Sony Xperia Z2 vs Samsung Galaxy S5, a close look

Mobile World Congress is over and two of the biggest smartphones are the Sony Xperia Z2 and Samsung Galaxy S5. Here's our Sony Xperia Z2 vs Samsung Galaxy S5 comparison review so you can see how these two Android flagship smartphones stack up against each other.

1. Price :

If you're looking to get one of these smartphones on a contract then you're going to have to pay through the nose. Carphone Warehouse is offering the Xperia Z2 for free on contracts starting at £47 per month. The Galaxy S5 is likely to be in the same ballpark. See also: Sony Xperia Z2: Release date, price and specs.

It's easier to compare the SIM-free prices which are much more static. Sony's official price for the Z2 is £599 but retailers such as Clove have the device listed at £550. Samsung hasn't announced the price for the Galaxy S5 but retailers have it pegged at around the same £550 mark. Read: Galaxy S5 price and where to buy in the UK.

With pricing looking pretty well matched, read on to find out how the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 differ.

2. Design :

Sony has been producing dust- and waterproof phones (and tablets) for a while now, almost exclusively and the Xperia Z2 is no exception. However, Samsung has gone down that route with the Galaxy S5 to rival Sony. They have ratings of IP58 and IP67 respectively and although it might seem like the Galaxy is better since it has a higher number, this isn't how it works.

The first number relates to dust protection and the second to water. So the Galaxy S5 is better at keeping out dust (completely dust tight), but the Z2 can be submerged deeper in water (over a meter). So there is no clear winner here.

One thing we do worry about is the fact that the Galaxy S5's rear cover is still removable so if it's not clipped into place properly a seal won't be made and water will easily get in. The Z2 only has port covers which are easy to see when not clipped in.

Size-wise, the two devices are very similar with both just over 8mm thick but the Z2 is taller and heavier than the Galaxy S5. The latter is the main drawback because the Xperia Z2 weighs in at 163g, nearly 20g more than its rival which is a lot in smartphone terms.

You'll instinctively know which you prefer the look of but we'll point out that the Xperia Z2 uses a combination of aluminium and glass while the Galaxy S5 has a more plastic design with its 'perforated' cover.

We've had hands-on with both these smartphones and the Xperia Z2 retains Sony's top-end luxurious feel but the Galaxy S5 doesn't feel particularly premium.

3. Screen :

Things are pretty similar when it comes to the screen on these two smartphones. Both have Full HD resolution, which we've come to expect from top-end handsets and they are only 0.1in different in size. The Galaxy S5 has a 5.1in screen while the Xperia Z2 has an LG G2 matching 5.2in display.

This means the Z2 has a marginally lower pixel density but the difference is essentially negligible. Samsung uses its favoured Super AMOLED technology while Sony employs its own Triluminos and X-Reality.

We haven't seen the two side by side so it's hard to call a winner but you're best off choosing between these two in different areas since the screens can both be considered top-notch.

4. Processor and GPU :

You needn't look too far into this area either as the Xperia Z2 and Galaxy S5 are two of the first devices with Qualcomm's new Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor and the Adreno 330 GPU. A small difference is that the Galaxy S5's is clocked higher, at 2.5GHz compared to 2.3GHz on the Z2.

The Xperia Z2 does have 50 percent more RAM than the Galaxy S5, though at 3GB – something which could well come in handy.

We will test out performance thoroughly when we get review samples of each but going by the specs, both devices will be outputting top-end performance.

5. Storage :

Strangely, the Xperia Z2 only comes in a single storage capacity – a pretty standard 16GB. Meanwhile the Galaxy S5 will also be available in a 32GB size although we haven't seen this advertised anywhere yet.

Both smartphones offer expandable storage by way of a microSD card slot but the Galaxy S5 has another one up here since it can accept up to 128GB cards – double that of the Xperia Z2.

6. Battery :

On paper the Xperia Z2 will offer better battery life with its 3200mAh battery. The Galaxy S5 has a smaller 2800mAh which, unlike its rival, is removable. These numbers don't automatically dictate the outcome though.

Both Samsung and Sony have implemented battery saving software on their smartphones. The Xperia Z2 has its Stamina mode which switched off battery draining functions like Wi-Fi when the screen is off and, like most phones, has a low battery mode. Samsung says that its Ultra Power Saving mode, which switches the screen to black and white only and just offers essential features, means the Galaxy S5 can last for up to 24 hours on 10 percent of battery.

It looks like another close call area and we're looking forward to testing out the battery life of each when we get our review samples.

7. Camera :

There's little difference when it comes to front facing cameras for those selfies which are all the rage. The Galaxy S5 is sporting a 2Mp webcam while the Xperia Z2 is rocking a 2.2Mp shooter. Both can shoot video in 1080p quality.

However, there is a bigger difference when it comes to the main cameras. Samsung has pumped things up to 16Mp for the Galaxy S5 while the Xperia Z2 keeps its predecessors 20.7Mp camera with Sony's Exmor RS sensor. That's not the end of the story though because even though Samsung uses a smaller 1/2.6in sensor compared to 1/2.3in it has a 1.12µm pixel size so the amount of pixels isn't the end of it.

