Mobile Grudge Match: HTC Butterfly vs Sony Xperia Z

The battle of flagship smartphones is a never ending story. Each year, a new chapter begins and we kick off 2013 with the HTC Butterfly vs Sony’s Xperia Z. Both these handsets mirror the absolute best of what their respective manufacturers have to offer with today’s technology. Let’s take a quick look at each of them before we put them in the ring for a face-off.

HTC Butterfly
The Butterfly managed to impress us quite a bit and despite its poor battery life, we do think it’s one of HTC’s best attempts yet. Some of the features that would make us run out and buy one despite its shortcomings are the camera and the display. Along with the awesome burst mode that made the One X a huge success, HTC has packed in a better 8MP sensor with a very large aperture of f/2.0. Not only does this improve the level of detail for low light shots, you can really have fun with the amount of depth of field you get in macro shots. The level of details captured is also a lot better compared to its previous flagship. The display is superb as well and even though we feel 1080p for a smartphone is pushing it a bit, it’s still a gorgeous display thanks to the Super LCD3 technology.

A handsome looking brute

Sony Xperia Z
Sony has finally upped its game and the Xperia Z shows that the company means business. The Z is very similar to the Butterfly in terms of specifications as it also has a 1080p screen, quad-core CPU and full HD capable front facing camera. The similarities end here though, as the Z raises the bar by offering a massive 13MP camera sensor, is a lot slimmer than the Butterfly and best of all, has passed the IP55 and IP57 certifications, which officially makes it dust and water resistant. Sony claim that the Xperia Z will easily work up to 1 metre underwater and for up to 30 minutes. All this from a phone that still manages to look every bit as glamorous as, say, the iPhone 5. 

Premium on the outside, rugged on the inside

It’s now time to put these two flagships in the ring and see which one looks like the better option, at least on paper.

The Xperia manages to nudge past the Butterfly

The bottom line
Since both the handsets are extremely similar, it’s a very close match. In the end though, the Xperia Z manages to edge out the Butterfly and that’s the phone I’d go with too, given the choice. Aesthetics is very subjective and both handsets are a head turner. However, the glass-laden back of the Z should give it a little more street cred. The main reason why I would personally pick the Sony over the HTC is the IP57 certification and due to its slightly larger battery, which should help prolong the need to recharge. Being water resistant means you don’t have to worry about protecting it during monsoons, or if it gets a bit dirty, simply wash it under a tap. More than wireless charging and other such gimmicks, I feel every flagship smartphone from now on must have an IP57 certification as it’s a feature that truly impacts the way we use high-end phones.