Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. Sony Xperia Z: When worlds collide

31 March 2013
If you’ve been paying attention – and we know you have – there’s no way you couldn’t have noticed that for a good ten days or so we’ve all been on and on about two phones. Now, we’re about to make it three...

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  • s
  • 3ZH
  • 01 Apr 2013

Ok so the SGS4 won all categories except of build, but honestly I wouldn't be so quick to say that the SGS4 has a superior camera. If you compare the shots with the SGS3 camera you'll find out that they're waay overprocessed now. They're oversharpened. The colors are either oversaturated or undersaturated, depending on the color. There's lots of work that needs to be done software-wise with the SGS4 camera and I hope that oversharpening will be removed and colors will be tempered with to look more pleasant (in this aspect the Xperia Z wins).

    • D
    • AnonD-5465
    • Ntj
    • 31 Mar 2013

    wondering what will the note3 bring to us. as an owner of the note2 can hardly give it up for even the s4 !

      • G
      • Goat
      • 3Jn
      • 31 Mar 2013

      The galaxy s4 clearly out performs the xperia z

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        • AnonD-61530
        • vuB
        • 31 Mar 2013

        The big thing is the screen.

        On a mobile device you don't spend much time looking at the bezels or back panel YOU LOOK AT THE SCREEN.

        Aside from performance battery camera and software the screen alone makes the SGS4 the winner.

        Sorry Sony fan boys!

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          • AnonD-16443
          • y$d
          • 31 Mar 2013

          Yes, it is clear that SGS4 win in all performance aspects. But, will you notice that difference in the real usage? Or it will just on paper test matter. Let say Ferrari can give you 330 kmh speed while BMW3 series let say only 220 kmh, will the difference be real in most of your real driving world? If not, than go to the more beauty one.

            Anonymous, 31 Mar 2013Really, you assume that EVERYONE should want a S4? I had No... moreOh, Sebastian... As stated, the XZ is good looking and waterproofed. Performance wise, the S4 is better (not that the XZ totally bad but just slightly less). You were up defending the XZ even before you bought it and convincing everyone that AMOLED is bad (not even good at all). And here we are - Samsung came out with a better performing device and even the new AMOLED screen reproduces accurate colors now.

            I'm sure your waterproofing will come useful than pouring cold beer on your XZ, and you don't mind dropping it from time to time just to prove that what you spent on is a whole lot worth it. But not to give a much deserved compliment to the rival based on performance is being a jackanapes on your part. Can't even admit the XZ battery is spasmodic unlike the Note II. XZ users seem to have a hobby who can prolong their units without much screen on - like only 2 hours of actual screen for 24 hours with everything off. At most 4 to 5 hours of screen time. Nice.

            Seeing that the S4's performance is similar to the Note II's battery usage time, it sure is confident to know that the Note III will likely to be even better with a full HD screen. The XZ's screen inefficiently consumes battery.

            Yeah, you still best stick to your XZ for years to come - you can say it was the best next to your Xperia Pro which never let you down.

              • D
              • AnonD-59299
              • Pm4
              • 31 Mar 2013

              That's a fair comparison !

              Galaxy S4 is clear winner (Better display, better digital camera, better camcorder, better android version, better cpu, better gpu, better battery, better call quality) !

              #sonyfailagain

              P.S: Thanks Gsmarena !!!

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                • AnonD-129371
                • HKP
                • 31 Mar 2013

                Nick, 31 Mar 2013So will people finally stop claiming sony phones have good ... moreYou can install the Sony camera APK on any phone.

                Install on your S3, just as good as Xperia...

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                  • AnonD-95939
                  • J9N
                  • 31 Mar 2013

                  GSM, s4 has 4.2.2 not 4.2.1 fix in introduction page

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • JhC
                    • 31 Mar 2013

                    Samsung is like that nerdy kid who's good at math and becomes an outstanding engineer and Sony is like that artsy kid who grows to be a rockstar who is nice to watch and more fun to be (seen) with.

                    I don't mean that Z has better performance at mulimedia department, it just comes down to your understanding of fun and what represents you. We all know Galaxy Ss are the phones of the masses while Z (and other xperias) just have more personality and maybe originality.

                      • N
                      • Nick
                      • nxw
                      • 31 Mar 2013

                      So will people finally stop claiming sony phones have good cameras, just because it's made by sony?!

                        • ?
                        • Anonymous
                        • mxF
                        • 31 Mar 2013

                        S4 easily beats the Z. It's a no brainer.

                        S4 for me when it drops.

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • 3sE
                          • 31 Mar 2013

                          I can't wait for the s4 to verse the unannounced sony phone,the Sony Xperia C670X. It will be one hell of a match

                            • K
                            • Keyz
                            • 3xV
                            • 31 Mar 2013

                            I have spent a week with my Xperia Z now, and came from a Galaxy S3. Despite a lack of crazy features that I never actually used in my S3, the Z seems so much more fluid and constantly fast and responsive unlike the S3 and the S2 I had before it which although had the better specs of most other phones, showed signs of lag here and there. The S4 is not only uglier outside, its uglier inside too, Samsung's UI is awful but Sony's UI stays fairly true to Google Holo which is beautiful.

                            The extra features on the S4 are just software which is easily reproduced/ported, things like Smart Stay and Pop Up Play are already free apps available on the Play Store and SVoice is an easily obtainable apk that can be installed on any android phone.

                            Not only this but with my Z being rooted, I can easily overclock and gain the same benchmark scores as the S4, not that it needs it.

                            I have a full review on my experience with the Z so far here http://techoffanddie.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/a-week-with-sony-xperia-z.html

                              • s
                              • satyam
                              • 7j}
                              • 31 Mar 2013

                              felt like u just wrote the obituary for sony xperia z

                                • b
                                • bashir
                                • nE}
                                • 31 Mar 2013

                                compare iphone 5 camera vs galaxy s4 camera quality

                                  • t
                                  • the last one
                                  • fn%
                                  • 31 Mar 2013

                                  Most features r the same on both phones
                                  But most of s4 features r not useful

                                  Plus sony will get update to jb 4.2.2 as well

                                  So I'm bored with samsung .. after s1 s2 s3 and note 2

                                  I feel like I'm buying note 2 with smaller size better camera
                                  Without pen

                                  I'm going with xperia z

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                                    • AnonD-127643
                                    • fBh
                                    • 31 Mar 2013

                                    Anonymous, 31 Mar 2013Talking about software integration, its a thing a lot of us... moreI was merely speaking from a Galaxy lover's point of view. Personally, I couldn't care less for any of those bloatware.
                                    I own a Z and the only thing I miss is a hardware shutter key. Software can always be ported and reported if needed, created....

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • vaN
                                      • 31 Mar 2013

                                      AnonD-127643, 31 Mar 2013It's ironic we talk about respect for other people's choice... moreTalking about software integration, its a thing a lot of us do not want. I thought the tripadvisor deep integration was a bad joke.

                                      One mans "cool feature" is anothers "useless bloatware".

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-49063
                                        • 9Ax
                                        • 31 Mar 2013

                                        good review GSMarena but plz make a review for SGS4 VS SGS3 , or just do a comparison between the video quality of both :)