HTC Sensation XL vs. Samsung Galaxy Note, head to head!

The challenge

HTC Sensation XL and Samsung Galaxy Note are two fascinating Android phones for this fall. Sensation XL, an upgraded version of HTC Sensation 4G, is a special phone with Beats Audio support. HTC has crafted the phone with an eye on audiophiles. Galaxy Note is a large 5.3-inch version of Galaxy S II from Samsung. The South Korean firm has produced Galaxy Note for customers, who want a device in between Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus tablet. Indeed, both Galaxy Note and Sensation XL are to herald some changes in smartphone market. Apart from being ordinary phones, they have something special to show off, respectively a large display and audio feature. Here is an analytical comparison between Sensation XL and Galaxy Note.

HTC Sensation XL vs Samsung Galaxy Note

Comparison Attributes

1. Screen Size

Samsung Note is recognized for its big display. Making the difference, Note has really a large 5.3-inch display with a resolution of 800 x 1280 pixels. Only Dell Streak with its 5-inch screen comes close to Galaxy Note in this regard. Being a Samsung product, Note features Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen with 16M colors and 285 ppi. Sensation XL, in the meantime, has a 4.7-inch S-LCD capacitive display with a resolution of 480 x 800 pixels. It is a Gorilla glass display.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note.

2. Software

Both Galaxy Note and Sensation XL play on Android v2.3 Gingerbread. Android 2.3 is the most recent version of Android available for smartphones. But Google has just launched Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, the best Android version for a smartphone ever. Maybe both smartphones will get updated to Ice Cream Sandwich in a later stage.

Winner: No winner. Both devices have the same operating system.

3. Price

Galaxy Note carries a price tag of around $650 in the U.S. With a large display, better processor, camera and other features, it is a reasonable price, indeed. Sensation XL is priced around $500. The U.S. version of Sensation XL is named HTC Rezound, however. Its exact pricing details are not available.

Winner: HTC Sensation XL. In fact, Galaxy Note is priced high because it is with more facilities than Sensation XL.

4. Camera

Galaxy Note sports an 8-megapixel camera with a resolution of 3264 x 2448 pixels. It features autofocus, LED flash, geo-tagging, face detection and much more. Amazingly, you can capture HD video at 1080p @ 30fps. The phone features a 2-megapixel camera for video chatting.

Meanwhile, HTC Sensation XL is also up with an 8-megapixel camera with auto-focus, face detection and image stabilization. But it can only take 720p video at 30fps. The phone mounts a 1.3-megapixel front facing camera with 28mm f/2.2 lens.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note.

5. Target Audience

Target audiences of both the devices are different. Samsung aims at the customers, who want a device with a larger screen than Galaxy S II and a smaller screen than Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. Interestingly, many people crave to own a device with 5.3-inch screen. Even being quite bulky in size, Galaxy Note is an ideal product for web surfing, movie watching and other activities.

With Sensation XL, HTC plans to draw the attention of music lovers. The company has tied up with Dr. Dre Beats Audio for both software and hardware features. Now the device has Beats Audio software tweaks and special earbuds for the audio standard. It is certain that HTC Sensation XL will be sold out in big numbers, because customers of vacations will be in search for such products.

Winner: Samsung Galaxy Note. Both devices are different, but Galaxy Note is being awaited by millions of users.

The verdict

The HTC Sensation XL and Samsung Galaxy Note comparison is over. It is now time to find out the winner based on the above mentioned parameters. It seems quite clear that Galaxy Note has beaten its HTC rival ruthlessly. In most comparison attributes, Note has done well against Sensation XL. As a whole, the device will be a perfect pick for one, who wants a smartphone in between Galaxy S II and Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus. Of course, with Beats Audio, Sensation XL is a wonderful smartphone, which music lovers may embrace with no hesitation.