For a year that has been rather exciting in terms of flagship smartphone launches, 2013 has pretty much lived up to the hype. Critically, there has been a step forward, in terms of the build quality (the HTC One was a prime example), and performance (all smartphones running the Snapdragon 800 processor, for example). Sadly for most of us, this golden highlight is somewhat spoilt by the fact that these phones will cost a significant amount of money, which is why, it is critical to make the choice in a smart manner, and not buy a phone which is either an overkill or too underpowered for your usage scenario. Additionally, in the current scenario, you also need to consider the screen size, and not end up with an unmanageable smartphone or one that you find uncomfortable using for any reason.
To make the task simpler for you, we have selected a bunch of Android flagship smartphones that we are comparing here, to give you a better idea of where the claims stand. We will be running a series of benchmark tests on each smartphone, ensuring that the test conditions are the same across all phones, as much as humanly possible. We ran a series of benchmarks to get a set of numbers allowing us to directly compare the performance of all the devices – processor, graphics and storage.
Benchmark Tests
To give you a better idea of how and where each phone stands, we will take a look at each smartphone individually.
LG G2 – the new kid on the block.
Read review: LG G2
The latest smartphone among the flagships, to be launched in India. And quite frankly, LG’s seriousness this time around has surprised and impressed us. It packs in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, and the benchmark tests peg this just slightly behind the Xperia Z1, running the same hardware. This could be attributed to other factors like the skin, the user interface and any specific customizations that smartphone makers do on their phones. Beyond the benchmarks is the real world performance, which surely most of us are more bothered about. Like the other devices on Snapdragon 800 and 2GB of RAM, the G2’s performance is excellent. Apps open snappily, the interface is smooth and no amount of background app load can slow this phone down. The only issue with Snapdragon 800 smartphones at the moment is that they tend to heat up considerably, when pushed, something that the much bigger Xperia Z Ultra doesn’t suffer from.
Power Package: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core 2.2GHz with 2GB RAM and Adreno 330 graphics.
Sony Xperia Z1 – Sony’s smart effort.
Read review: Sony Xperia Z1
It is good to see that Sony is finally playing the hardware and the sheer specifications game at the same level as the rivals, with the Xperia Z1 packing in the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB of RAM. The Xperia Z Ultra, launched sometime before the Z1 has the same specs, and this pegs the Z1 as the undisputed performance score leader across all flagships at the moment. These specs translate brilliantly into impressive real world usage performance, with apps opening instantaneously, and the background app load not bothering even one bit. Tap on the Real Racing app on the Z1 and the HTC One at the same time, the Z1 wins the race by a couple of seconds. Even within the app, race loading times are lesser. All in all, be it serious work or some fun gaming, the Z1 handles both with such comfort that it borders on arrogance.
Power Package: Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad core 2.2GHz with 2GB RAM and Adreno 330 graphics.
HTC One – Old is Gold.
Read review: HTC One
At the time when the One was launched, its direct competition with the Samsung Galaxy S4 was pretty much the hot battle. In the benchmark scores, the two were pretty much neck to neck in terms of the benchmark scores. Real world performance was also too close to call between the two, leading the choice to ultimately come down to subjective issues like brand preference, design etc. What we really like about the HTC One is the crisp display, and the colours that look a lot more natural. The camera is fairly good across lighting conditions, and unlike some other flagships, will not end up floundering in low light scenarios. We aren’t too sure if Blinkfeed is a must have feature, but it is a nice add on, if you like to have the latest news and feeds available at a single glance. The best thing about this phone is that while it has been on the scene for quite some time now, it doesn’t show any signs of aging. To HTC’s credit, they have refreshed the HTC One along the way with a dual-SIM version.
Power Package: Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 quad core 1.7GHz with 2GB RAM and Adreno 320 graphics.
Samsung Galaxy S4 – Still the choice for many buyers.
Read review: Samsung Galaxy S4
The Galaxy S4 was the most popular flagship smartphone till a couple of months back but it has aged fairly quickly once the new breed of rivals arrived on the scene. The close similarity overall with the predecessor is one of the few reasons. At a lower price tag now, this phone is still a very capable device and an attractive proposition. Performance is still pretty much up there, and credit where it is due, the Exynos still stands up very well before the newer Qualcomm processors. Not a phone that feels sluggish in any way whatsoever, you only need to get used to the idea of the plastic body, if that is a concern for you.
Power Package: Exynos 5 Octa 5410 (Quad-core 1.6 GHz and Quad-core 1.2 GHz) with 2GB RAM and PowerVR SGX 544MP3 graphics.
Which one to buy?
The choice isn’t simple. But we will try to make it simple for you.
If looks are the primary criteria, within a performance range, then the HTC One is by far the best built smartphone among all the phones we are talking about here. Hold any other basic plastic phone, and then hold the HTC One, and the difference is more than apparent. The black and silver versions are available fairly easily, but if you can land yourself the red version, that can be considered a coup.
If the display quality is your prime concern, then the LG G2 is the best one by far. The IPS screen is pretty much miles ahead of the rest, in terms of colour reproduction and visibility in sunlight. The crispness is very good, and text readability is matched only by the Sony Xperia Z1 and the HTC One.
For anyone who tends to be rather careless with their phone, and introduce it to puddles of water quite often, then the only phone you need to consider is the Xperia Z1 from Sony. The water and dust resistance ratings are more than well tested and proved worthwhile. Oh, and this is the most powerful smartphone in India right now. If only it was not for the scratch magnet glass back.
The Samsung Galaxy S4 may still appeal to a lot of buyers, with factors ranging from familiarity while upgrading, brand loyalty or simply good references from friends and family who have used Samsung smartphones all along. If the plastic build does not bother you, it is still a very capable smartphone to buy. And costs a lot less than the HTC One as well, as far as market prices are concerned.