Top 5 Best Flagship Smartphones Compared

Samuel J Tan Personal Technology, Smartphones, Technology 0

Flagship smartphones from five of the biggest mobile phone makers compared. With the usual thinner, smarter, lighter, bigger, and the usual speed bumps from one generation to the next, how do these flagship smartphones compare with one another.

The 5 Best Smartphones

There is nothing like knowing you have the best smartphone there is in the market from the companies that know how. You are assured of the best build quality, design, performance and cutting edge technology all in the palm of your hand. This is what flagship smartphones are about. They are not only the best the companies have to offer but a showcase of what they are capable of in coming up with the best and to compete with each other.

We take a look at a comparative review based on specifications of the top 5 best smartphones in the industry from smartphone giants; Apple, HTC, LG, Samsung and Sony.

Previously;

Remember to check out the spec by spec comparison below.

The 5 Corner Shootout

iPhone 6

The new iPhone 6 offers two screen sizes, 4.7″ and 5.5″ display. This is the only non-Android phone in our comparison. With its smooth metal surface, rounded corners and edges meeting the new Retina HD display seamlessly. With no more sharp edges as in previous iPhones, the iPhone 6 again, sets a new trend in design, form and function.

The body is slim and weighted. While the smaller iPhone 6 fits nicely in the palm, you would be lucky to work the iPhone 6 Plus comfortably with one hand, not for long anyway.

The only other flagship with 5.5″ display is the LG G3. However, the advantage the LG G3 has over the iPhone Plus is that it has ultra narrow bezels on both sides. It also has a smaller top and bottom bezel making the foot print really small. The iPhone 6 Plus is not ashamed to be huge, it still manages to maintain its slender, ultra slim body at 6.9mm on the iPhone 6 and 7.1mm on the iPhone 6 Plus.

With bigger screens, come more pixels, the iPhone 6 has a 1334 x 750 pixel resolution, while the iPhone 6 Plus has Full HD. The later is to be expected on most new flagship phones.

In true Apple tradition, the new iPhone 6 is also packed with enormous power and technology. With it’s 64-bit desktop class processor, the A8 chip is coupled with a Motion Coprocesssor, the M8. M8 processes all information and data collected from the advanced on-board sensors and new barometer.

With that type of processing power together with the iSight camera, the iPhone 6 is capable of new video features such as capturing video at Full 1080p HD at 60 fps. It is also capable of slow motion capture at 240 fps and creating time-lapse video and more.

The Touch ID finger print scanner first introduced in iPhone 5s is now extended to support purchases from iTunes, iBooks and the App Store removing the need for Apple ID password.

Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge

In the usual Samsung fashion, with their “the more the merrier” ethos, they have headed their line of smartphones with not one but two flagship smartphones, the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge released April 2015. The new Galaxy S6 is a step up from previous generation S5 (in fact all previous Galaxies) in terms of design. It now spots a full metal body instead of just the metal effect surround and plastic back plate putting it on the level playing field with the likes of Apple’s iPhone 6 and HTC One M9. Samsung claims the latest flagship is the slimmest they have ever created with the ultra thin S6 and dual curved S6 edge.

Both spotting a 5.1-inch screen using Samsung’s incredible Super AMOLED display technology at QHD resolution (2560 x 1440), it crams a blistering 577 ppi. Powered by Samsung’s own Exynos 7420, the latest Octa-core processor combining a Quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 with a super fast Quad-core 2.1GHz Cortex-A57 and together with Mali-T760MP8, it is capable of crunching vast amount of data and rendering graphic intense games.

The only feature it does not have this time is the ability to remove the backplate or to add extra storage in the form of MicroSD cards. Yes, Samsung has removed the expansion slot. Also at the cost of shaving off milimeters of depth from the body and the use of a metal backplate, it has also reduced the capacity of its battery but not enough to impact on the battery life.

Other improvements include the main 16MP F1.9 fast tracking auto focus camera with LED flash. It lets you capture every moment with exceptional clarity and achieve brilliant photos in any light. The Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS) and HDR features are intuitive and it supports UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) @30fps video recording. As with the camera on the iPhone 6, given the number of lense elements, the rear facing camera juts out slightly but such is the price to pay for a super slim body. The front selfie camera has received an upgrade to 5.0MP.

