The LG-made Google Nexus 5 has been a big hit, with many choosing a Nexus handset because of the pure vanilla Android experience. It released in November last year but recently we’ve seen a plethora of new high-end flagships announced. Today we’re looking at the Nexus 5 vs. Sony Xperia Z2 in a specs breakdown.
It’s worth noting that the Xperia Z2 is likely to be popular with consumers but so far its limited release rollout has been a bit of a letdown, with the phone only arriving in some regions so far. Recently for example, it was reported that potential buyers of the phone in the US will only be able to purchase it unlocked direct from Sony, rather than on a carrier with subsidies, although at least it has been confirmed for an arrival in the summer. We’ll compare the key specs of each to see what they have to offer.
Processors
The Nexus 5 has a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor and Adreno 330 GPU. The Xperia Z2 is powered by a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and has the same GPU as the Nexus 5.
Display
The Nexus 5 has a 4.95-inch True HD IPS+ display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 445 ppi while the Xperia Z2 has a 5.2-inch IPS LCD display with resolution of 1920 x 1080 and 424 ppi.
RAM and Storage
There’s 2GB of RAM for the Nexus 5 and it comes in internal storage options of 16 or 32GB (non-expandable). On the other hand the Xperia Z2 has 3GB of RAM and is a 16GB phone, expandable via microSD to 128GB.
Camera Set-up
The Nexus 5 has an 8-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and optical image stabilization with 1080p@30fps video capture. It also has a 1.3-megapixel front-facing camera. The Xperia Z2 has a 20.7-megapixel rear camera with autofocus, LED flash and video capture of 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, and 720p@120fps. It has a 2.2-megapixel front-facing shooter.
Battery
The Nexus 5 has a 2300 mAh battery while the Xperia Z2 has a 3200 mAh battery.
Connectivity
The Nexus 5 features LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and microUSB (SlimPort) v2.0, USB Host and USB On-the-go. The Xperia Z2 has LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, Wi-Fi hotspot, Bluetooth 4.0, NFC, and microUSB v2.0 (MHL 3), USB Host and USB On-the-go.
Operating System
Android 4.4.2 KitKat is the choice of operating system for the Nexus 5 while the Xperia Z2 also runs Android 4.4.2 KitKat. However, as a Nexus device the Nexus 5 will be among the first to receive the latest Android updates.
Dimensions and Weight
The Nexus 5 measures 137.9mm x 69.2mm x 8.6mm and weighs 130g. The Xperia Z2 measures 146.8mm x 73.3mm x 8.2mm and weighs 163g.
This comparison doesn’t take into account all of the many features of these handsets or their builds, but it seems fair to say that on specs the Xperia Z2 has the measure of the Nexus 5. Just some of the benefits of the Xperia Z2 include more RAM, expandable storage, better camera capabilities, and a higher-capacity battery. The Z2 also has the advantage of being dustproof and water-resistant.
However, the Nexus 5 still has plenty to offer, and for many users nothing can beat a stock Android experience. It also has a cheaper price tag and the smaller form factor and lighter weight will also be preferred by some users. You might also like to check out recent comparisons of both of these phones with the new OnePlus One here and here. If you were to choose right now, would you opt for the Nexus 5 or the Sony Xperia Z2?