How The Galaxy S5 Stacks Up Against iPhone 5s, Xperia Z2, HTC One & More [Comparison]
Just as expected, Samsung unveiled its flagship Galaxy S5 at Mobile World Congress on Monday evening. In addition to fancy new features like a fingerprint scanner and heartbeat sensor, the handset boasts the latest Snapdragon 801 processor, a 1080p Super AMOLED display, and a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera with rich tone HDR, selective focus, and more.
But how does the Galaxy S5 compare to some of its competitors, like the iPhone 5s, the new Sony Xperia Z2, and its cousin, the Galaxy Note 3? We’ve put together a handy comparison chart below that makes it all clear — and may help you choose the best handset for you.
Please scroll the table left and right to see all of its contents
| Samsung Galaxy S5 | HTC One | Sony Xperia Z2 | iPhone 5s | LG G2 | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | LG Nexus 5 | Nokia Lumia 1520 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | iOS 7 | Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | Android 4.4.2 KitKat | Windows Phone 8 |
| Display | 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display (1920 x 1080) | 4.7-inch LCD display (1920 x 1080) | 5.2-inch IPS display (1920 x 1080) | 4-inch Retina display (1136 x 640) | 5.2-inch True HD IPS display (1920 x 1080) | 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display (1920 x 1080) | 5-inch True HD IPS+ display (1920 x 1080) | 6-inch ClearBlack IPS display (1920 x 1080) |
| PPI | 415 | 467 | 424 | 326 | 424 | 386 | 445 | 367 |
| Processor | 2.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 | 1.7GHz quad-core Snapdragon 600 | 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 801 | 64-bit A7 | 2.26GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 | 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 | 2.3GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 | 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 |
| RAM | 2GB | 2GB | 3GB | 1GB | 2GB | 3GB | 2GB | 2GB |
| Storage | 16GB, 32GB + microSD card slot (up to 128GB) | 32GB, 64GB | 16GB + microSD card slot (up to 128GB) | 16GB, 32GB, 64GB | 16GB, 32GB | 32GB, 64GB + microSD card slot (up to 64GB) | 16GB, 32GB | 16GB, 32GB + microSD card slot (up to 64GB) |
| Camera(s) | 16MP (rear) + 2MP (front) | 4MP UltraPixel + 1.3MP front | 20.7MP (rear) with 4K video recording + 2.2MP (front) | 8MP (rear) with f2.2 aperture + 1.2MP FaceTime HD (front) | 13MP (rear) + 2.1MP | 13MP (rear) + 2MP (front) | 8MP (rear) + 1.3MP (front) | 20MP PureView (rear) + 1.2MP (front) |
| Other | Fingerprint scanner, heartbeat sensor, IR blaster, dust- and water-resistant | Front-facing BoomSound stereo speakers, IR blaster | Dust- and water-resistant | Fingerprint scanner | Rear-mounted buttons | IR blaster | Stock Android, wireless charging | Wireless charging |
| Dimensions | 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1mm | 134.9 x 68.1 x 9.14mm | 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2mm | 123.83 x 58.57 x 7.6mm | 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9mm | 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm | 137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6mm | 162.8 x 85.4 x 8.7mm |
| Weight | 145g | 143g | 163g | 112g | 143g | 168g | 130g | 209g |
| Battery | 2,800mAh | 2,300mAh | 3,200mAh | 1,440mAh | 3,000mAh | 3,200mAh | 2,300mAh | 3,400mAh |
If you’re choosing a new device based on specifications alone, then of course, the latest offerings from Samsung and Sony — the Galaxy S5 and the Xperia Z2 — are the ones to go for. They both have Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon processor, excellent cameras, beautiful displays, and they’re dust- and water-resistant.
But there are other things to take into account. Samsung is traditionally quicker than Sony at rolling out Android updates, and you’ll need a Samsung device if you’re planning to pick up a Galaxy Gear 2 or a Galaxy Gear Fit. The Galaxy S5 also has other nice additions, like the fingerprint scanner and heartbeat sensor.
Having said that, if build quality is your priority then Sony’s all-glass Xperia Z2 looks and feels a little more high-end than the Galaxy S5 — which is still made of plastic (albeit with a slightly nicer texture). Then there’s the second-generation HTC One, which is scheduled to get its grand unveiling on March 25, that will sport a similar aluminum form factor as its predecessor.
If you’re an iOS user, then you’ll probably want to hold onto your cash until this fall, when Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 6 with a larger display.
Whatever your preference, choosing a device announced this year means you’ll get the latest technology in a handset that’ll be more than capable to get you through a two-year contract.
