Galaxy S5 Enthusiast

Very happy with my GS4, not so impressed with the GS5, so I'm waiting for the Note 4, as there won't be anything better than GS5 until then. The Xperia Z2 only comes with 16GB so I'm not even going to bother with it, Htc customer support here in SA is near non-existant, LG are slow with updates and we don't get Nexus down here. I'll happily wait for Note 4 as my GS4 is still running beautifully.
 
I was keen on the S5, until I did a bit of research on the Z2.

Looks like the Xperia might be the winner for me.

While the S5 has a few things above the Sony, like:

- IR Blaster
- Fingerprint reader
- Heart rate monitor (This seems a bit gimmicky to me, I remember using an app on my HTC Desire that did something similar)
- Removable battery
- Possible screen warranty? I'm not sure if it's available with this phone.
- That low power feature

The Sony has a few things over the S5, like:

- Aluminium frame
- Glass on the back and front, looks sexy - unlike the plastic casing on the GS5
- Better camera

The rest of the specs are fairly similar. Hopefully I'll be able to play around with both before making a decision, but at the moment, I'm leaning towards the Z2.

Will be a nice upgrade from my S2 :)
 
mr_norris said:
I was keen on the S5, until I did a bit of research on the Z2.

Looks like the Xperia might be the winner for me.

While the S5 has a few things above the Sony, like:

- IR Blaster
- Fingerprint reader
- Heart rate monitor (This seems a bit gimmicky to me, I remember using an app on my HTC Desire that did something similar)
- Removable battery
- Possible screen warranty? I'm not sure if it's available with this phone.
- That low power feature

The Sony has a few things over the S5, like:

- Aluminium frame
- Glass on the back and front, looks sexy - unlike the plastic casing on the GS5
- Better camera

The rest of the specs are fairly similar. Hopefully I'll be able to play around with both before making a decision, but at the moment, I'm leaning towards the Z2.

Will be a nice upgrade from my S2 :)
Click to expand...

just because the camera has more pixels, doesn't make it better. there is lots of wasted space at the bottom of the phone, what's up with that?

with the facts that you have lined up? why are you still tilting towards the z2? S5 is winning by a landslide, except for the frame. The S5 is lighter and a little smaller. And from the hands on videos I've seen, the Z2 still has a viewing angle issue. Look, it's not a bad phone at any length, probably in 2nd place for me, but S5 is definitely still my No.1 at this point.
 
mr_norris said:
I was keen on the S5, until I did a bit of research on the Z2.

Looks like the Xperia might be the winner for me.

While the S5 has a few things above the Sony, like:

- IR Blaster
- Fingerprint reader
- Heart rate monitor (This seems a bit gimmicky to me, I remember using an app on my HTC Desire that did something similar)
- Removable battery
- Possible screen warranty? I'm not sure if it's available with this phone.
- That low power feature

The Sony has a few things over the S5, like:

- Aluminium frame
- Glass on the back and front, looks sexy - unlike the plastic casing on the GS5
- Better camera

The rest of the specs are fairly similar. Hopefully I'll be able to play around with both before making a decision, but at the moment, I'm leaning towards the Z2.

Will be a nice upgrade from my S2 :)
Click to expand...

I would also pick the Sony & leave the Band-Aid S5 for droogerige Fanie.
 
kingrob said:
I would also pick the Sony & leave the Band-Aid S5 for droogerige Fanie.
Click to expand...

Screw you rob... screw you :D

Hey with the S5's waterproof rating, I can afford to get a little wet now :D

Look, I'll definitely not say its the best phone that Samsung could come up with, but over your Z2? Really? What will the Z2 give me, that the S5 can't, and vice versa. Let's put a steak in the ground... right now :) challenge excepted?
 
fanie.dry said:
Screw you rob... screw you :D

Hey with the S5's waterproof rating, I can afford to get a little wet now :D

Look, I'll definitely not say its the best phone that Samsung could come up with, but over your Z2? Really? What will the Z2 give me, that the S5 can't, and vice versa. Let's put a steak in the ground... right now :) challenge excepted?
Click to expand...

