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Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z

posted by Ray S. / Mar 27, 2013, 3:56 AM

Introduction

There are a lot of Sony fans out there, and all of them are ready to swear by the awesomeness of the Xperia Z. However, are those numerous fans supporting Sony because they believe in the Xperia Z, or simply because the Sony brand strikes a chord with them? We guess it's both, but here's what – we here at PhoneArena respect Sony, just as much as we respect Samsung. We'll put both of their latest flagship smartphones, the Xperia Z and Galaxy S4 , to test and see which one's going to finish with a higher score!

Design

Between the two, the Sony Xperia Z is the more striking smartphone in terms of visuals. Its rectangular shape gives it a strict and stylish appearance that comes to show that this phone isn't joking. At the same time, though, the rectangular shape actually makes the phone rather bulky and difficult to hold. In addition, the sharp edges framing the front and back sides of the body also contribute to the unpleasant feeling when holding the phone. That said, we do appreciate the glass exterior of the Xperia Z, which is much more ambitious than the plastic casing of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 (left) and the Sony Xperia Z (right) - Samsung Galaxy S4 vs Sony Xperia Z

The Samsung Galaxy S4 (left) and the Sony Xperia Z (right)

Plastic or not, though, the Galaxy S4 is a champion among similarly sized phones, when it comes to comfort when using the phone. Being equipped with a similarly large display, the Galaxy S4 feels much smaller and lighter than the Xperia Z, which is a great achievement on Samsung's part. Of course, it'd be up to every customer to decide for themselves, but we prefer the compact and comfortable design of the Samsung Galaxy S4, regardless of its plastic exterior. It's just that the Xperia Z is cool, but not cool enough to make us willing to make a compromise with its bulkiness.

Left sides

Right

Top

Bottom

Backs

Rear cameras

The sides of the Samsung Galaxy S4 (bottom, left) and the Sony Xperia Z (top, right)

Display

Nowadays, it's just not cool if you're a smartphone and you don't have a 5” display with full HD resolution. And while both of these phones have this feature, we tend to prefer the screen of the Galaxy S4 over the one of the Xperia Z. In our opinion, the Super AMOLED panel of the GS4 is superior thanks to its higher contrast, more vibrant colors and much better viewing angles. The LCD screen of the Xperia Z just isn't lively enough to make us want to keep staring at it.

Resolution-wise, everything is top-notch, even with the Galaxy S4's PenTile matrix. With such high

View more + 4 images

Display measurements and quality

	Maximum brightness Higher is better	Minimum brightness (nits) Lower is better	Contrast Higher is better	Color temperature (Kelvins)	Gamma	Delta E rgbcmy Lower is better	Delta E grayscale Lower is better
Samsung Galaxy S4	289 (Poor)	9 (Average)	unmeasurable (Excellent)	7316 (Good)	2.16	5.52 (Average)	7.31 (Average)
Sony Xperia Z	440 (Good)	21 (Poor)	1:799 (Average)	8250 (Poor)	1.93	4.94 (Average)	6.23 (Average)

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The numbers below represent the amount of deviation in the respective property, observed when a display is viewed from a 45-degree angle as opposed to direct viewing.

	Maximum brightness Lower is better	Minimum brightness Lower is better	Contrast Lower is better	Color temperature Lower is better	Gamma Lower is better	Delta E rgbcmy Lower is better	Delta E grayscale Lower is better
Samsung Galaxy S4	58.5%	55.6%	unmeasurable	19.9%	0.9%	63.8%	74.4%
Sony Xperia Z	No data	No data	93.1%	5.1%	65.8%	22.3%	214%

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The CIE 1931 xy color gamut chart represents the set (area) of colors that a display can reproduce, with the sRGB colorspace (the highlighted triangle) serving as reference. The chart also provides a visual representation of a display's color accuracy. The small squares across the boundaries of the triangle are the reference points for the various colors, while the small dots are the actual measurements. Ideally, each dot should be positioned on top of its respective square. The 'x: CIE31' and 'y: CIE31' values in the table below the chart indicate the position of each measurement on the chart. 'Y' shows the luminance (in nits) of each measured color, while 'Target Y' is the desired luminance level for that color. Finally, 'ΔE 2000' is the Delta E value of the measured color. Delta E values of below 2 are ideal.

