The LG G2 vs. The Sony Xperia Z Ultra – Are the Extra Inches Worth It?

Decent mobiles these days are costing at least a few hundred pounds, and if you're making that kind of investment then you obviously want to make sure that you're spending your cash wisely. But with so many different models on the market, how can you be sure that you're getting the best device for your money? Mobile shopping is a complicated and confusing business. The problem is that for the average shopper, the technical jargon and big numbers on mobile spec sheets are just indecipherable, which makes choosing the best phone a bit of a nightmare. But we're here to help you. We're looking at some of the newest phones on the market, and pitting them head to head up against each other to find our exactly how they compare and what their differences are. So, if you're looking to buy a great new phone, then read on to find out today's competitors and which device gets our seal of approval...

The Competitors...

Sony's Xperia series is one of the widest ranging series of phones on the market. There really is a phone for everyone, from the top end, feature packed Xperia Z to the budget Xperia Tipo. And with the brand new Xperia Z Ultra, Sony is adding another string to their bow. The Xperia Z Ultra is a phablet, one of a new style of phone that combines the features of a mobile with the larger screen size of a tablet computer. The Z Ultra is certainly a powerful device, but it's by no means small. Does that mean that you should think twice before buying? The LG G2, on the other hand, is the latest release from LG. While the company might not be the first choice of mobile manufacturers for many customers, the truth is that LG are actually producing some stunning mobiles at the moment. LG phones tend to get a lot of features for their price, and generally retail at mid-market prices whilst having top end features. Is the LG G2 a bargain?

The Cost...

Being brand new devices price tags on the LG G2 and the Sony Xperia Z Ultra aren't definite yet, as some operators have yet to release financial information. However, the LG G2 should be retailing at around the five hundred pound mark, whilst the Xperia Z Ultra is probably going to cost you a little over six hundred pounds. This means that you are going to be putting down a fair amount of cash. Is it worth paying a bit extra to get the Xperia Z Ultra? Let's take a closer look...

The LG G2 and Its Advantages...

As we'd expect from an LG phone at this point, the G2 has some seriously big features considering how much you're going to be spending on it. Both phones do have 2300 MHz processors, and when you take into account the lower price point of the G2, that's a lot of power for your money. But the G2 has a few solid advantages over the Xperia Z Ultra too. You get a much higher resolution camera on the LG, which comes equipped with a massive 13 MP in built camera as compared to the standard 8 MP camera on the Z Ultra. That means that the G2 captures more fine detail and therefore gives you better quality pictures, an important consideration if you're a keen photographer. You also get double the internal storage on the G2, which comes with 32 GB of internal memory versus just 16 GB on the Z Ultra. For you, that means that you can store double the amount of music, games, data and photos on your device. And finally, there's the question of portability. As you'd expect from a phablet, the Z Ultra is big. The LG G2 is around twenty percent smaller overall than the Z Ultra, as well as being around thirty per cent lighter. In fact, the G2 weighs in at a mere 143 grams as opposed to the 212 gram bulk of the Sony Xperia. Truthfully, size is the biggest issue with the Z Ultra. While the LG G2 can easily be slid into your shirt pocket, or jeans pocket, that's just not possible with the Z Ultra. And for many people portability is a major factor in a mobile phone, since most of us tend to carry our phones around with us all day.

The Sony Xperia Z Ultra and Its Advantages...

We'll start with the obvious. Being a phablet, the Xperia Z Ultra has a far bigger screen than that of the G2. The display on the Z Ultra measures in at a whopping 6.4 inches, versus the regular five inch screen on the LG model. And the larger screen means a better viewing experience for you, not just for videos but also for reading web pages without having to scroll around, for example. Plus, typing on the on screen keyboard on the Z Ultra is a breeze given that big screen size. The display is a TFT LCD screen, rather than the older LCD technology that's used on the LG G2, so you get a slightly brighter picture with better colour reproduction. And the Z Ultra is thinner than the G2 as well, being a mere seven millimetres thick, whilst the G2 is nine millimetres. However, one of the biggest advantages of the Z Ultra is that it is a 4g device. 3g phones use an operator's 3g network to get a mobile internet signal, whilst 4g phones require a 4g network. And the big advantage of 4g over 3g phones is that you get far faster mobile internet speeds.

Which to Go For?

Both of these are good devices, there's no denying it. And if you desperately want the big screen, then you really can't go wrong with the Sony Xperia Z Ultra. But, that lack of portability combined with the extra hundred or so pounds that it's going to cost you really doesn't make the Z Ultra the ideal choice for most customers. The LG G2, on the other hand, gets a better camera, more internal storage and is easier to carry around, meaning that we just think that it's a better buy overall.

When Phil Turner’s daughter asked him about 3G phones he knew how to help her get a great deal. uSwitch and other price comparison sites showed all the offers side by side so they were easy to use.