Z2 or One M8?

KERSPLAT!

Due an upgrade and trying to decide between these two. Love the battery, camera and water resistant/dust resistant Z2 but Ive been using the Xperia T for 18 months now and kind of want a change. The speakers on the One are supposed to be very good and I'd use my phone a lot to play music so that's a plus along with the fact its completely different to the T.

Don't get me wrong, I love the T, bar the battery life, but if I'm getting a new phone I think I'd rather something different. Or is the Z2 so much better than the M8 that I should get it anyway?

Any thoughts? Cheers

flazio

Many would say 'you won't be disappointed with either' and they'd be right. The camera is on paper much better on the Sony, but day to day you wouldn't notice much difference.
Have the Z2 myself and I love it. I was convinced after putting up with 2 years with the CPW exclusive Xperia S on Vodafone which was root proof and stuck on Gingerbread I was convinced I would be moving away from Sony, but good reviews, those noise cancelling headphones and water resistance and nearly €100 cheaper then the Samsung Galaxy S5 won me over.

KERSPLAT!

Hopefully picking one of these up today or tomorrow, any more words of wisdom? I'm leaning towards the M8 just because it's different

Dinosaur Controller

I was torn between the two. Went for the M8 despite reports of an inferior camera (which it is, technically), but it's nowhere near as bad as some say.

Like I said in a previous post, if you know what you're doing with a camera you can get some excellent shots. It's fantastic in low-light conditions too.

I've read the Z2 can be difficult to hold in one hand due to it's shape. The M8 is curved and very comfortable in one hand and I wouldn't have the world's biggest hands.

M8 is a great looking device and I'm getting great battery life too.

The sound is quality - best I've had on any device - with and without the HTC earphones.

KERSPLAT!

Sound would be a major plus for me, I do have music playing as I work a lot of the time, nothing worse than when you can barely hear it!

The camera was a worry, I love the 13mp on the Xperia T but I was reading about ultra pixels that the M8 has and thats supposed to make up some of the loss the M8 gives to the 20mp of the Z2

I would be a very heavy user, what kind of battery life would you get from the M8? The Z2 seems better on paper but I suppose it depends what's being used

Thanks for the reply

Dinosaur Controller

Yesterday for example I was out running at 6am using my phone - GPS, Spotify, Nike+.

Then later in the day I watched a few youtube videos, played some more music at lunchtime all the while texting and browsing intermittently throughout the day plus a few phone calls in the evening.

At 10pm I had 32% left. I thought I had turned GPS off off after running, but I hadn't and I don't use Blinkfeed. Blinkfeed is a bit of a drain on the battery.

KERSPLAT!

Not bad. As long as I get say 16 hours of heavy usage or 24hrs of light usage I'd be happy. Think I'll go for the M8, like I said, just for something different

Fr_Dougal

I was in the same boat as you, picked up the M8, it's a cracking phone...still don't know how to use it as it's my first android.

mondeo

I'd go for the Z2 since the screen is bigger and the camera is better.. 3gb ram is nice too.

mccormackk

Please don't base your decision on the MP of the camera. The size of the camera sensor is way more important. Think about it. There are lots of professional dSLR cameras that are not 20MP. I don't own either phone so I can't comment on picture quality under different conditions. Look online for picture examples from both phones.

KERSPLAT!

Thanks everyone. Still haven't decided, gonna call into the shop later and have a look at both

Oafley Jones

Isn't the Z3 imminent? Sony's 6 month gap between flagship models might put you off. Considered the z2 myself, feels very well put together but it really is an uncomfortable shape. That camera is excellent though. Still looking for the right phone to replace my m7, but there's nothing out there that I'd replace it with. Shame about the camera, otherwise I'd keep it another year.

Oafley Jones

mccormackk wrote: »

Please don't base your decision on the MP of the camera. The size of the camera sensor is way more important. Think about it. There are lots of professional dSLR cameras that are not 20MP. I don't own either phone so I can't comment on picture quality under different conditions. Look online for picture examples from both phones.

The Z2 has a 1/2.3 inch sensor. So it's got a big advantage verses the competition.

KERSPLAT!

Oafley Jones wrote: »

The Z2 has a 1/2.3 inch sensor. So it's got a big advantage verses the competition.

I've read that with the dual lens (or whatever it is) and the ultra pixel that the M8 camera isn't far behind the Z2 or is that just someone trying to cover up a bad camera? I'd use the camera quite a bit as I said above and after using the 13mp on the Xperia T for so long I'd hate to get a phone with a crap camera

Oafley Jones

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

I've read that with the dual lens (or whatever it is) and the ultra pixel that the M8 camera isn't far behind the Z2 or is that just someone trying to cover up a bad camera? I'd use the camera quite a bit as I said above and after using the 13mp on the Xperia T for so long I'd hate to get a phone with a crap camera

It's the same camera as the m7. The duo camera is used for faster focusing and some effects. It's a decent camera in low light situations and poor in every other. It's the primary reason I won't buy the m8 - I also think the design has regressed since the m7, it's far too tall and I want 32GB built in storage anyway.