These measurements are made using SpectraCal's CalMAN calibration software.

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Samsung Galaxy S4 360-Degrees View:

Sony Xperia Z 360-Degrees View:

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Options

117 Comments

1. feres13

Posts: 307; Member since: Dec 23, 2011

Sony doesn't have a chance against the S4...

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 4:04 AM 37

18. AnTuTu

Posts: 1613; Member since: Oct 14, 2012

Well they are like Lion n Tiger :)

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 4:57 AM 11

53. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Tigers in most cases would beat a Lion easily. They are just bigger and have more power. A pride of Lions is crazy though and Tigers are loners.

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 11:53 AM 6

69. AnTuTu

Posts: 1613; Member since: Oct 14, 2012

Whatever, they are still the King :)

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 2:36 PM 2

22. pyradark

Posts: 895; Member since: Jun 10, 2012

S4 cant survive with Xperia Z on everyday and everywhere use, rain or shine hahahaha.

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 5:12 AM 32

47. akki20892

Posts: 3902; Member since: Feb 04, 2013

that's my point....me lord.....!!!

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 10:00 AM 3

38. Airforce

Posts: 70; Member since: Jul 24, 2012

This to me is just another biased Review complements of iphonearena ....i can say that Samsung GS3 was a success,this new Samsung GS4..is just a wasted effort be samsung...they should as well called it Samsung Galaxy SIII S ..I HAVE TO SAY SONY did a great job on Xperia Z..nd this is a great achievement to them

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 7:54 AM 9

57. GTR722

Posts: 270; Member since: Oct 20, 2012

I love how they start with this: "we here at PhoneArena respect Sony, just as much as we respect Samsung".....lolololol yeah right......

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 12:12 PM 5

81. yudi.nemesis unregistered

what phonearena respect sony my ass if the they respect sony why they change xperia z vote and lumia vote

posted on Mar 28, 2013, 1:35 AM 1

72. kclgphilsbsa

Posts: 765; Member since: Jan 21, 2013

poop.. Xperia Z was just made all glass and thats awesome? critical analysis is a must even dey put a 1080p display, still thats a crap! getting into quadcore yet uses 2012 flagship processor (oh but thats update seeing their 2012 phones uses 2011's LOL) having ip57 to sacrificed so many things esp the speakers they always lose the camera battle hmm.. s4 isnt awasted effort,, even the build is given with marvelous achievement>im not talking abt how it totally looks.. bull crap> read review comparisons and analyze how s4 throw that xperia Z and be on the level or even better than the htc One.. the first fullHD amoled in mobile is being talked abt now how samsung managed to make such great display!!! and those loads of features will make u use ur phone always! get ur facts boy many xperia Z users now are disappointed.. talk.sonymobile.com

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 8:56 PM 2

45. LonghornTech

Posts: 50; Member since: Mar 14, 2013

I wouldn't go that far, but the Samsung wins this round. Don't understand why call quality is bad on both devices, pretty sad really. I'll probably go for the HTC One for that and a few other reasons. Still don't understand why Sony, one of the best camera producers, can not put a truly proper camera on their phones.

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 8:59 AM 3

49. AshishRomea

Posts: 145; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

it has stunning camera bro , i own the phone !

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 10:35 AM 2

79. Ivan6479

Posts: 250; Member since: Jun 26, 2011

But you don't own the GS4. lol

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 11:18 PM 1

54. Taters

Posts: 6474; Member since: Jan 28, 2013

Sony hates noise too much, they always use aggressive noise reduction that smears and destroy details, even in their point and shoot cameras. Sony cameras are the best, if you shoot in RAW. If you like to auto everything, Sony is poor. They have by far the best sensors though, just poor noise reduction firmware.