Samsung Galaxy S5

Following on the heels of Apple, the Samsung Galaxy S5 now comes with a finger print reader as a secure biometric screen lock (unlock) and to work with apps such as PayPal to complete online transactions securely. Samsung has also shifted it’s focus from packing features (and bloat wares) to making the battery last longer with Power Saving Mode that turns the display to black and white or shuts down unnecessary features to save battery.

The body is also designed to be dust and water resistant. Another clever function is the combination of 4G LTE download speed and WiFi to offer super fast browsing and downloads by enabling simultaneous connection. The 16MP rear camera is dubbed the world’s fastest autofocus camera at the time of launch and has features such as Selective Focus so you can decide on the subject to focus on while blurring out everything else.

Lastly, the Galaxy S5 also comes with a heart rate monitor and pedometer built-in and it works seamlessly with Samsung Gear Fit and Gear Neo smart watches.

HTC One (M8) – Superseded by HTC One (M9)

The all aluminium design makes the HTC One stands out. It’s the only smartphone with the exception of the iPhone, that uses an aluminium body. Crafted from a single block of aluminium, it is a stunning phone with smooth finish on the edges and brushed aluminium back that curves to fit the palm.

As with all previous HTC phones, the focus on user interface (UI) is evident here. HTC Blinkfeed provides a social and news home screen that includes your favourite content and trending topics in a magazine layout similar to Flipboard.

It also has the highest resolution front facing camera at 5MP on a wide angle lens and self-timer shooting so you don’t compromise on quality when taking selfies. The rear camera Ultrapixel sensors, will have no problem shooting in any lighting conditions and the Duo Camera feature takes different layers of the same shot to let you choose where to focus, to soften the backgrounds and add 3D-like effects.

UFocus feature lets you decide what to focus on after you have taken the picture. For ease of control, the Motion Launch lets you wake up the phone with a double tap, swipe up for the last app, left for widgets and right for HTC Blinkfeed even from sleep mode. To take incoming calls, simply lift up your phone to answer.

Lastly, the HTC BoomSound feature provides one of the best sound production on a smartphone with dedicated amplifiers and a pair of front spacing speakers. More on this later.

Sony Xperia Z3

Sony’s flagship smartphone has plenty going for it. True to Sony’s design and quality, shatter proof, durable, tempered and scratch resistant glass is applied to both the front and back of the phone to give it that premium look and feel.

Sony however, has also done away with corners and sharp edges in favour of a rounded aluminium frame with uniquely designed power button that stands out and give it a premium look. It is only slightly thicker than the iPhone 5 plus at 7.3mm (0.2mm thicker) which is still one of the slimmest phones among other phones here.

It also has a 20.7MP rear camera with a larger sensor 1/2.3″ Exmor RS for mobile, 30% larger than most standard smartphones which makes it on par with Sony’s own compact digital camera.

Couple with a wide angle lens that captures more light at 25mm angle compared to the typical 30mm and a super sensitive set up at ISO12800 to capture the best images in low lighting condition.

It is also powerful enough to record 4K resolution video (ultra high definition) and incorporates Sony’s own SteadyShot technology and Intelligent Active Mode that estimates movements and analyses dozens of frames, for smoother and more stable video.

Being able to capture 4K video means nothing if you can not enjoy its true brilliance on the big screen. The Xperia Z3 supports 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution and playback on a 4K TV or projector using the latest MHL 3.0 connector so you can enjoy 4 times the detail compared to a Full HD 1080p video.

The same power and camera technology can also be used to capture high frame rate video (120fps) and using the Timeshift function you can add slow motion effects to your shots. In the sound department, Sony has the advantage again of being the first to include digital noise cancelling technology in their phones.

The other feature that makes the Sony stands out from the rest is in the durability department, the Xperia Z3 is dust and waterproof and can withstand being submerged up to 1.5 m of freshwater for 30 minutes. You can even operate the camera underwater. It can literary go where no phones can ever go, just make sure you have the microUSB port, micro SIM slot and memory card slot covers shut properly.

With all that technology, you would want to enjoy it longer per charge and the Xperia Z3 does not disappoint, with up to 2 days estimated usage time, you won’t be caught running short of battery. The efficient Stamina mode can keep your phone going longer with up to 14% or 10 hours more.