:D

Hopefully Telkom Mobile will get the Z2, everything is bit quiet right now.
 
fanie.dry said:
just because the camera has more pixels, doesn't make it better.
Click to expand...

I was also going to question that. We haven't seen samples yet and claims are made about which camera is better. The only thing that really disturbs me about the S5 camera is still no optical image stabilisation! But they are making claims of the ISOCELL sensor so let's see if that improves low light shots as claimed.
 
fanie.dry said:
just because the camera has more pixels, doesn't make it better. there is lots of wasted space at the bottom of the phone, what's up with that?

with the facts that you have lined up? why are you still tilting towards the z2? S5 is winning by a landslide, except for the frame. The S5 is lighter and a little smaller. And from the hands on videos I've seen, the Z2 still has a viewing angle issue. Look, it's not a bad phone at any length, probably in 2nd place for me, but S5 is definitely still my No.1 at this point.
Click to expand...

I agree that more pixels may not mean a better camera, but after watching this, I was quite impressed:

[video=youtube;I9Bv1J0wK3k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Bv1J0wK3k[/video]

As for that space at the bottom - didn't notice it until you mentioned it :) I see the space is a bit more smaller on the Z2 than it is on the Z1, but either way it doesn't bother me. The S5 is marginally smaller. So much so that you'd need the two together to actually notice a difference.

The Z2 has an IPS panel (unlike the Z1) so I think the viewing angle issue is sorted. Will have to see for myself to be sure though. I watched something on Youtube, but it's difficult to tell. Someone I know has a Z1 and the viewing angle bugged me!

kingrob said:
I would also pick the Sony & leave the Band-Aid S5 for droogerige Fanie.
Click to expand...

+1 :D

fanie.dry said:
Hey with the S5's waterproof rating, I can afford to get a little wet now :D

Look, I'll definitely not say its the best phone that Samsung could come up with, but over your Z2? Really? What will the Z2 give me, that the S5 can't, and vice versa. Let's put a steak in the ground... right now :) challenge excepted?
Click to expand...

The Sony is also waterproof.

Look at it this way:

[table="width: 500"]
[tr]
[td]S5[/td]
[td]Z2[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Plastic casing and Frame[/td]
[td]Plastic and glass casing, Aluminium frame[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Fingerprint reader[/td]
[td]Um...[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Heart rate monitor (I think there is a dedicated sensor)[/td]
[td]None, but there are many apps available[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]16 megapixel Camera[/td]
[td]20 megapixel Camera[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Noise Cancellation[/td]
[td]Noise Cancellation[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]SnapDragon 801 @2.5 GHz[/td]
[td]SnapDragon 801 @2.3 GHz. Slightly lower, but I don't see much of an impact here[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]TouchWiz (bleh)[/td]
[td]Xperia Interface (never used it, but I'm sure it's more pleasant than TouchWiz)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]No dedicated camera button[/td]
[td]Dedicated camera button[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]IR Blaster[/td]
[td]Um...[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Um...[/td]
[td]Stereo speakers[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]2GB RAM[/td]
[td]3GB RAM[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Ok, my table skills suck - but how can people rule out the Sony? I mean - yes, I'd like a fingerprint reader, IR blaster and a heart beat monitor, but I can't say that I'd ever use either of them much.

In the long term I'd rather have a solid, good looking phone.
 
Last edited:
Stop it! I had resigned myself to getting the S5. Now you making me think! ha ha :)

So let me counter.

I agree with questioning the usefulness of the finger print scanner and heart rate monitor but I can't see negatives to having them and who knows what apps we'll get. I have a HRM I wear when training to little usefulness to me anyway.


The only thing that really has me even looking at the Z2 is the camera but you again only referred to MPs. Something interesting me with the S5 is, as referred to already, the ISOCELL tech used in the sensor and the 0.3 second autofocus claim. IOS and a xenon flash and it'd be a certain winner for me.... BUT we still need to see samples of both. It is getting to the point though where landscapes and profile pics are much the same between all modern flagships. The true tests are low light and fast moving subjects.

