5 reasons to buy a new flagship: Samsung Galaxy S5, Sony Xperia Z2 or HTC One M8?



    They are lusted and hated at the same time. They are beaten to death for them, and then drowned in ponds or forgotten in public places. For their sake, they starve and even perform actions that fall under a whole series of articles of the Criminal Code ... Flagship smartphones, devices that are on the top rung of electronic evolution ... And if without pathos, then in our review - Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8 and Sony Xperia Z2.

    This time we decided to move away from the usual scheme - direct comparison of devices - because you probably already know everything about them. Moreover, these flagships are developed, one might say, on one mobile platform, and represent the evolutionary development of smartphones of a particular brand. But, of course, they have differences. For each of the devices we will list five chips, thanks to which you can make your choice.

    Samsung Galaxy S5 - we've been waiting for it for four years - if you count from the moment the first model appeared in the Galaxy S line. As in the case of iPhones, Galaxy S4 owners are unlikely to give up everything and run to exchange their old stuff for a super novelty. But lovers of antiques like S3, and even more so the antiquities of the first two generations, we would completely recommend taking a closer look at the "five".



    Samsung Galaxy S5
    price: from 19 500 rubles.

    OS: Android 4.4.2
    processor: Snapdragon 801, 2.5 GHz (4 cores)
    video: Adreno 330
    screen: 5.1``, 1920x1080, SuperAMOLED
    RAM: 2 GB
    memory: 16/32 GB (+ microSD - up to 128 GB)
    3G / LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC
    cameras: 16 MP / 2 MP
    battery: 2800 mAh
    dimensions, weight: 142x72.5x8.1 mm; 145 g
    degree of protection: IP67




    1. In the first place - the  camera . The 16-megapixel S5 module can hardly be called out of the ordinary, but today the “five” has one of the best cameras in its class. Excellent symbiosis of iron and software gives high-quality images. For example, what is the only HDR mode. Now, if only for this camera and a separate button, well, the menu is simpler ...



    2. The next trick is  the energy-saving mode. There are two of them here - in both the screen turns gray, turning into a particularly economical state. Plus, one or another set of functions is disabled. In maximum power saving mode, the smartphone can stretch for the remaining 20% ​​charge for more than two days. There is a similar mode in HTC, but Samsung seems to have learned to squeeze everything from the battery to the last electron.



    3. Next. Fingerprint scanner built into the Home button. Let the chip and not unique, but one of a kind for the "androids". It often works the first time, less often - the second, quite rarely - the third.



    4. This chip is rarely paid attention to, but who knows, he understands. Check out Samsung Gifts- there are about two dozen programs and services, downloading which you can save a considerable amount. For example, Samsung offers a full year of free subscription to the Yandex service. Music.



    5. Finally, chips for fitness . Why buy extra sensors if Samsung already has a heart rate sensor and pedometer. Naturally, this is not Fitbit or FuelBand, but if you are not going to Rio for the 2016 Olympics, the built-in features should be enough with your head.

    HTC One M8- Perhaps the most balanced of the three flagships. By this we mean the unity of form and content, hardware and software. True, there were some dubious improvements, such as the transfer of touch buttons to the screen. Yes, and the camera of One M8, despite a rather high level of implementation, sags in comparison with other flagships due to the low resolution - even though special “ultra-pixels” are used here.



    HTC One M8
    price: from 21 500 rubles.

    OS: Android 4.4.2
    processor: Snapdragon 801, 2.3 GHz (4 cores)
    video: Adreno 330
    screen: 5.0``, 1920x1080, Super LCD 3
    RAM: 2 GB
    memory: 16/32 GB (+ microSD - up to 128 GB)
    3G / LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC
    cameras: 4 megapixels (UltraPixel) / 5 megapixels; depth of field sensor
    battery: 2600 mAh
    dimensions, weight: 146.3 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm; 160 g




    1. Let's start with the design . It is clear that there are so many people, so many opinions, but the all-metal body is a really powerful application for success in the realm of plastic "androids". Yes, this is not the most practical option if you keep the smartphone mixed with keys, nails and sharp-cutting, but the brutality of such a performance is off scale.