LG G3 – Superseded by LG G4

Last of the flagship smartphone in our review launched in 2014, the LG G3 gets the advantage of cramming in the latest in Technology and OS. Complete with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 801 quad-core processor running at blistering 2.5GHz married with 2GB of Memory similar to the one found on Samsung Galaxy S5.

Early reviews have been very positive. Focusing on simplicity and ease of use, the G3 is based on Android 4.4 (Kitkat) with is tweaks, skin and customisation. There is 3000mAh battery user replaceable and supports wireless charging.

It has a 5.5-inch screen running at what LG calls quad HD, four times that of a 720p HD display with 2560 x 1440 resolution. Giving you a pixel density of 534 pixels per inch given its 5.5-inch display.

In the camera department, it has a 13MP rear facing camera with laser auto-focus, O.I.S (Optical Image Stabiliser) and dual LED flash would make smartphone photographers happy.

Internal storage options available at 16GB or 32GB with MicroSD slot that supports expansion of up to 128GB. Other standard features include A-GPS, Glonass BT4.0, NFC and Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac.

The thin and lightweight metallic design makes for an eye candy with curved surfaces as seen on HTC One making it thinner around the edges.

The real feature that makes is standout from the other smartphone is its intuitive and aesthetic graphic user interface. Taking cues from Apple, LG has simplified the icons and layout, removing unnecessary visual elements to improve the user interface and to give it a fresh look.

Also read: LG G3 vs iPhone 6 Plus: Battle of the Titans

The Five Corner Shootout

Apple iPhone 6 vs HTC One M8 vs LG G3 vs Samsung Galaxy S6 vs Sony Xperia Z3. Here is a look at the spec by spec comparison [IN OUR COMPARISON]:

Processor, Memory, Storage

Only the iPhone 5S has a future proof 64bit processor. Both HTC One (M8) and Sony Experia Z2 shares the same quad-core processor , the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 running at 2.3GHz. LG has a slightly slower processor at 2.26GHz using the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 instead while Samsung has a speed topping 2.5GHz Krait 400 from the Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 series.

Apple iPhone 6: A8 processor with 64-bit architecture and M8 motion coprocessor, 1GB RAM, 16/64/128GB Storage [NO MICRO SD]
HTC One (M9): Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 Octa Core Processor (Quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2GHz Cortex-A57 and Adreno 430) 3GB RAM, 32GB Storage + microSD (up to 128GB) [OCTA CORE, MORE RAM]
LG G4: Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 808 processor with X10 LTE 1.8GHz 64-bit Hexa-Core CPU, Adreno 418, 3GB RAM, 32GB Storage + microSD (up to 2TB) [HEXA CORE, MORE MEMORY]
Samsung Galaxy S6: Exynos 7420 Octa-core 64-bit CPU (Quad-core 1.5GHz Cortex-A53 & Quad-core 2.1GHz Cortex-A57) with Mali-T760MP8 GPU, 3GB RAM, 32/64/128GB Storage [OCTA-CORE, MORE RAM, NO MICRO SD]
Sony Xperia Z3: Snapdragon 2.5GHz Qualcomm Quad-core, 3GB RAM, 16GB Storage + microSD Slot (up to 128GB) [MORE MEMORY]

Previous Generations:

HTC One (M8): 2.3GHz Quad-core processor, Qualcomm Snapdragon 801, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB Storage + microSD (up to 128GB)
Apple iPhone 5S: 1.3 GHz Dual-core Apple A7 processor with 64-bit architecture and M7 motion coprocessor, 1GB RAM, 16/32 Storage
Samsung Galaxy S5: 2.5GHz Quad Core Processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB/32GB Storage + microSD Slot (up to 128GB) [HIGHEST CLOCK SPEED]
LG G Flex: 2.26 GHz Quad-Core Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 2GB RAM, 32GB Storage
LG G3: 2.5GHz Quad-Core Processor, 2GB RAM, 16GB Storage + microSD (up to 128GB) [HIGHEST CLOCK SPEED]
LG G2: 2.26 GHz Qualcomm MSM8974 Snapdragon 800 Quad Core processor, 2GB RAM, 16/32GB Storage
Sony Xperia Z2: 2.3 GHz Qualcomm MSM8974AB Quad-core, 3GB RAM, 16GB Storage + microSD Slot (up to 128GB) [MORE MEMORY]