I lie... 3GBs RAM would have been nice for future proofing. Why, Samsung, why? surely costs would not have changed much and they must know that many consumers spec check.

The S5 has noise cancellation too. Even my S3 does.

A big one for me is number of users of the device. And this is tough to judge at this early stage but based on previous versions of the two phones.... the reason for the important is custom ROMs and online activity re the device.
 
Aah my bad, I never looked at both the specs properly. I was trying to rush the post so I could carry on working :P

I'm not saying the S5 is a write off , I'm just seriously considering the Z2. I spent quite a bit of time looking at the phone on the official website yesterday. So pretty. Check out the camera section after clicking the features button.
 
mr_norris said:
I agree that more pixels may not mean a better camera, but after watching this, I was quite impressed:

[video=youtube;I9Bv1J0wK3k]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9Bv1J0wK3k[/video]

As for that space at the bottom - didn't notice it until you mentioned it :) I see the space is a bit more smaller on the Z2 than it is on the Z1, but either way it doesn't bother me. The S5 is marginally smaller. So much so that you'd need the two together to actually notice a difference.

The Z2 has an IPS panel (unlike the Z1) so I think the viewing angle issue is sorted. Will have to see for myself to be sure though. I watched something on Youtube, but it's difficult to tell. Someone I know has a Z1 and the viewing angle bugged me!



+1 :D



The Sony is also waterproof.

Look at it this way:

[table="width: 500"]
[tr]
[td]S5[/td]
[td]Z2[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Plastic casing and Frame[/td]
[td]Plastic and glass casing, Aluminium frame[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Fingerprint reader[/td]
[td]Um...[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Heart rate monitor (I think there is a dedicated sensor)[/td]
[td]None, but there are many apps available[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]16 megapixel Camera[/td]
[td]20 megapixel Camera[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Um...[/td]
[td]Built in noise-cancellation, which can be used with the headphones (I think)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]SnapDragon 801 @2.5 GHz[/td]
[td]SnapDragon 801 @2.3 GHz. Slightly lower, but I don't see much of an impact here[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]TouchWiz (bleh)[/td]
[td]Xperia Interface (never used it, but I'm sure it's more pleasant than TouchWiz)[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]No dedicated camera button[/td]
[td]Dedicated camera button[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]IR Blaster[/td]
[td]Um...[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]Um...[/td]
[td]Stereo speakers[/td]
[/tr]
[tr]
[td]2GB RAM[/td]
[td]3GB RAM[/td]
[/tr]
[/table]

Ok, my table skills suck - but how can people rule out the Sony? I mean - yes, I'd like a fingerprint reader, IR blaster and a heart beat monitor, but I can't say that I'd ever use either of them much.

In the long term I'd rather have a solid, good looking phone.
Click to expand...

wow, i need to reply to this one, even if it is just to say... good effort :D

no but seriously... so let's have a look at the cameras... when you go above 13 mega pixels, the mega pixels really doesn't matter anymore. I mean, how do you view your foto's? on a PC? upload them to facebook? G+? Even if you get them printed, you have to print them at a ginormous scale just to start to see the difference, so mega pixel? meh... the functions of the camera itself is what starts to get important now... and I'm sorry, but that video just didn't impress me. Yes, you have a camera button, yes it would be nice to have, but no, I won't change to Sony because of it. You did fail to mention the fast autofocus from the samsung camera, and the HDR function increase I also think is a cool feature...

Noice cancelling? wtf is that? isn't that something you normally get with the microphone? All the microphones these days have some sort of noise cancelling technology built in.

I agree, cpu won't make much of a difference, same with memory imo.

IR Blaster, this is cool. Finally found an app that I can control my DSTV with, so no more more-than-one remote for me. Can control my TV, Surround sound, DSTV and XBMC for the comfort of my lazy-ass-chair.

