As we inch ever closer to the launch of a high-end device, it's hard not to get excited. Even if you don't think you're necessarily looking forward to the new device, or planning on buying it, it's still hard to ignore the new hardware or new features. If you're a fan of Sony, for example, Samsung's event should be fun to watch or read up on, and vice versa. Why? Because then you know where the competition stands, and how you're favorite manufacturer stands up against the major competition.
I've begun to notice that I'm getting more questions regarding Samsung's and Sony's upcoming devices, which isn't all that surprising. We're just a couple of days away from both companies introducing new flagship devices. I'm also getting asked which device, or which company, I think will do better, or will have the better handset.
That's a tough one!
It's tough, right off the bat, for the most obvious reason: neither device is official quite yet. But I understand where the questions are coming from. You can base it on past track records if you wanted, in which case you could get a pretty clear winner. Or, you could base it on recurring rumors, and weigh the speculation against the other.
And with device's like the G2 from LG or the Honami (aka the Xperia Z1) from Sony, it's pretty obvious they're at least trying to put up a fight at this point. Which is a good thing. A great thing, even.
Samsung and Sony are announcing their new flagship devices on the same day. In two days, we'll get to see the new Galaxy Note III and the Xperia Z1, and see what the new devices bring to the table. So my question to you, as we weigh the speculated specifications, which company do you think will come out on top?
First, Samsung and the Galaxy Note III. As far as rumored specs go, the Galaxy Note III has seen its fair share in the rumor mill. At this point, though, it's been whittled down to the Galaxy Note III featuring a 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display. Rumors suggest it will have a pixel per inch count around 386. It's rumored to feature 16- to 64GB models, all with 3GB of RAM and a microSD card slot. The camera on the back is rumored to be 13 megapixels, while the front-facing shooter is said to be around 2MP. Here in the United States, it's believed the Galaxy Note III will have a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, which will probably be clocked over 2GHz. It's said it will have Android 4.3 Jelly Bean right out of the box. It will also come along with the S Pen.
Sony's Xperia Z1, though, has a
few changes here and there. It shares plenty of features with the previously released Xperia Z, though. For instance, you'll get the same 5-inch 1080p HD display, which has a pixel per inch count of around 441. The Z1 is rumored to be launching with 16GB of built-in storage, while offering up a microSD card slot. It'll have 2GB of RAM, and rumors suggest it will launch with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean as well. Under the hood, there's reportedly a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, which is said to be clocked over 2GHz as well. The camera will probably be the main takeaway for the Xperia Z1, as it's said to be a 20-megapixel shooter. On the front, there's rumored to be a 2MP variant.
We're looking at some pretty even contenders, if you ask me. A lot of the features are similar, like the processor, and even display size. However, Samsung may have the upper-hand to anyone who needs extra storage, and doesn't want to immediately depend on a microSD card, thanks to the multiple variants. Then again, if Sony is indeed putting the major focus of the Xperia Z1 on that 20MP camera, and it can perform better than Samsung's 13MP option, then for anyone who wants a great camera in their phone would have a safer bet in Sony's option.
For Samsung, it will be about that S Pen again, I think. It will come down to what new features they've included in the next Galaxy Note flagship, and why someone would need a screen size around 5.7-inches, rather than, say, just five inches. It will also come down to proprietary software, and which you like better -- even just looking at one over another.
So now I'm curious. Based on the recurring rumored specifications of both of these devices, and from what we've seen of leaked images, which handset do you believe has a better shot at taking the crown at this year's IFA? Will Sony be able to take the lead at the end of 2013? Or will Samsung retain its hold on the top spot? Let me know what you think!