Display

Apart from the iPhone 6 (not iPhone 6 Plus), all smartphones in our list has pretty big screens, 5-inch or bigger. We looked at the Top 5 Best Phablets and 10 Best Phablets in 2015 not too long ago. It has smartphones with screen size up to 6.4-inch, starting from 5.7-inch. These big screen flagship smartphones are not that far behind. Vendors are starting to blur the lines between their smartphones and phablet, with Full HD resolution and super bright and topping the chart with a Quad HD 4K screen on the LG G3 every pixels count.

Apple iPhone 6: 4.7″ (1334 x 750), 326 ppi or 5.5″ (1920 x 1080), 401 ppi [BIGGER DISPLAY]
HTC One (M9): 5.0″ Full HD 1080 (1920 x 1080), 441 ppi
LG G4: 5.5″ Quad HD (2560 x 1440) IPS Quantum 1500:1 contrast display, 538 ppi [BIGGER DISPLAY]
Samsung Galaxy S6: 5.1″ sAMOLED Quad HD (2560 x 1440), 577 ppi [HIGHEST DENSITY]
Sony Xperia Z3: 5.2″ Full HD IPS display (1920×1080 pixels), TRILUMINOS Display and X-Reality for mobile

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): 5.0″ Full HD 1080 (1920 x 1080), 441 ppi
Apple iPhone 5S: 4″ (1136 x 640), 326 ppi
Samsung Galaxy S5: 5.1″ FHD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080), 432 ppi
LG G Flex: 6.0″ HD Curved POLED (1280 x 720), 245 ppi [BIGGEST SCREEN, FIRST WITH CURVED DISPLAY]
LG G3: 5.5″ Quad HD (2560 X 1440), 538 ppi [HIGHEST RESOLUTION & BIGGEST DISPLAY]
LG G2: 5.2″ Full HD (1920 x 1080) 424 ppi
Sony Xperia Z2: 5.2″ FHD TRILUMINOS (1920 x 1080), 424 ppi

Battery

Most smartphones that we have used to does not last for over a day through active use. Vendors are putting power management features in place to turn off un-used features and notifications, introduce deeper sleep (leaving only minimal phone functions) as well as the ability to turn the colours on the display to black an white to save everydrop of juice on the battery and to maximise the battery life per charge. On the other hand, vendors are also squeezing bigger and higher capacity batteries into the only thin packages.

Apple iPhone 6: 1810mAh (talktime 14 hrs(3G), standby 250 hrs) or 2915mAh (talktime 24 hrs (3G) standby 384 hrs) on iPhone 6 Plus [BEST TALK TIME]
HTC One (M9): Li-Po 2840 mAh battery (talktime 25hrs(2G)/21hrs(3G), standby 391hrs(2G)/402hrs(3G))
LG G4: 3000mAh removable battery that lasts for up to 2 days and takes only seconds to swap out
Samsung Galaxy S6: 2,500mAh with fast charge, 10 mins for 4 hours use, supports wireless charging. (17hrs talktime, 10hrs internet usage 3G, 12hrs internet usage WiFi, 13hrs video playback)
Sony Xperia Z3: 3100mAh (talktime 16 hrs, standby 920hrs) [BEST STANDBY TIME]

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): 2600mAh (talktime 14hrs(2G)/20hrs(3G), standby 271hrs(2G)/496hrs(3G))
Apple iPhone 5S: 1560mAh (talktime 10 hrs (3G), standby 250hrs)
Samsung Galaxy S5: 2800mAh (talktime 21hrs, standby 390hrs)
LG G Flex: 3500mAh Li-Polymer (3400 for T-mobile) (talktime 15hrs, standby 720hrs) [HIGHEST CAPACITY]
LG G3: 3000mAh Replaceable with Wireless Charging Support (talktime 19hrs(2G)/21hrs(3G), standby 565(2G)/553hrs (3G))
LG G2: Non-removable Li-Po 3000 mAh battery (talktime 16.5hrs(2G) 17.5 (3G), standby 790hrs(2G), 900hrs(3G))
Sony Xperia Z2: 3200mAh (talktime 19hrs, standby 749hrs)