Posters on here will say it's got a good camera. Every single review I read of the m8 marked it down for the camera, some say it's worse than the m7 complaining of the same soft images with poor colour reproduction. Start looking for yourself, and I'm not talking about the Gizmodo s oftthe world. Check out reviews that do detailed camera tests.

If the camera is your primary focus stay away from the m8,if it's not something you care too much about I'd take the HTC every time.

Dinosaur Controller

Here are some reviews on the camera:

OK, can't pay links but check Google M8 camera reviews and check it trusted reviews and tech radar.

Basically, it's not for photography, it's for taking day-to-day pictures/holiday snaps.

If you want photography, buy a DSLR. I wouldn't dream of using any smartphone for actual photography myself.

KERSPLAT!

Sorry I should clarify, it is for day to day snaps that I use it not for sunset snaps that I'm gonna frame but like I said, I'd hate to have a crap camera after using the Xperia T 13mp. If the M8 was even close to that I'd be happy enough. I'm not looking for a better camera, I just don't want a crap one

Gonna look at some camera reviews now

Oafley Jones

Dinosaur Controller wrote: »

Here are some reviews on the camera:

OK, can't pay links but check Google M8 camera reviews and check it trusted reviews and tech radar.

Basically, it's not for photography, it's for taking day-to-day pictures/holiday snaps.

If you want photography, buy a DSLR. I wouldn't dream of using any smartphone for actual photography myself.

I know the limits of mobile sensors. If I'm going on holidays I'm taking an alpha 6000. The point being the HTC fails me on a daily basis. The best I achieve is an okay shot. Contrast this with my wife's iPhone 5 which takes great shots nearly every single time.

Dinosaur Controller

Oafley Jones wrote: »

I know the limits of mobile sensors. If I'm going on holidays I'm taking an alpha 6000. The point being the HTC fails me on a daily basis. The best I achieve is an okay shot. Contrast this with my wife's iPhone 5 which takes great shots nearly every single time.

Fair enough. Doesn't fail me nor the folks over at photography blog.

Whatever you get OP, I hope you have fun with it.

codie

I was just about to buy the phone yesterday(htc).Started reading the reviews and have today probably spent the last 6 hrs researching it.Wish I hadn't now as I can't make up my mind.Its the camera too thats putting me off.I rang the local vodafone shop and girl said the htc m8 isn't a very popular phone and the galaxy s5 is better all rounder with way better camera.She mentioned the sony too .

KERSPLAT!

codie wrote: »

I was just about to buy the phone yesterday(htc).Started reading the reviews and have today probably spent the last 6 hrs researching it.Wish I hadn't now as I can't make up my mind.Its the camera too thats putting me off.I rang the local vodafone shop and girl said the htc m8 isn't a very popular phone and the galaxy s5 is better all rounder with way better camera.She mentioned the sony too .

Should have the M8 this evening. I've done some research on the cameras too and while the M8 isn't as good as the Z2 or S5, it still gets decent reviews. I'll only be using it for quick snaps on a night out or when out for the day so I think it'll suit me fine.

I probably would have gone for the Z2 only I have the T already and I don't fancy using pretty much the same phone for another 18 months or so. By the same I mean the same look, feel, interface etc, obviously the Z2 would be way better than the T in terms of performance, etc

KERSPLAT!

Only using it a few hours but liking it so far. Camera leaves a lot to be desired though. Will spend the day tomorrow messing with it

edit: scratch that, camera is pretty good once you mess with the settings for a bit

jaggiebunnet

KERSPLAT! wrote: »

Only using it a few hours but liking it so far. Camera leaves a lot to be desired though. Will spend the day tomorrow messing with it

edit: scratch that, camera is pretty good once you mess with the settings for a bit

What are your thoughts now after having the phone for a couple of weeks? What settings did you mess with for the camera? close to ordering one myself and like you don't want a great camera but don't want a crap one either!

KERSPLAT!

Love the phone itself. I listen to music a lot in work so having a good loud speaker was a must and it didn't let me down, it's very good! The camera is just OK, my 13mp Xperia T took great pictures almost all the time, the M8 is very hit and miss and I find myself taking 5+ pics of the same thing just to make sure I get one good one.

I don't know much about phones to be honest but I find the M8 very quick and responsive. Feels great in the hand, looks great and does everything I need it to. The camera is the only let down but even then, it's not terrible! I'd highly recomment it.

Also the battery is fantastic! I'd be a very heavy user and I'd easily get the day out of it. Most nights I'd have 40%+ left after 16 hours of heavy usage