We couldn't test the cameras out enough at MWC to tell you which is better so we'll reserve that for our full reviews. Of course each has their own features which you might find swings it. To name just some, the Galaxy S5 has super-fast auto focus and a Lytro-style selective focus mode. Meanwhile the Xperia Z2 has its fun augmented reality mode and Sony has included a dedicated camera button which we always like to see. It can be used to launch the camera app and take photos.  

On the video front, both the Galaxy S5 and Xperia Z2 offer up to 4k or UHD resolution (3840 x 2160 @ 30fps) with HDR and video stabilisation.

Tips to buy a Car

In the United States there are 268,300 professional car salesmen, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.These professionals are selling that many cars each week, so its obvious that they know more than you about buying a car.Surely most salesmen want to get you into a car that you'll be happy to own . It's in their interest to make you as comfortable as possible with the buying experience so that you'll recommend them to your friends, and then come back yourself when it's time to trade in for a new vehicle. But that doesn't mean they're not in the business for the money. It's a car salesman's job to make as much profit on each sale as he can get away with.

1. Browse as if you have to intention of buying :
In a dealership, you shouldn't be looking to buy. Tell dealers that you're just looking and don't let them talk you into anything. Better yet, drop by on a day when the dealership is closed. You can roam around the lot and inspect the window stickers with no pressure whatsoever. Take notes on what you like, then return home and do some serious research.

2. Try to know the cost price of dealer :
There are plenty of sources which can give you an idea of cost price of the product. The price at which he had bought it will tell you what can you expect from that dealer.

3. Do the paperwork i.e. the budget, car loan if required etc :
Get the print of invoice price on the exact model you want with an itemized list of the options falling in your budget. Also, research any manufacturer incentives and rebates that apply to the car you're shopping for, and subtract those from the invoice price. If you are interested in financing, find out your credit score ahead of time; everyone is entitled to one free credit report each year from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. Also, shop a car loan by researching the rates at competing banks and local credit unions. Write down all the numbers and bring all the documents to the dealership. If the dealer can't match or beat those rates, tell him you'll finance the car another way. Since lot of banks are available for these purposes.

5. Forget about leasing :
Dealers try to push leasing because it is so profitable for them, but leasing is almost always a bad idea. In a lease, you are simply renting the vehicle for a set period of time. Once that term expires, you must return the vehicle to the dealership with nothing to show for your years of payments.

6. Car Insurance :
After you buy your desired car, the most important is auto insurance. How much you pay for auto insurance depends o­n several factors, including your age and marital status, where you live, and what you drive. You can't do anything about your age, and few people will move just to lower their insurance premium. If you are buying a single insurance policy covering a specific vehicle, a number of components make up the final cost.
Example :
bodily injured liability, property damage liability, medical payments etc.

Controlling Magnetic Clouds in Graphene

June 12, 2013 — Wonder material graphene can be made magnetic and its magnetism switched on and off at the press of a button, opening a new avenue towards electronics with very low energy consumption.

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In a report published in Nature Communications, a University of Manchester team led by Dr Irina Grigorieva shows how to create elementary magnetic moments in graphene and then switch them on and off.

This is the first time magnetism itself has been toggled, rather than the magnetization direction being reversed.

Modern society is unimaginable without the use of magnetic materials. They have become an integral part of electronic gadgets where devices including hard disks, memory chips and sensors employ miniature magnetic components. Each micro-magnet allows a bit of information ('0' or '1') to be stored as two magnetization directions ('north' and 'south'). This area of electronics is called spintronics.

Despite huge advances, a big disappointment of spintronics has so far been its inability to deliver active devices, in which switching between the north and south directions is done in a manner similar to that used in modern transistors. This situation may dramatically change due to the latest discovery.

Graphene is a chicken wire made of carbon atoms. It is possible to remove some of these atoms which results in microscopic holes called vacancies. The Manchester scientists have shown that electrons condense around these holes into small electronic clouds, and each of them behaves like a microscopic magnet carrying one unit of magnetism, spin.

Dr Grigorieva and her team have shown that the magnetic clouds can be controllably dissipated and then condensed back.

She explains: "This breakthrough allows us to work towards transistor-like devices in which information is written down by switching graphene between its magnetic and non-magnetic states. These states can be read out either in the conventional manner by pushing an electric current through or, even better, by using a spin flow. Such transistors have been a holy grail of spintronics."

Dr Rahul Nair, who led the experimental effort, comments "Previously, one could only change a direction in which a magnet is magnetized from north to south. Now we can switch on and off the magnetism entirely.

"Graphene already attracts interest in terms of spintronics applications, and I hope that the latest discovery will make it a frontrunner."

Nobel Laureate and co-author of the paper Professor Andre Geim added: "I wonder how many more surprises graphene keeps in store. This one has come out of the blue. We have to wait and see for a few years but the switchable magnetism may lead to an impact exceeding most optimistic expectations."