanatic LG fan/troll.

            First of all. These are all three Android flagships with the latest chips and Full HD displays. To say none of them offer their pricing is rash. Not to mention you heavily exaggerated difference in pricing and utterly false/ridiculous claim of what they offer.

            The G2 is no less than $500. The GN3 has a display that demolishes all mobile display technology and costs a lot more...Besides being on the larger side and having more built in technology. Who says the Z1 camera is good????? Maybe for the fact that it blows all other Android cameras away save for one device and specific features....
            And why buy a good camera phone???????????
            Why buy a phone with a strong processor or capable windows? You could get a PC.
            Why by a phone with a beautiful crisp display? you could get a tv.
            Why buy a smartphone for a phone? You could use an old brick phone with better signal...or use a house phone.
            ...why even increase technology at all?

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              • AnonD-159252
              • nCE
              • 19 Nov 2013

              AnonD-207610, 19 Nov 2013I didn't read all comments but the review is lacking in a p... moreI have no idea where do you live but your prices are terribly wrong LG G2 is slightly cheaper then Z1 and maybe 100 euros cheaper then Note 3 and there are very good reasons why its like that.People seem to forget that behind the same specs the Z1 is dust and waterproof and thats real not gimmicks like hardware buttons on the back which may be innovative but awkward and not really useful(also mention that the 20.7mp camera on Xperia Z1 does better then 13mp with OIS on LG2 and i think that makes you really mad paying such a high price for G2 and see how it's lagging behind competition even ZTE has a better handset with the Nubia Z5S....truly shameful from LG).NOthing but expected from fanboys whos best argument for LG G2 is the existence of DSLR camera's...very smart.

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                • AnonD-207610
                • RvC
                • 19 Nov 2013

                I didn't read all comments but the review is lacking in a price stand point. So if we put true value for money consideration that LG G2 is a hands done winner.
                I just checked street prices for unlocked versions of the phones:
                Note 3 - $650
                Z1 - $600
                G2 - $350
                So G2 is twice cheaper than Note 3. Now, what is reason to claim Z1 has a decent camera? Any DSLR will be much better anyway, so the camera doesn't replace any normal camera, so what is point to have it slightly better than G2? Clearly wasting money. So conclusion G2 is a mile ahead winner not taking fortune from your pocket and doesn't push you to stick with it forever, since you spend so much. Note 3 is far behind but still can be a nice choice for people with a deep pocket. And Z1 is simply wasting money so only Sony fanboys will buy it.

                  • ?
                  • Anonymous
                  • 4QS
                  • 18 Nov 2013

                  AnonD-159252, 17 Nov 2013The photos and video taken by Xperia Z1 improved a lot afte... moreMany devices GSMArena acquires are pre production. However it was fully updated at the time. And yes the update helped a lot. However the reason it helped in that many areas was because those areas needed that much help.
                  Obviously from the start the Z1's camera is better. Especially in stills. However it lacked a lot in software tuning and did worse in other areas.
                  I'm sure it has finally reached a better potential and there will probably be some upgraded reviews as well.

                    • D
                    • AnonD-159252
                    • nCE
                    • 17 Nov 2013

                    AnonD-206697, 16 Nov 2013I don't understand why you are so agitated by a simple ques... moreThe photos and video taken by Xperia Z1 improved a lot after update and its safe to say that does a lot better than Note 3 or LG G2.Benchmark scores are also higher with 10% being clearly ahead of Note 3 or LG G2.I would like to point out that everybody makes updates but this specific update on z1 bring improvments in most relevant sections as battery life(a lot better)camera(a lot better,only lumia 1020 does better(no phablet included) and display (you cant make any difference between z1 and g2 display wise)and lets not forget that the review was made with a pre-production unit.

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 4QS
                      • 17 Nov 2013

                      AnonD-206697, 16 Nov 2013I don't understand why you are so agitated by a simple ques... moreAnd again...All this comment section is full of is people going on about Sony got an update....And again all companies are capable of updates....Every test done should not have to be updated just for Sony just because of late updates.
                      They would have to change many scores and outcomes and try to retake all the same photos again in the same conditions from the same point...All just for one phone because it got an update.
                      There was a news article about it. Even google it.

