Skip to main content

Xperia Z vs. Galaxy S3 vs. Droid DNA: Spec showdown

Sony xperia z vs samsung galaxy s3 vs droid dnaThe Xperia Z is Sony’s latest flagship phone, a device it says will offer a “superphone experience.” Sony doesn’t have the greatest track record with smartphones, not necessarily pumping out horrible hardware, but not quite reaching number one either. With the Z, Sony hopes to change all that and place itself amongst the stars.

But if Sony means business about competing in the Android ecosystem, it will have to go head-to-head with the established kings of Google’s castle. Right now, that would be the best-selling Galaxy S3 and the super-sized, high-definition Droid DNA. So how does Sony’s latest flagship Android device compare to its peers? Take a gander at our spec sheet and see for yourself.  

 

Xperia Z

Sony Xperia Z
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Galaxy S3

galaxy s3
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Droid DNA

Droid DNA htc
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Size 139 x 71 x 7.9 (mm) 136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6 (mm) 140.9 x 70.6 x 9.7 (mm)
Weight 146g 133g 140g
Screen 5-inch HD Reality Display 4.8-inch Super AMOLED 5-inch Super LCD 3
Resolution 1920×1080 pixels 1280×720 pixels 1920×1080 pixels
OS Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) Android 4.0 with TouchWiz UI Android 4.1 with HTC Sense 4+
Storage Up to 16GB 16/32GB 16GB
SD Card Slot Yes Yes No
Processor 1.5GHz, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro Dual-core Snapdragon S4 (US) 1.5GHz, quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro
RAM 2GB 2GB 2GB
Connectivity Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, HSPA+ Wi-Fi, 4G LTE, EV-DO Rev.A
Camera Front 2.1MP, Rear 13MP Front 1.9MP, Rear 8MP Front 2.1MP, Rear 8MP
Bluetooth Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0 Yes, version 4.0
Battery 2330mAh 2100mAh 2020mAh
Charger Micro USB Micro USB Micro USB
Marketplace Google Play Store Google Play Store Google Play Store
Price TBA $200+ $200
Availability TBA AT&T, Sprint, T-Mob, Verizon Verizon

Once all is said and done, the Xperia Z actually stacks up quite well against the competition. It pulls ahead of the Galaxy S3 in quite a few categories – understandable as the S3 is getting a bit old by now (at least by tech standards). As far as the Droid DNA, the Xperia Z matches the HTC device’s high-resolution display and quad-core processor. In terms of camera and battery life, however, the Xperia Z takes the lead. The camera is to be expected, especially with Sony’s intense focus on photography. Nevertheless, a slightly better camera and improved battery life doesn’t exactly blow the competition out of the water. As usual, only time will tell whether or not Sony can pull off the impossible and take the lead on the Android front.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Kalinchuk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew covers news and opinions pertaining to smartphones, tablets, and all else mobile for Digital Trends. He recently…
See how the Galaxy Z Fold 4 beats the Fold 3 in a tough camera test
Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Z Fold 3's camera modules.

Samsung has changed the camera system on the Galaxy Z Fold 4, updating it from the system found on the Galaxy Z Fold 3. While the camera was never a disappointment, it was still ripe for improvement, with many wanting Samsung’s flagship folding smartphone to also have a flagship camera. Has the Galaxy Z Fold 4 delivered?

While our Galaxy Z Fold 4 review sang the cameras' praises, how do they compare to those on the Z Fold 3? We put the two against each other to find out.
Camera specs
On the back of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is a 50-megapixel main camera with an f/1.8 aperture. It sits in the center of the array, with a 12MP 123-degree wide-angle camera above it and a 10MP telephoto with a 3x optical zoom below. On the cover screen is a 10MP camera, and there’s an Under Display Camera (UDC) with 4MP on the inner screen.

Read more
Google’s split-screen keyboard makes typing on the Galaxy Z Fold 3 glorious
Google Gboard split screen keyboard mode on the Galaxy Z Fold 3.

Google's split-screen keyboard has arrived on the Galaxy Z Fold 3, joining Samsung's own effort that comes as the default option. Is there any difference between the two, and how does Gboard's split-screen mode compare to the standard Samsung version that comes with the phone?

While a new keyboard mode doesn't sound like a big deal on paper, going hands-on with Gboard's split-screen mode proves that it most definitely is.
A quick Gboard refresher
You're probably familiar with Google Gboard already. Not only is it the default keyboard option on the Pixel series and various other Android phones, but it's also available as a free download from Google Play for use on any Android phone. It's also very good, with plenty of speed and impressive swipe-typing accuracy.

Read more
Common Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 problems and how to fix them
Galaxy Z Fold 3 almost closed in hand.

Three generations in, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 is the best foldable smartphone Samsung (or anyone else) has crafted. It improves on the durability of the Z Fold 2, offering IPX8 water resistance, Gorilla Glass Victus, and "sweeper" bristles inside the hinge to keep out dust and increase the phone's longevity. It's also an excellent all-around device in its own right, boasting a Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 processor and a versatile triple-lens rear camera system. On top of this, the folding display is enormous, making it great for multitasking and productivity, watching TV and media, and impressing your friends.

Read more