LG G3 vs. Sony Xperia Z2: Distance to impact

Introduction

The premium droids are in combat mode and we are making ourselves comfortable to watch another pair fight it out for a place at the top. We’ve seen a few already, the newcomer LG G3 itself involved in a couple. The Xperia Z2 has a few under its belt as well, so these two should get straight at it, no time wasted on probing.

LG and Sony have been as good as subscribed to the Android top four but one thing they cannot afford is complacency. Thankfully, their latest flagships are showing none of it. What makes this shootout so special though is the months that stand between them. We’re looking at this season’s first and probably last Android flagship announced – phablets excluded.

LG took their time to complete a massive upgrade over the G2, the undisputed highlight of which is the QHD screen. And they didn’t stop there – the Koreans worked hard in the camera department to bring laser-autofocus and true-tone flash for great imaging experience. A removable battery and a microSD card slot are making a difference as well.

Sony on the other hand didn’t make such a splash – one of the potential pitfalls of a six-month release cycle. Admittedly, the Z2 had fewer things to worry about fixing. 4K video recording was added to the 20MP camera, the Omni Balance design with dual glass finish is intact, complete with water and dust resistance – a key selling feature of Sony flagships. The Xperia Z2 was pushed even closer to perfection with stereo speakers, 3GB of RAM and an even bigger battery.

LG G3 over Xperia Z2

• Bigger screen – 5.5″ vs. 5.2″
• Higher resolution screen – 1440p vs. 1080p
• Higher CPU clock speed – 2.5GHz vs. 2.3GHz
• Improved low-light laser-assisted auto focusing
• Optical image stabilization
• Dual-LED true-tone flash
• 32GB of built-in storage is an option
• IR blaster

Xperia Z2 over LG G3

• IP58 certification for dust and water resistance
• Bigger, higher resolution camera sensor – 1/2.3″ 20.7MP vs. 1/3″ 13MP
• More RAM – 3GB vs. 2GB (on the 16GB LG G3)
• 1080p@60fps and 720p@120fps video recording
• Stereo speakers
• Bigger battery – 3,200mAh vs. 3,000mAh
• ANT+ support
• Noise cancelling headphones in certain retail bundles

So, is it the better specs or the right specs? The better looks or the comfortable handling? How do you choose between flagships that go out of their way to make sure you won’t have to choose again for at least a couple of years?

The LG G3 and Sony Xperia Z2 get ready to square off

LG G3 brings features you don’t see every day, like the QHD screen, OIS and laser-assisted autofocus. It has controls on the back and even an FM radio, which gets omitted more often than not lately.

Sony Xperia Z2 on the other hand is betting on high megapixels and exceptional build, including protection against the elements. There’s ANT+ support for pairing with fitness tracking devices, FM radio, and stereo speakers on board too.

These are just pieces of the puzzle though, and what we’ll try to do here is look at the whole picture. Buckle up, we hope you’ll enjoy the ride.