Cameras

Smartphones are already replacing point and shoot digital cameras. With clever camera features, high pixel density sensors, flash, lenses, effects and editing software as well as ease of sharing, it makes sense to use the camera on the smartphone instead of carrying another camera. Features include dual shot, simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detectio, image stabilisation, HDR, Panorama. The iPhone 6 already well known for its camera uses the processing power to support Slo-mo 240 fps capture and Full HD 1080p at 60 fps. Sony Xperia comes up on top with a 20.7MP rear camera capable of 4K video capture while both LG G3 and Samsung Galaxy S5 have 13MP and 16MP sensors respectively. The HTC chose Dual 4MP Ultrapixel sensor each that can do some pretty clever stuff. However, the actual output quality of the images my differ as there are other factors at play when it comes to taking a good image such as lense, lighthing and software optimisation.

Apple iPhone 6: 8MP, 3264 x 2448 pixels, phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash. 1/3” sensor size, 1.5µm pixel size, geo-tagging, simultaneous HD video and image recording, touch focus, face/smile detection, HDR (photo/panorama), 1.2MP front facing camera.
HTC One (M9): 20.7MP, 5376 x 3752 pixels, autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash, 4MP front camera [BEST RESOLUTION PAIR]
LG G4: 16MP, f/1.8 aperture, 1/2.6″ sensor, white balance, image stabilisation, laser autofocus, LED flash, RAW capture and HDR, 8MP front selfie camera (Gesture Shot, Gesture View, Front Facing Soft Light) [BEST FRONT FACING CAMERA]
Samsung Galaxy S6: 16MP F1.9 fast tracking auto focus rear facing camera with LED flash, OIS and HDR. 5MP front camera [BEST RESOLUTION FRONT CAMERA]
Sony Xperia Z3: 20.7MP camera with auto focus, 2.2MP front-facing camera 4K video capture ISO12800 Max. [BEST RESOLUTION REAR FACING]

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): Dual 4MP (1/3″, 2µm pixels, dual LED flash) rear camera, 5MP front camera [HIGHEST RESOLUTION FRONT FACING]
Apple iPhone 5S: 8MP with 1.5µ pixels, f/2.2 aperture and five-element lens rear camera, 1.2MP (1280 x 960) FaceTime camera
Samsung Galaxy S5: 16MP (1/2.6″, Phase Detection AF) rear camera, 2.0MP (1920 x 1080) wide angle front camera
LG G Flex: 13MP AF BSI rear camera, 2.1MP front camera (1080 capture and playback)
LG G3: 13MP Optical Image Stabilization with Laser Auto Focus, Dual Flash rear facing camera and 2.1MP front facing or Selfie camera
LG G2: 13MP, 4160 x 3120 pixels, autofocus, optical image stabilization, LED flash and 2.1MP front facing camera
Sony Xperia Z2: 20.7MP (1/2.3″, Image Stabilsation) rear camera, 2.2MP 4K video capture [HIGHEST RESOLUTION REAR FACING]

Sound

Apple iPhone 6: Bottom facing stereo speakers
HTC One (M9): HTC BoomSound front facing stereo speakers with top and bottom speaker chambers and amplifier [BEST SOUND]
LG G4: Single rear facing speaker
Samsung Galaxy S6: Bottom facing speaker
Sony Xperia Z3: Sony 3D Surround Sound technology (VPT), Clear Audio+, xLoud Experience, DSEE HX, Hi-res audio

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): HTC BoomSound front facing stereo speakers with top and bottom speaker chambers and amplifier [BEST SOUND]
Apple iPhone 5S: Bottom facing stereo speakers
Samsung Galaxy S5: Single rear facing speaker
LG G Flex: Single rear facing speaker
LG G3: 1-watt Speaker with Boost Amp
LG G2: Dolby mobile speakers
Sony Xperia Z2: Dual stereo speakers bottom and top with digital noise cancelling technology (Active Noise Control) [DIGITAL NOISE CANCELLATION]

Durability

Simply packing a phone with bigger numbers; faster processors, more memory, bigger storage, bigger screen, more resolution and more sensors are something that every vendor does. So how are vendors differentiating between themselves, in the design of the package itself. From brushed metal unibody aluminium frames, to corning glass in different colours, design is everthing in a premium phone but they are not stopping there. These flagships are also designed to be durable, with some including compliance to IP (Ingress Protection) standards to protect your phone from dust and water.

