Sony Xperia Z2 vs LG G2: first look

The Sony Xperia Z2 is the new kid on the block when it comes to top shelf smartphones, as Sony switches to a 6-month release cycles and iterates on the Xperia Z1 with an improved display, a faster quad-core Snapdragon 801 system chip, and other new features. Shopping for a smartphone, though, you’d inevitably face the choice between the Xperia Z2 and one other recently released device - the LG G2. The G2 comes with a 5.2-inch 1080p display, just like the Xperia Z2, but it’s much more compact, and it also rocks out solid silicon muscle.

Which one of the two is the better? We take a first look of these two hot devices to find out.

Design

Sony’s OmniBalance design is one of our favorites - with a sleek glass body, clean rectangular shape, monotone colors, the Xperia Z2 is really well refined. In addition, it’s also water and dust resistant.

The LG G2 does not have the glass finish - instead it’s made out of plastic that would have been okay if it didn’t feel a bit too hollow on the back. The G2 is not ruggedized like the Xperia Z2, but one thing we love about LG’s handset is its compactness - it’s much smaller than the otherwise equal in size Z2.

Display

Sony has improved the display in the Xperia Z2 hugely in comparison to the slightly washed out screen on the Xperia Z1 that suffered from poor viewing angles. It’s the same Triluminous Quantum dot tech used in earlier Sony devices, but this time with excellent viewing angles, and Sony actually claims it has managed to ship one of the best screens on the market right now.

Both devices feature 5.2-inch displays with a resolution of 1080 x 1920 pixels, and both are of the IPS LCD kind. The LG G2, however, features a bit overblown colors. It’s too early to say the colors on it are worse than those on the Xperia Z2, though, as we’re yet to look in more detail at the color accuracy of the Xperia Z2.

Interface

The Xperia Z2 rakes in the benefits of launching months after the LG G2, and it ships with the newest version of Android currently available - 4.4 KitKat, while the LG G2 is yet to be updated to the latest sweet treat by Google.

Both devices come with custom skins on top of Android. Sony’s Xperia Z2 has the Timescape UI with clean, modern looks and plentiful animations, while the G2 sports the Optimus user interface with its cartoony looks, but also rich functionality. Picking one over the other is a matter of personal preference.

Processor and memory

The Xperia Z2 stocks the Snapdragon 801 chip, a slightly improved version of the Snapdragon 800 found in the LG G2. Both are quad-core chips, but the one in the Z2 features higher clock speeds that should make some difference when you play demanding video games and in some image applications, but in little else apart from that.

The Z2 features the MSM8974ab in particular, while the G2 runs on the MSM8974 Qualcomm chip. The Z2 sports higher CPU and ISP clocks, and that’s the biggest difference between the two.

Internal storage is 32GB on the LG G2 and 16 gigs on the Sony Xperia Z2, but Sony’s smartphone supports expandable storage, which the G2 does not have.

Camera

Camera is where the battle between the Sony Xperia Z2 and LG G2 really heats up. The two devices feature some of the best cameras out there. The Xperia Z2 sports the higher resolution and image sensor with a 20-megapixel shooter with a G lens and 1/2.3” sensor, but the G2’s 13-megapixel camera features optical image stabilization that the Z2 does not have.

The G2 was the first phone to come with 60fps 1080p video recording, and the Xperia Z2 now catches up with that, and it even adds neat features like 120fps slow motion 720p video recording and 4K video capture.

We can only guess that the Z2 features a camera similar to the one in the Z1, which in our opinion is just a bit better than the one on the G2 for capturing stills, but we’re yet to explore the camera performance in depth.

Expectations

All in all, it’s clear that the Sony Xperia Z2 and LG G2 are both stunning high-end Android smartphones. They are on par for the most part, but the Xperia Z2 has the slight edge with a slightly better display (on first sight), a zippier processor, and a slightly better camera. Plus, we have a soft spot for its design and water and dust protection. The G2, however, can now be found at lower prices and that makes it a good value for the money. In summary, if you want the absolute latest - get the Xperia Z2, for a slightly better deal - we’d pick the LG G2.