Battle of Flagships

It has been more than eight years when the Android was launched and from then day by day the developers are making it better. Many leading companies such as Samsung, Sony, LG and HTC are providing better and better Android devices with the stunning specifications and the features that we might have not expected some months before. Thus, a smart combinations of hardware and software gives us a smartphone.

These are the top smartphones released this year. But, which is the best on for you?

The year 2014 have shown the great flagship phones by the leading firms. Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, HTC One M8 and very recently launched LG G3 are the flagships which are launched this year. All these smartphones have specific features and stand different from each other. With features, these phones have some drawbacks also. So, if you want to buy a smartphone, which one will you buy? Which one will be the best for you?


Here, I have compared these four flagships, that is, Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2, HTC One M8 and LG G3. I have compared them step-by-step according to their design, display, hardware, software, camera and other special features. Let's proceed.

Design :

1. Samsung Galaxy S5: It is having a typical design as that of previous Galaxy S models. Unfortunately, it is having the same plastic body giving it a staid look. However, Galaxy S5 is water resistant as well as dust resistant and having a plastic flap that covers the USB port for the same reason. Back panel of the phone has a texture on it which looks less cheap. The phone is lightest among all these phones. However, Galaxy S5 is having the design which seems less professional among it's competitors. 

Weight : 145 grams
Size : 142 * 72.5 * 8.1 mm
Rating : 7.5/10

    

2. Sony Xperia Z2 : Sony also has decided to stick to the previous design of shatterproof glass  body with metal frame on the sides. The glass and metal body makes the phone to stand apart from it's competitors. Though it is big and heavy, it is very convenient to carry around. As compared to previous modes, Xperia Z2 has added many small design tweaks which makes the phone very pleasing to look overall.

Weight : 163 grams

Size : 146.8 * 73.3 * 8.2 mm

Rating : 8/10

3. HTC One M8 : Well, HTC One M8 is the most well-designed smartphone among all the four competitors. Company has improvised a lot on the design, taking care of finer nuances. The phone is having unibody metal chassis. chamfered edges and premium brushed metal design that remarks the phone in the competition. I will give the highest rating for design among all the four.

Weight : 160 grams

Size : 146.36 * 70.6 * 9.35 mm

Rating : 9/10

4. LG G3 : LG also retains the similar design as that of LG G2 or LG G Pro 2. It has a polycarbonate body having shiny metal look at the backside. This polycarbonate material is lightweight as well as fingerprint-proof. This phone is having a different arrangement of buttons. Power and volume buttons are on the backside of the phone with no buttons on the side panel. Design of G3 is really brilliant but not more than M8.

LG G3 rear look and buttons

Weight : 149 g

Size : 146.3 * 74.6 * 8.9 mm

Rating : 8/10

Processor and Software :

1. Samsung Galaxy S5 :

    Processor : Quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon

    RAM : 2GB

    OS : Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

   

Samsung is providing Android 4.4.2 KitKat for Galaxy S5 with it's TouchWiz UI. This UI is very loud and one may not like the icons. Samsung has tries to change the Settings menu, but I don't find is much good. The default 'list view' of the settings shows an endless list of items.

Samsung has reduced the bloatware which is always a good decision. It is providing My Magazine app which is a news feed app and will appear when you swipe to the right from the home screen. Thus, interface of Galaxy S5 is good, but not better than other phones.

Rating : 7.5/10

2. Sony Xperia Z2 : 

    Processor : Quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon

    RAM : 3 GB

    OS : Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Sony also has given Android 4.4.2 for it's flagship. The UI of this phone seems better when compared to Galaxy S5. Sony has given a lot of pre-loaded softwares which one may not like. But, it is a good thing that one can uninstall them. Though Sony has given a lot of bloatware, the phone doesn't go slow. Sony is providing a software which will save the power when you are running out of the battery. Overall UI of Xperia Z2 is simple and good looking.

Rating - 8/10

3. HTC One M8 :

    Processor : Quad-core 2.3 GHz Snapdragon

    RAM : 2 GB

    OS : Android 4.4.2 KikKat

HTC One M8 is having the best UI among the competitors. HTC is providing Sense 6 UI, the latest version of HTC's custom UI. The icons look good and changes with themes. HTC is providing BlinkFeed utitily just like My Magazine. HTC is reduced the bloatwares and providing necessary software only. Keyboard also seem different than Stock keyboard and gives faster experience.

Rating - 9/10

4. LG G3 :

    Processor : Quad-core 2.5 GHz Snapdragon Processor

    RAM : 2 GB/3 GB

    OS : Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

LG has provides it's custom UI with the phone. This UI is also good and gives a tough competition to HTC's Sence 6 UI. The icons suits the design of the phone. Overall UI is simple and easy to use and is being appreciated by many users.

Rating : 9/10

Display :

1. Samsung Galaxy S5 : It features a 5.1 inch full HD Super AMOLED display which is bright and provides a vivid albeit over-saturated colours. Colours can me managed through profiles and are better as compared to Galaxy S4. If offers a good sunlight legibility and better viewing angles.

