iPhone 5 vs Sony Xperia Z

The Sony Z is the current hottest Android handset on the market. There's no doubt on paper the unit trounces most of the competition. But does the best of Android beat the best of Apple? Well, for starters, there is the size difference to consider. The iPhone 5 is clearly much bigger than the older 4s. The 4s and all of the other handsets were marketted on the fact that you could use them with one hand. That is to say, you could still comfortably reach the upper left hand side of the screen, with the thumb on your right hand. The same can be said of the iPhone 5. Yes, it is a little longer, but it's no wider. So the one handed promises Apple made are still true. Not true of the Xperia Z. Not true at all, it's vast by comparison and it can only be described as a two handed machine. If texting while holding a pint is high on your agenda, you shouldn't even consider the Xperia! On the other hand, if you want the highest screen resolution, then perhaps surprisingly, (considering Apple's superior method of marketing Retina displays) the Xperia Z is much clearer. Don't get me wrong (at all) both of these units have fine, fine displays, but there are times, when for example you see a rendered sphere on screen, when the 'invisible pixels' claims of Apple simply scream of hype. The Z boasts a whopping 440 Pixels per inch on it's screen, where as the iPhone 5 has but 326. Having said that, both of the screens look exceptional and for normal everyday use, and even film watching in HD, you'd be hard pushed to notice a difference, certainly not a difference that would trigger buyer remorse.
The Camera's on both of these units are good. Nothing that would concern either one buyer that they've bought the wrong unit. Both are capable of producing great looking pictures. (The MP race doesn't interest me, and I applaud HTC with their upcoming ONE for looking at pixel quality over resolution. Time will tell if they've produced a better camera as a result. If you need convincing, the Macbook pro 15" with it's retina display is 4MP and no one complains that it's 'blocky'... do they?). Anyway, these both have good camera and video. Lets leave that one there.
The Z worries me with the sheer volume of water liquid ingress stickers that lie underneath every slightly poorly fitting seals, it's as if Sony don't have a great deal of faith in the phones ability to repel water. The phone is being marketed as water resistant. Indeed, I've seen the unit submerged on a number of Demo's and it does appear to have better water resistance than pretty much everything else out there. But it doesn't look like a handset designed to be waterproof from the outset. Not only that but the clauses for the water resistance aspect in the user guide state things such as salt water isn't covered. The touchscreen won't work underwater and there are no dedicated keys to trigger the camera, or video underwater. This is NOT intended to be a phone for use IN water. This is where I believe Sony have missed a trick. Instead of simply adding a few rubber sealed flaps onto what is essentially an ordinary smartphone, they should have designed something more JCB like in its construction, capable of genuine underwater photography and video. I've a £50 Kodak camera for specifically this purpose and we've captured some of our best holiday footage on it! This would be an incredible USP for Sony, but this phone.... isn't it. The most I would recommend the Z for is, perhaps, taking a call in the rain, where as, with the iPhone, you'd have to leave it, or slide it inside your hood. The Water resistance doesn't swing it for me either. So we've established that these two units are pretty different devices and you're sure to have your favourite operating system. If you can't make your mind up, consider these options.
If Malware worries you to a degree where you're paranoid, buy the iPhone.
If being able to use the device in one hand is high on your priorities, get the iPhone.
If you have Airplay devices all over your house get the iPhone 5, if you have DLNA equipment all over your house, get the Z.
If processor speed, screen resolution and bragging rights are your thing, get the Z.
If you have an incessant habit of getting phones wet, get the Z.
If you prefer the design of the Z, get that one, otherwise, if your prefer the iPhone looks, get that one.

These really are two completely different handsets, and I appreciate no easy decision when comparing between one or the other. My choice, would be the iPhone 5, but I do appreciate, other people will disagree. If the Z was properly waterproof though, things would be different.