Apple iPhone 6: Report of body bending with iPhone 6 Plus, protective case is strongly recommended
HTC One (M9): Corning Glass 4.0 and Brushed metal unibody frame
LG G4: Corning Gorilla Glass 3, contoured interchangeable back-plate made from either durable genuine leather or metallic or ceramic craft effect plastic.
Samsung Galaxy S6: Full metal and glass construction using the latest gorilla glass. Ultra slim profile.
Sony Xperia Z3: Rounded aluminium frame, durable tempered glass panels, waterproof and dust tight (IP65 and IP68) to 1.5 m for up to 30 mins [DUST & WATERPROOF]

Note: IP stands for Ingress Protection, IP rating is a test certification to measure a device’s resistance levels to both dust and water. The ﬁrst digit in the two-digit IP rating indicates the level of protection against solid objects, including tiny dust particles. The second digit indicates how resistant the device is to water.

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): Corning Glass and Brushed metal unibody frame
Apple iPhone 5S: Corning Glass and anodised aluminium body
Samsung Galaxy S5: Corning Glass Plastic IP67 (Ingress Protection) certified dust and water resistant [DUST & WATER RESISTANT]
LG G Flex: Curved Corning Glass and Plastic self healing back cover copes with scratches, curved screen and body that flexes; bends flat up to 180 degress for a limited time but does not twist or bend inward. [BENDABLE]
LG G3: Lightweight Metallic Design, scratch resistant with anti slip texture, Floating Arc design makes the sides thinner
Sony Xperia Z2: Corning Glass panels front and back, IP55 and IP58 dust and waterproof to 1.5m for up to 30 mins [DUST & WATERPROOF]

Where phones are dust and waterproof, the micro USB port, micro SIM slot and memory card slot must be closed tight in order for this to work.

Connectivity

Apple iPhone 6: 4G LTE, 802.11abgnac WiFi dual band, BT4.0, NFC, lightning port
HTC One (M9): LTE, 802.11abgnac, dual band, WiFi Direct, Hotspot, DLNA, BT4.0, microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3.0 TV Out), USB Host, A-GPS, GLONASS, infrared port, NFC, Stereo FM with RDS
LG G4: 4G LTE, WiFi® 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth® 4.1 BLE, NFC, 4K Slimport Support, GPS-A, GLONASS, USB 2.0
Samsung Galaxy S6: LTE Cat 6, WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, NFC, Bluetooth v4.1, A2DP, LE, apt-X A-GPS, GLONASS, Beidou, NFC, microUSB v2.0, USB Host, Infrared
Sony Xperia Z3: 4G LTE, 3G, 802.11abgnac, NFC, BT4.0, DLNA, microUSB2.0, 3.5mm audio jack with Digital Noise Cancelling (DNC), GLONASS, aGPS

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): LTE, 802.11abgnac, DLNA, BT4.0, microUSB 2.0
Apple iPhone 5S: LTE, 802.11abgn dual-band, BT4.0, lightning port
Samsung Galaxy S5: LTE Cat 4 (150/50mbps), 802.11abgnac VHT80, MIMO(2×2) with download booster (LTE and WiFi simultaneous reception), NFC, BT4.0, USB3.0, IrLED, DLNA, microUSB 3.0
LG G Flex: 802.11abgnac, Miracast, SmartShare, BT4.0
LG G3: 802.11abgnac, Miracast, SmartShare, BT4.0
LG G2: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, BT4.0, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot, micro USB
Sony Xperia Z2: LTE, 802.11abgnac, NFC, BT4.0, DLNA, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm audio jack with Digital Noise Cancelling (DNC), GLONASS, aGPS

Sensors

Sensors are pretty standard on smartphones. Common across all phones include accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass and barometer. Finger print or biometric readers are available on the iPhone 5S and Galaxy S5, while the Galaxy S5 also comes with a heart rate sensor built-in. With the exception of the iPhone 5S, all phones includes NFC (Near Field Communication). The other feature absent on the iPhone 5S and the Xperia Z2 is the infrared blaster for remote control, while this won’t go amiss.