Rating - 8.5/10

2. Sony Xperia Z2 : Sony a improved display a lot. Sony has used triluminus technology which makes display vibrant and offers very good colours and viewing angles. It is the only high-end Sony phone whose colours do not wash out under direct sunlight.

Rating - 8/10

3. HTC One M8 : It comes with a 5 inch Full HD display that offers better viewing angles and accurate colours.

Rating : 8.5/10

4. LG G3 : LG has tries to give maximum possible area for the display. It is having a 5.5 inch qHD display. This phone supports resolution 2560*1440 pixels which is four times the HD display. This phone is having the best display in this conpetition

Rating - 9/10

Camera :

Many users are more curious about the picture quality and camera functions while selecting a phone. In this criteria, Samsung Galaxy S5 is the winner which is having 16 MP rear camera with a lot of features. Sony Xperia Z2 also gives a tough competition to Galaxy S5.

Battery Life :

1. Samsung Galaxy S5 : It is powered by 2800mAh battery. Battery backup of the phone is good and will last long for a day if you are not a heavy user. As usual, clicking a lot of photos, playing games and regularly updating social media drains the battery.

Rating - 8/10

2. Sony Xperia Z2 : Out of all the four phones, Z2 comes with a larger battery of 3200 mAh. This battery powers the phone easily for one and a half days, if you are not a heavy user. It lasts a little less if the brightness is set to maximum.

Rating - 9.5/10

3. HTC One M8 : It comes with 2600 mAh battery. It will also last for a day if you are not a heavy user. and for 12-15 hours if you put the screen on full brightness and kept the 3G ON. Battery backup of the phone is appreciable as compared to its battery size.

Rating - 8/10

4. LG G3 : It comes with 3000 mAh battery. Battery backup of this phone is not much different than that of Galaxy S5 and One M8.

Rating - 8/10

Special Features :

1. Samsung Galaxy S5 : This phone highly stuffed with features. It is water as well as dust resistant. It is having a finger-print scanner for better safety and a heart rate sensor also. Finger print scanner is a very good feature provided by Samsung. Heart rate reading measured by the device is having a great accuracy. Galaxy S5 also allows 4K video recording. However, it is not so useful feature unless you have a 4K supported TV at your home.

Galaxy S5 provides some additional features such as Kids mode, Ultra Power Saving Mode and Download Booster. Ultra Power Saving Mode is also a useful feature. Samsung claims that the phone can offer 24 hours of talktime when the feature is on even if the battery level is 10%.

Rating - 9.5/10

2. Xperia Z2 : Xperia Z2 is not having a lot noticeable features. However, it is water resistant, dust resistant, having a 3 GB RAM where the other devices are having 2 GB only. It also supports 4K video recording.

Rating : 8/10

Sony Xperia Z2

3. HTC One M8 : It comes with a Duo Camera at the back. The second camera lens helps in detecting and separating the backgrounds and foregrounds as it scans the depths and makes the picture better. Duo camera allows the user to capture silhouettes, alter depth and add bokeh effect through UFocus feature which comes with phone's software. HTC also offers Extreme Power Saving Mode. HTC claims that it can give a talktime of 30 hours even if the battery is 10% remaining, if the feature is enabled.

Rating : 8/10

4. LG G3: LG G3 has some good camera features such as OIS+, LED autofocus, etc. LG has added some new features to the phone such as 'Smart Notice' which gives you notices according to the time and your location. Another good thing is that, it has 3 GB RAM for it's 32 GB version.

Rating : 8/10

Conclusion :

We have came to the end of the discussion and now it is time to make a decision. As discussed above, each phone is having certain unique features to overcome each other. All these four phones are having almost identical hardware specs, Android version, features as well as the price group. So, we can't decide a single phone which will be best among all these four. But, we can choose the best phone according to our need and interests.

If you are looking for a phone having premium looks, solid feel and a good performance, I recommend you to go with HTC One M8. The only weak point on the phone is it's camera and less added features. It doesn't support 4K video recording, but I don't think it as a big problem. (HTC One M8 - Features)

Sony Xperia Z2 comes with a good look, great display, powerful hardware and the best battery life among all. This phone also lacks in some added features. (Sony Xperia Z2 Review)

Samsung Galaxy S5 is a great smartphone as it is having a powerful hardware, good battery life and best camera in the competition. However, the UI of this phone might not be liked by some users. But, the phone is having a lot of features (Samsung Galaxy S5 Features).

LG G3 is a phone which is balanced in all the categories. It is having a good battery life, new features, powerful hardware and better design than Galaxy S5. Some users may like the button arrangement of the phone. (LG G3 - Review)

Now, check your interests whether you want a good quality camera or not. The additional features provided by the company are really needed or not. Whether the design and UI of the phone is suitable to you. At last, check the current prices of the phones and take a decision.