The Sony Xperia SP and Google Nexus 4 are both similarly priced Android smartphones. Which of the two is the better buy ?
The Sony Xperia SP has now landed in the UK and is available SIM-free for around £250. This puts it in direct competition with Nokia's Lumia 820 and Google's Nexus 4 (£239). We already declared Sony's smartphone victorious over Nokia's mobile, but how does it stand-up against Google's smartphone ?
Before we begin our comprehensive comparison of the Nexus 4 and Xperia SP it should be pointed out that only the latter supports 4G. Therefore, if your looking for a smartphone that supports superfast 4G networks then you only have one choice.
The Sony Xperia SP is totally future-proofed and will work on EE's 4G network, as as well as the other operators 4G networks ( once they launch ). While, the Nexus 4 only supports 3G networks, although that's more than fast enough for most users !
Both smartphones are relatively attractive with Sony's device setting itself apart with its customisable illumination bar, which has divided opinion at 3G. Some of our team think it's a great feature, while others think it cheapens the overall feel of Sony's smartphone.
Google's smartphone is a little lighter and thinner than Sony's smartphone (139g , 9.1mm v 155g , 9.98mm). However, the Xperia SP has a larger battery and an aluminum frame which gives it a more premium feel.
Sony's smartphone definitely has more style than Google's Nexus 4 , although some people might be put off by the "flashy" illumination bar.
Both the Nexus 4 and the Sony Xperia SP have touch-screen displays running at 1280 * 720 pixels (720p). Google's phone has a slightly larger 4.7 inch display compared to the 4.6 inch Mobile Bravia screen present on Sony's mobile.
There is very little between the two with the Nexus 4's IPS (In-plane Switching) display standing up well against Sony's Mobile Bravia 2 display. We're going to have to declare it a draw in this category !
Google's Nexus 4 delivers amazing performance thanks to its quad-core 1.5 GHz Snapdragon processor, which is backed up by 2GB of RAM. This makes it significantly more powerful than the Xperia SP , which has a dual-core Snapdragon processor and just 1GB of RAM. While both feature the same Adrendo 320 GPU.
The major downside of increased power is decreased battery-life and this is where the Xperia SP comes into its own. Sony have included a huge 2370 mAH battery which delivers a whopping 697 hours standby, thrashing the Nexus 4's 390 hours standby time (2100 mAH battery).
Those looking for cutting-edge gaming performance and processing power should choose Google's Nexus 4, although the Xperia SP still offers great power and much better battery life !
The Sony Xperia SP and Google Nexus 4 both have 8GB of on-board memory, although a more expensive 16GB version of Google's smartphone (£279) is also available. However, Sony's smartphone is an easy victor in this category because its the only one that supports microSD cards (up to 64GB).
An 8 mega-pixel rear-facing camera is present on both mobiles which are both capable of recording full 1080p video. However, Sony has a history of delivering the best mobile cameras and their Exmor R technology really sets the Xperia SP apart from its rival. However, Google's Nexus 4 has a 1.3 mega-pixel front-facing camera for video calling, which is better than the Xperia SP's 0.3 mega-pixel lens.
One advantage the Nexus 4 has over the Xperia SP is that it's a Google device meaning you'll always get the new version of Android first. In-fact, the latest version of Jelly Bean (4.2.2) is already available on Google's mobile, while the Xperia SP is still stuck on Android 4.1.
Therefore, those concerned with keeping up to date with the latest version of Android should choose to buy Google's smartphone.
Those looking for a powerful gaming device should choose Google's Nexus 4 because it's clearly the more powerful smartphone. However, Sony's device bags you 4G support, has better battery life , supports microSD cards and has a more stylish design.
Therefore, on balance we think the Sony Xperia SP is the victor because it still offers excellent performance for the price and has a number of standout features lacking on Google's smartphone !
Winner : Sony Xperia SP !
