Part 3: Google Nexus 5 vs Xperia SP

William Judd


Click the phones above to compare the Nexus 5 to the LG G2, Galaxy S4, Xperia SP and Nexus 4!

The Xperia SP is the only non-flagship phone on our series comparing the Google Nexus 5 and its competition, but such is the aggressive price of the Nexus 5 that the SP is £30 more expensive than the Nexus 5 16 GB, and £10 cheaper than the Nexus 5 32 GB.

Hardware

In terms of hardware, it’s a slam dunk for the Nexus 5. The Xperia SP has an old dual-core Qualcomm S4 processor that’s a step down even from the Nexus 4, a smaller display (also worse than both Nexus 5 and 4) and a fraction of the storage (8 GB). It does have microSD support though, a similar 8 megapixel camera (bereft of OIS) and even a slightly larger battery. Still, this is a couple of generations behind the Nexus 5, at least.

Software

Software is a similar win for the Nexus. Sony don’t overdo their software as much as LG or Samsung, but on versions alone the Nexus is far ahead – 4.4 versus 4.1. There are enough small improvements there to make for a big difference in experience, and unless you’re a big Sony fan it’s hard to see the SP being favoured.

Design

So it can’t compete in hardware or software, but perhaps design? Here the contest is closer, with Sony providing their now standard Xperia look, complete with square corners, glass and all the rest. While it isn’t as pretty as the Xperia Z or Z1, the SP is still quite decent looking and definitely looks more high-end than the soft-touch Nexus 5.

Ecosystem

The Xperia SP doesn’t enjoy as vibrant an ecosystem as the Nexus 5, as it lacks the cachet of being both a Nexus device and a flagship. While there are plenty of Xperia SP cases and other accessories available, the Nexus 5 is quickly catching up and is already a much bigger target for developers.

Overall

A rather nice example of just how cheap the Nexus 5 is, and how much better its hardware and software is than the mid-range phones at this price point.