Apple iPhone 6: Barometer, three-axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity ssensor, ambient light sensor, finger print identity sensor, NFC
HTC One (M9): Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
LG G4: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, color spectrum
Samsung Galaxy S6: Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, HR Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor
Sony Xperia Z3: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer,

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, infrared port, NF
Apple iPhone 5S: three-axis gyro, accelerometer, proximity sensor, ambient light and finger print identity sensor
Samsung Galaxy S5: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, hall, RGB ambient light, gesture, infrared port, fingerprint, heart rate sensor, NFC
LG G Flex: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, infrared port, NFC
LG G3: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, infrared port, NFC
LG G2: A-GPS, GLONASS, Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, FM Radio with RDS,
Sony Xperia Z2: Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, NFC

Dimensions & Weight

Apple iPhone 6: 138.1 x 67 x 6.9 mm, 129 g [SLIMMER] or 158.1 x 77.8 x 7.1 mm, 172 g (iPhone 6 Plus) [HEAVIEST]
HTC One (M9): 144.6 x 69.7 x 9.6 mm, 157g
LG G4: 148.9 x 76.1 x 6.3 – 9.8 mm, 155g
Samsung Galaxy S6: 143.4 x 70.5 x 6.8mm [SLIMMEST], 138g [LIGHTEST]
Sony Xperia Z3: 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm, 152g

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): 146.4 x 70.6 x 9.4 mm, 160g
Apple iPhone 5S: 123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6mm, 112g [SMALLEST]
Samsung Galaxy S5: 142.0 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145g
LG G Flex: 160.5 mm x 81.6 mm x 7.9/8.7 mm, 177g
LG G3: 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9 mm, 149g
LG G2: 138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9 mm, 143g
Sony Xperia Z2: 146.8 x 73.3 x 8.2 mm, 163g

Colours Options

Apple iPhone 6: Space Gray, Gold, Silver
Apple iPhone 5S: Space Gray, Gold, Silver
HTC One (M9): Gunmetal Gray, Amber Gold, Silver/Rose gold, Gold/Pink
LG G4: Grey, White, Gold, Leather Black, Leather Brown, Leather Red (more leather covers available)
Samsung Galaxy S6: White Pearl, Black Sapphire, Gold Platinum, Blue Topaz
Sony Xperia Z3: White, Black, Green, Copper

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): Silver brushed metal
Apple iPhone 5S: Space Gray, Gold, Silver
Samsung Galaxy S5: Black, White, Gold, Blue
LG G Flex: Black
LG G3: Black, Gold, White
LG G2: Black, White, Red, Gold
Sony Xperia Z2: White, Black, Purple

Operating System

Apple iPhone 6: iOS8(& updates)
HTC One (M9): Android 5.0 (Lollipop)
LG G4: Android™ 5.1, Lollipop
Samsung Galaxy S6: Android 5.0.2 (Lollipop)
Sony Xperia Z3: Android 4.4 (KitKat)

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
Apple iPhone 5S: iOS8(& updates)
Samsung Galaxy S5: Android 4.4.2 (KitKat)
LG G Flex: Android 4.2.2 (Jelly Bean)
LG G3: Android 4.4.2 (Kitkat)
LG G2: Android 2.2.2 (Jelly Bean) upgradable to 4.4.2 (KitKat)
Sony Xperia Z2: 4.4 (KitKat)

