At CES in January, Sony announced two new flagships, the Xperia Z and Xperia ZL. So close in nature, a comparison between the two – their closely related specifications, yet contrasting appearance and standout features – was inevitable.

On the outside, the two devices look very similar … at least on the front. Their backsides are completely different, as if two designers at Sony had an argument and decided to incorporate both designs, separately. On the inside, however, the devices are virtually identical, only differing in battery capacity. The Xperia Z comes with dust- and water-proofing, while the ZL has an IR blaster.

In every way, choosing between these devices is a trade-off. Alas, we put them under the microscope and see how the twins stack up to one another.