Stunning technology or stunning design--this is what you may have to choose from when pitting two of the newly introduced devices at the IFA Berlin 2013.

Instead of opting for the phablet trend, which seems to be on the rise, there are two smartphones that are worthy of your attention: the Sony Xperia Z1 and the LG G2.

Sony Xperia Z1: Powerhouse of camera and innovation

Samsung may have been a favorite in many areas--particularly for its feature-packed smartwatch--but the dark horse of the event was Sony, bringing along its Xperia Z1 to show off an ingenious product that features design and technology in one unit.

"Xperia Z1 represents a significant milestone for Sony in our continued efforts to deliver unforgettable experiences to our consumers," said Kunimasu Suzuki, President and CEO of Sony Mobile Communications, in an official press release. "Not only bringing the power of Sony to the smartphone and through close collaboration with our partners but by setting a new standard in premium smartphones."

Camera that tops other phones

Sony has probably outdone other brands in rolling out a higher megapixel count--though not enough to defeat Nokia--as the Xperia Z1 showcases a 20.7-megapixel Exmore RS sensor.

It also features the G Lens, which is an award-winning technology that comes with a 27mm wide angle and bright F2.0 aperture.

The camera for the Sony Xperia Z1 also touts sleep-to-snapshot mode made possible with a separate key, so that you will never miss a shot from fumbling while unlocking the device and setting to shoot mode.

Taking Sony's word for it, Phone Arena reports that the camera of the device may have a technology that is very similar to the 808 Pureview, though the power of the technology is yet to be confirmed.

In addition to this, there is a string of Xperia camera applications to enhance the overall camera experience, such as Social live to broadcast your snapshots through social media, Info-eye, which is a search function, and Timeshift bust, which lets your Xperia Z1 take 61 images in 2 seconds so you can scroll back and find the perfect image.

Bonus for U.K. buyers

For those who can preorder from Carphone Warehouse, a U.K. retailer, the device will also grand you a free QX10 clip-on camera lens and two months' worth of free music streaming.

Know Your Mobile adds that the accessory that allows for 10 times the optical zoom through a Wi-Fi connection, creating a more advanced technology for your photography needs.

LG G2: Designed to amaze

With phablets seemingly taking the lead in technology, it seemed like smartphones are going in one direction: bigger screens and bigger phones.

But for all that Apple has been touting with its iPhone devices' ability to defy physics, LG has also delivered a surprise that is worthy of challenging Apple's own make. Revealed at the IFA 2013, LG G2 has finally introduced its G2 into the market.

If there is something to behold about the new smartphone, it would have to be LG's design, which has increased the screen size to amazing proportions without adding to the size of the actual unit.

The overall design showcases an almost edge-to-edge display with very minimal bezels on the side. GSM Arena adds that aside from this new design, the ergonomic quality of the phone is not neglected. If anything, it was highlighted by the fact that the Power or Lock key has now been placed at the back of the device and within easy reach of your index finger.

Plus, unlocking the screen isn't as hard as reaching all the way back again, as a double tap on the screen does the job.

As for the other specs, the LG G2 runs on a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 with quad-core processor, has a 5.2-inch IPS+ display, 2GB of Ram and a 13-megapixel rear and 2.1-megapixel front camera with optical image stabilisation and the full HD video recording.

Preorders are already available starting October 11. According to CNet, the preorders will start at $199.99 for a two-year contract. The aforementioned price and contract date is the same, with the difference being in the date of availability: AT&T has already started its preorder shipping today within-store retails on Friday, while Verizon will start retail store on September 12.

T-Mobile is also not letting up, it will begin taking orders on September 18, with in-store retail on September 25.

Camera: Decent for its class

Though not as superior as the Xperia Z1 in the camera department, the LG G2 does feature 13-megapixels, high-end enough for the standard in smartphones today, with Sony matching it with image stabilisation eliminate or minimise blur.

This time, you can also tweak some of the settings; Engadget reports that there is a manual focus slider to maximise the macro shots as well as tap-to-focus and face-tracking.

The verdict? Camera-wise, Sony takes the cake, considering not just what comes with the actual unit, but also the add-on that you can purchase, if you are planning to do some more serious photography with the device.

If you are looking for a more innovative design, you can bet on the LG G2 to deliver.

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