Sony Xperia Z, Samsung Galaxy S4, and HTC Butterfly have some common denominators: Android OS, 5-inch diagonal screen size, 1080p resolution. The first two arrived early this year, while the third was released late last year. Which of these popular super smartphones is the cheapest in Australia?

Sony Xperia Z 3G and 4G in Australia costs $649 and $669, respectively. Both Xperia Z variants are now available for the Aussie market. Its 5-inch Full HD Reality Display has a resolution of 1080 x 1920, for a pixel density of 443 pixels per inch. Sony is particularly proud of Z's IP55 and IP57 certifications (dustproof and waterproof for up to 30 minutes at 1 meter depth). Inside the phone is a quad-core 1.5GHz Qualcomm processor, 16GB of storage and 2GB of RAM. Memory storage is expandable up to 32GB. Prices may vary in other stores.

Samsung Galaxy S4 3G and 4G stocks are expected to arrive in Australia on April 26. S4 prices are $799 and $829, with a $30 difference for the 4G connectivity. Prices match the 16GB units. Buyers can also choose the more expensive 32GB variants. The S4's 5-in display is powered by Samsung's Super AMOLED technology. This could set the S4 apart from other gadgets despite similar ppi value. It is also powered by a quad-core processor (1.6 GHz) and 2GB of RAM. Memory is expandable up to 64GB. Like the Xperia Z, S4 comes with a 13MP rear camera.

HTC Butterfly (3G) has been available in Australia since late 2012 for $709. It features similar screen size and resolution as Z and S4, except its display is enhanced by S-LCD 3. Its 16GB storage is expandable up to 32GB. Phone enthusiasts will also be able to take decent pictures with the Butterfly's 8MP camera. It is only 140 g with 2020 mAh battery. In contrast, the S4 uses a Li-Ion 2600mAh battery and its lighter at only 130 g. Xperia Z comes with 2330 mAh battery and weighs 146 g.

Some gadget shoppers make decisions based on gut feel and touch experience. Others follow a recognized name in the industy. Many others go for the cheapest in a particular class. Xperia Z wins the cheapest price among the three gadgets compared above. But buyers should look more closely into the specs and match it to their personal requirements. It could be too tricky to determine whether buyers are getting value for their money. Suffice it to say that shoppers are not advised to buy anything without a proper personal inspection.

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