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                        • AnonD-206697
                        • XMJ
                        • 16 Nov 2013

                        Anonymous, 16 Nov 2013One quick question...Why is it that these pages are just fu... moreI don't understand why you are so agitated by a simple question. Did I ask for a redo of the review? All I'm asking, is a very simple question - after the update, has Sony's photos improved to overtake LG G2 and Note 3? It's a valid question as I'm thinking of buying ONE of these phones. I'm not a fanboy of ANY brand! EACH of these 3 have plus and minus points. It doesn't take TOO much effort for the original writer of this article to just do the camera section with an update, does it? I would expect anyone with professionalism to do that for accuracy.

                        And if you don't like comments, don't read them.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 4QS
                          • 16 Nov 2013

                          AnonD-206697, 16 Nov 2013One question - this review was done before Sony released a ... moreOne quick question...Why is it that these pages are just full of people going on and on and on and on about Sony getting an update?
                          Most of which are actually fanboys whining. Yes Sony got an update....It was after the review. No updates are not some special Sony thing and all companies are capable of releasing an update to help performance. No they should not redo the whole review just because Sony had some late updates.
                          Yes there will probably be some more updated Sony samples.

                            • ?
                            • Anonymous
                            • 4QS
                            • 16 Nov 2013

                            Smily.Face, 13 Nov 2013Remind me again why Amoled Display is a Plus for the Note 3... moreMaybe because despite the denial of everyone and fanboy bashing it is.
                            What's even worse while LG markets their display as "True HD" and their fanboys talk about accuracy....Their screens are somewhat over saturated.
                            Amoled has the potential of being the most vibrant or most overall accurate. It also overall is thinner, less power consuming, and less reflective.
                            Not to mention being the only display capable of deep blacks and massive contrast.
                            So why would an overall superior display with a plethora of advantages not been considered better?

                              • D
                              • AnonD-206697
                              • XMJ
                              • 16 Nov 2013

                              One question - this review was done before Sony released a patch/update for the camera. Has there been a review of camera performance after that? Is the Sony Z1 now better than Note 3 and LG? I'm especially interested to know. Thanks!

                                Remind me again why Amoled Display is a Plus for the Note 3 over the G2's IPS?Over the Z1's TFT yeah sure but Amoled is better than IPS .... Now that's a joke.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • 4QS
                                  • 13 Nov 2013

                                  Ibra, 12 Nov 2013Three Biggest concerns with Note 3 are: 1)has no radio, 2)G... moreThere are decent free ones in the play store. Also from Samsung apps you can get one. I know however that is not the same as it coming out of box with one. And it would be cool if it had a radio for sure. At least there are radio apps to substitute....still not the same.
                                  On the plus side it's an overall better device.

                                    • I
                                    • Ibra
                                    • Sdr
                                    • 12 Nov 2013

                                    Three Biggest concerns with Note 3 are: 1)has no radio, 2)GPS can work offline only for limited and pre-downloaded area, 3)has no document editor, I wonder how Samsung is making such a computer phone with big screen & S pen and they did not provide document editor, it is really stupid and disappointing.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 4QS
                                      • 11 Nov 2013

                                      AnonD-205068, 10 Nov 2013Guys, be special. I will definitely go with the new breezer... moreOk. Enjoy your preference, but LG has nothing speciall except the the buttons on the back. Also using the same glossy plastic that everyone yells at Samsung for...Except Samsung did something different and is not using that in the latest device...So you just contradicted yourself...Also there is an S800 S4 and even the S600 S4 is an overall better device than G2 with the main difference being a speed difference in the G2.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-205068
                                        • TL5
                                        • 10 Nov 2013

                                        Guys, be special. I will definitely go with the new breezer G2. Its cute and having all the goodies. Power is a vital parameter in a smart phone, and G2 is just unbeatable. Note 3 is too huge and I tired of Samsung so much around, no special material to stand out of the crowd. Z1 I never like. I choose to be different- G2 has everything I love to.