Fingerprint reader. Probably gimmicky, wouldn't know until I've tried it. Very much like to privacy mode :D pr0n FTW!

TouchWiz? WTF uses touchwiz? LOL Nova is my go to launcher, currently I'm actually running Inspire Launcher. It's like Google Now Launcher meets Nova. It's still fairly new, so I'm impressed.

The IPS screen. From what I understand the Z1 was very bad, whereas the Z2 is a lot better, but not awesome in anyway. The video I've seen of it, you can still see it fade away when tilted. This to me is very bad, and a definite no no. This actually was the point that made me stop wondering which one to get and to go for the S5.

Warranty, I'm sure with the Samsung you'll get ADH again. I used it on my S4, and the service was excellent, to say the least.

Looks. I like the squared off look of the Z2, and would love to have a phone with premium build quality. The S5's form factor is boring now, and I really hoped for a refresh or rehash of it. At the end of the day, I'm not tough on phones. I do take care of them rather well (except for the day I dropped my S4), but thats what ADH is there for.

Sony only comes in 16GB? On my note 3 I have like 4GB available from my 32GB. Sorry 16 just won't cut it with my amount of apps.

I actually have to thank you now, because now I'm just so much more sure about my S5 pre order :D :D :D
 
mr_norris said:
...
Click to expand...

The Z2 also has a bigger battery - will need to see some comparative tests on battery life. But the S5 has a removable battery which for me is always nice to have.

I think the S5 would win when it comes to the following:
Availability of accessories.
Availability of replacement parts e.g. screen
More online resources available (guides to root & rom etc )
Samsung usually doesn't lock their boot-loader on the local versions like Sony does
Custom ROM support.

If the S5 comes with ADH like the S4 that would be another + for the S5.
 
Last edited:
Dubes said:
Stop it! I had resigned myself to getting the S5. Now you making me think! ha ha :)

So let me counter.

I agree with questioning the usefulness of the finger print scanner and heart rate monitor but I can't see negatives to having them and who knows what apps we'll get. I have a HRM I wear when training to little usefulness to me anyway.


The only thing that really has me even looking at the Z2 is the camera but you again only referred to MPs. Something interesting me with the S5 is, as referred to already, the ISOCELL tech used in the sensor and the 0.3 second autofocus claim. IOS and a xenon flash and it'd be a certain winner for me.... BUT we still need to see samples of both. It is getting to the point though where landscapes and profile pics are much the same between all modern flagships. The true tests are low light and fast moving subjects.

I lie... 3GBs RAM would have been nice for future proofing. Why, Samsung, why? surely costs would not have changed much and they must know that many consumers spec check.

The S5 has noise cancellation too. Even my S3 does.

A big one for me is number of users of the device. And this is tough to judge at this early stage but based on previous versions of the two phones.... the reason for the important is custom ROMs and online activity re the device.
Click to expand...

Yeh, I forgot about your last point. A lot more custom stuff on the Samsung side. A lot more online support.
 
Based on our recent discussion I found this comparison interesting: http://www.techradar.com/news/phone...y-s5-vs-sony-xperia-z2-1233490#articleContent

This was precisely what I was saying is important in a camera now. Low light being the other:

Samsung
However, the speedy autofocus does really work, with clear pictures appearing even when whirling the phone around to simulate drunken antics. Samsung is at least trying to innovate in the right way here, but we fear that it's not going to have enough of a headline spec in this area.
Click to expand...

Sony
However, we've got some qualms over the snapper; while it's immensely powerful, on the Xperia Z1 it wasn't the best in low light, introducing a lot of noise to the pics.
Given the Xperia Z2 hasn't been overly upgraded in this area, we're worried the same thing will be happening again - but we'll give Sony the benefit of the doubt.
Click to expand...
 
Wow, to me this thread is all about the Z2. If I was going to switch from my iPhone, I'd get the Z2. What a fantastic device.
 
Yup, Sony knows a thing or two about cameras, while Samsung doesnt.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X