Weight and Body Design
Nexus 5 dimensions: 137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6 mm, weight: 130g Xperia Z1 dimensions: 144 x 74 x 8.5 mm, weight: 170g The Xperia Z1 clearly is the bigger and the bulkier out of the two. The phone is not meant for people with small hands, while the Google Nexus 5 can be operated by most people without any problems.
Display and Processor
Like other phones that have seen a 2013 release, both these phones come with 5 inch panels as well. Another thing that’s common is the resolution, which is full HD or 1920x1080p. However, the display on the Xperia Z1 comes with proprietary Sony technologies like Triluminos display and X-Reality Engine which claim to make the overall output a more enjoyable experience. Both phones come with the same processor, which is the Snapdragon 800. This leaves us with nothing to choose from, at least on the processing segment. The Snapdragon 800 comes with 4 cores which operate at 2.3GHz each, and is among the most powerful ones powering mobile devices at the moment. Both devices feature the same amount of RAM as well – 2GB, which means both will be better than average multitaskers.
Camera and Memory
If you decide to choose between the phones based on the primary camera, then it’s going to be fairly easy for you; the Xperia Z1 quite easily packs the better camera between the two beasts. While the Nexus 5 comes with an 8MP OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) enabled camera, the Xperia Z1 packs a 20.7MP one at the rear. Results from the 20.7MP unit have been more than heartening, which means that the Xperia Z1 is the one to go for if you have a shutterbug inside you. While the Nexus 5 offers a 32GB variant, the Xperia Z1 comes only in one variant, offering 16GB of on-board storage. However, the plus point with the Xperia Z1 is that it has a microSD card slot as well (which the Nexus 5 lacks), which can be used to expand storage by up to 64GB. If you tend to have a lot of music and multimedia on your phone, getting the Z1 might be a better idea.
Battery and Features
Another segment dominated by the Xperia Z1; the phone comes with a 3000mAh battery, which looks monstrous when compared to the 2300mAh one on the Nexus 5. You can expect the Z1 to last quite a bit more when compared to the Nexus 5. While the Nexus 5 will probably die down by the second morning after a charge, the Xperia Z1 should give 5-7 hours of extra battery backup. If you tend to be on the move for long hours without access to a power plug for charging, you should think of the Z1 as your prime candidate. Among other features, the Nexus 5 comes with the latest version of Android, i.e., v4.4 KitKat while the Z1 still comes with v4.2 Jelly Bean. Although there isn’t a lot between the two versions, you should look for the latest for a better experience.
Key Specs
Conclusion
While the Nexus 5 brings with it some amazing value for money, the Xperia Z1 from Sony is much more an all-round device. With a larger capacity battery and a much more powerful camera, the Z1 easily is the more feature packed of the two (not forgetting the IP58-certified dust and waterproof body). If budget is not a problem, you should get the Xperia Z1 which sells for about 15k more than the Nexus 5. On the other hand, if you aren’t looking for a high grade camera and can make do with a smaller battery, you can go for the Nexus 5 and save a few thousand rupees, and maybe your hands from getting strained due to handling the heavy-ish Xperia Z1.