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 11:56 AM 1

70. rgxVOiD

Posts: 440; Member since: Aug 30, 2012

Just bad camera software

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 6:09 PM 2

48. AshishRomea

Posts: 145; Member since: Aug 09, 2012

when sony has an awesome design , build , camera , proofing - samsung covers it up up very good hardware , display , sleekness & software additions both phones are good in a number of ways

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 10:27 AM 1

110. TMach unregistered

The evidence never lies.....please watch the link put your bias aside and form a non fanboy opinion, if that is remotely possible! An open mind is all it takes!!http://youtu.be/jsC8SYk7fUo

posted on Apr 13, 2013, 4:27 PM 0

2. tiara6918

Posts: 2263; Member since: Apr 26, 2012

Even though I like the xperia z a bit more, we have to accept that fact that sgs4 wins

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 4:05 AM 38

42. TROLL

Posts: 4851; Member since: Apr 13, 2012

Well totally agree and not bias and neutral+1

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 8:27 AM 5

3. BadAssAbe

Posts: 507; Member since: Apr 22, 2011

SGS4 Wins! Better Screen, Bigger battery, IR Blaster, Smaller Size, lighter, No onscreen buttons to take up screen, less bezel, removeable battery, New Touch techology with hover or golve usable Sony does put up a fight with a better Looking phone and water/dust Proof

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 4:09 AM 30

4. pwnarena

Posts: 1129; Member since: Feb 15, 2013

admittedly s4 is better. sony should try harder with their next flagship. even the battery on the s4 is better. price may even be better with samsung. i've been rooting for sony but it's stupid to believe something that does not exist. sony lost this fight. display, camera, battery, features ... when will sony offer something well rounded and superior? i'll get back to being a sony fan when they do things better. now, i'll be looking forward to motorola. i just can't learn to love samsung. used to be a fan but they've become quite annoying. this does not mean their products are bad, though.

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 4:10 AM 19

111. TMach unregistered

Seriously? I can't believe people form an opinion based on another person's opinion. Anyone who has ever picked up the Xperia Z would admit that it does everything extremely well and then some. It is the top rated phone on GSMArena by consumers and also has the most hits, even more than the S4, even hough it has already been out for months. Remember, the hype is greatest before a phone is released so this is quite some feat, given the build up to the S4 release! Now watch the video in the link below and you will see comments in regard to screen are bogous! http://youtu.be/jsC8SYk7fUo

posted on Apr 13, 2013, 4:32 PM 1

5. kaliil10

Posts: 146; Member since: May 16, 2012

Galaxay s4 is the winner. there are many holes on th xperia z

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 4:12 AM 18

19. CODER

Posts: 3; Member since: Mar 27, 2013

g4 is super ugly and tht oled screen is pain for eyes ... and ya xperia z is powerfull enough to do wht g4 can do :)) .. so chill

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 4:58 AM 18

30. sheik

Posts: 249; Member since: Sep 12, 2012

Xperia z's TFT display's super washed out screen is pain for eyes not to mention its terrible viewing angles... Ofcourse xperia z is powerful enough but not power efficient as 28nm A7 processors enhanced galaxy s4 :))So chill...

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 7:03 AM 9

58. GTR722

Posts: 270; Member since: Oct 20, 2012

And GS4 screen with false colors and minimun brightness....both screens have flaws

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 12:14 PM 2

33. ebubekir26

Posts: 337; Member since: Dec 21, 2012

pain for eyes? beach please S4 uses technologie that saves your eyes !

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 7:07 AM 9

61. pyradark

Posts: 895; Member since: Jun 10, 2012

Lol. Pain for the eyes is talking about the XZ not the S4, read first before commenting, or you must be blinded by amoled, thats why you got the wrong info. Hahaha

posted on Mar 27, 2013, 1:42 PM 3

6. GALAXY-STORM

Posts: 328; Member since: Oct 13, 2012

Hands down victory