    2. Next is the  sound . Despite the fact that the paths of Beats Audio and HTC last year parted completely, the engineers of the company managed not to lose their sacred knowledge regarding audio components. It was possible to preserve stereo speakers that can scream and not wheeze - and not everyone succeeds.



    3. Chip number three - updatedHTC Sense 6.0 interface . And again, the word "balanced" is appropriate here. If the Galaxy S5 looks overloaded, and the Z2 is somehow even ascetic (and at the same time clumsy - yeah, it happens), then HTC One has everything in its place. A great bonus is Motion Launch, a set of gestures for unlocking your smartphone.



    4. The next alluring feature is the Wallet app . In essence, a bank card tied to your phone. Partner - a fairly well-known Russian bank. The system is initiated in 5-10 minutes. Account replenished easily. For payment, just touch the PayPass terminal smartphone.



    5. The most unexpected feature - a  perforated case. The solution is unexpected and so simple that all competitors, hiding in offices, bite their elbows. This useful accessory looks like an ultramodern art object, displays the most necessary information and allows you to answer calls without opening the case. Less - the price is under two thousand.

    Sony Xperia Z2 - the most controversial of the current flagships. On the one hand, this is a powerful smartphone that outperforms both the Galaxy S5 and One M8 in a number of ways. On the other hand, more does not always mean better. The new flagship, in fact, is more correctly considered a modified version of Z1, and not a completely new smartphone in the line.



    Sony Xperia Z2
    price: from 22 700 rubles.

    OS: Android 4.4.2
    processor: Snapdragon 801, 2.3 GHz (4 cores)
    video: Adreno 330
    screen: 5.2``, 1920x1080, IPS Triluminous
    RAM: 3 GB
    memory: 16 GB (+ microSD - up to 64 GB)
    3G / LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, NFC
    cameras: 20.7 MP / 2, 2 megapixel
    battery: 3200 mAh
    dimensions, weight: 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm; 163 g
    degree of protection: IP55 / IP58




    1. So, five chips for the Xperia Z2. In the first place, a clearly protected case . And this is the only one of the three supersmartphones that you can safely take with you even to Crimean beaches, even to Icelandic fjords. Immortality, they say, was achieved only by Nokia developers, but Z2 is in any case more likely to survive in the fight against the elements. IP55 / IP58 standards guarantee.



    2. The second clearly positive feature of the new Xperia - the  amount of RAM. Even people far from scientific and technological progress know that the power of a smartphone is not only in its processor. Inside Z2 - attention! - three gigabytes of RAM. Only here, the developers did not succeed in achieving a clear increase in productivity. Let's try to wait for the firmware update.



    3. The battery capacity of the flagship from Sony - 3200 milliampere-hours. And in this regard, Z2 again puts on the shoulder blades and S5, and M8. Even if your mockery of the smartphone is particularly sophisticated, it can hold out from dawn to dusk.



    4. Another feature - the  camerawith a 20.7 megapixel sensor. The module was borrowed from Z1, but Sony polished the photo-processing algorithms and expanded the set of settings and modes. However, the user is unlikely to appreciate the ability to shoot 4K video or augmented reality mode, but thanks for a separate photo button for sure.



    5. Finally - the  screen . Yes, this is a regular IPS display, not without, however, Sony branded enhancers. Such technology is included in the gentleman's set of modern flagships. But if you recall the budget matrix Z1, then the updated screen really becomes a chip that can affect consumer choice.

    In general: Samsung is evolving vigorously, HTC has made a quantum leap, and Sony has decent work on the bugs. What will be their fate? S5 will become the most popular flagship, people with an allergy to plastic will purchase the M8, and Z2 - beach lovers and brand fans. Everything is simple.

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