Notable Features

Apple iPhone 6: Touch ID fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button, free Apple Apps (iWorks, iMovie, GarageBand, iPhoto and others)
HTC One (M9): Brushed metal body, wrap-around unibody frame, fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, great sound from front firing stereo speakers
LG G4: Trademark rear button for easy reach and control, interchangeable metal craft, ceramic craft or leather craft backs, laser auto focus rear camera, high resolution front facing selfie camera, improved high contrast and brightness Quad HD display, removable battery and microSD card supporting up to 2TB additional storage.
Samsung Galaxy S6: Quick camera launch time of just 0.7 seconds with Optical Image Stabilisation, fast tracking auto focus and bigger, f1.9 aperture for better low light results. With quick charge, 10 mins charging is enough for 2 hours of HD video playback or 4 hours of use. Wireless charging is also supported removing the need to plug-in. All grown up full metal and glass construction but had to sacrifice removable battery and microSD card slot and some battery capacity to achieve that super sleek, ultra slim profile. Super AMOLED screen on the latest Gorilla Glass is stunning pushing the highest density in pixels, ‘real’ RGB colours and super crisp images. The fingerprint scanner is not only used for security but is PayPal certified and supports Samsung Pay (Visa and Mastercard certified)
Sony Xperia Z3: Premium design in highest waterproof rating for a smartphone in a super slim body and sturdy aluminium frame, the xperia is both durable and beautiful. The camera incorporates Sony’s know how from their line of Cyber-shot and Handycam technologies.

Previous Generation:

HTC One (M8): Brushed metal body, wrap-around unibody frame, fits perfectly in the palm of your hand, Photo Effects (Duo Camera and Ufocus), great sound from front firing stereo speakers
Apple iPhone 5S: Touch ID fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button, free Apple Apps (iWorks, iMovie, GarageBand, iPhoto and others)
Samsung Galaxy S5: camera with super fast auto focus, fingerprint scanner, biometric screen lock, camera with superfast auto-focus, Emergency Mode, Ultra Power Saving Mode, S Health (heart rate sensor), Quick Connect, Private Mode, Kids Mode, Download Booster (using both 4G and WiFi) for browsing and download, dust and water resistant. Works with Samsung’s wearable technologies.
LG G Flex: Curved screen
LG G3: 4K HD Bezel free edge to edge ultra sharp screen packing 538 ppi is the highest resolution screen in comparison to the rest. Curved backplate with non-slip texture. Camera with Advanced OIS+ (optical image stabilisation) using laser to measure object distance instantly for clearer, brighter photos. Smart Keyboard and Speaker with Boost Amp
LG G2: not very far off from the current LG G3.
Sony Xperia Z2: Digital noise cancelling to cancel out background noise, digital noise cancelling headphones also included, dust and water proof to 1.5m for up to 30 mins, 4K video capture, 20MP camera, Timeshift video model that records 120 frames per second and edit video for slow-motion effects. The camera also works underwater.

What else is out there… Nokia Lumia 930

Also worth waiting for is the Nokia Lumia 930, Nokia’s flagship Windows Phone 8.1 to launch in June 2014. Specifications as below:

2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor
2GB RAM, 32GB storage
LTE, 802.11 abgnac, BT4.0 LE
5″ OLED ClearBlack, FHD 1080p (1920 x 1080), 441ppi
20MP Pure View with Zeiss optic rear camera, 1.2MP wide angle front camera
Aluminium frame with polycarbonate back
Dimension & Weight: 9.81 x 137 x 71 mm, 167g
Battery: 2420mAh, Talktime 11.5hrs (2G), 15.5 (3G), standby 18days
Colours: orange, green, black, white

Final Thoughts

Whichever flagship smartphone you choose, you will not be disappointed. Remember to pick the gold, bronze or copper finish for that bit more class and premium feel to an already excellent phone.

Also, if you can’t afford to go with the latest, we have also included above, a handful of information on the previous generation flagship. These are now still available at heavily discounted prices making the decision to go with a flagship albeit last season that bit easier and more affordable. These older generation flagship and still very capable smartphones are as listed below:

Apple iPhone 5S
Samsung Galaxy S5
LG G Flex
LG G3 [4K DISPLAY – HIGHEST RESOLUTION]
LG G2
HTC One M8
Sony Xperia Z2

Finally, here is our list of flagship smartphones again. For the latest prices, click on the links below:

Apple iPhone 6 [SMALLEST] and iPhone 6 Plus [SLIMMEST 5″] Both [TOUCH ID]
HTC One (M9)
LG G4 [4K DISPLAY – HIGHEST RESOLUTION]
Samsung Galaxy S6: [OCTA-CORE, MORE RAM,]
Sony Xperia Z3 [4K VIDEO CAPTURE, BIGGEST RAM, HIGHEST RF CAMERA]