Sony unveiled its much-awaited Xperia Z phablet at the CES 2013, and the device marks the company's foray into the 5-inch smartphone space. China-based Huawei too took to the CES platform to take the wraps off its much-awaited Ascend D2 phablet.

With the two robust devices set to hit the shelves soon, the consumer electronics market seems to be gearing up for the battle of the phablets in 2013. The devices also mark the emergence of a new trend for 2013 that most smartphone makers seem to be adopting i.e. devices with 5-inch-plus 1080p displays and colossal cameras.

Here's a look at how the two Android-powered phablets, the Xperia Z and Ascend D2, stack up against each other.

Processor

The Sony Xperia Z features a 1.5GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor with Adreno 320GPU. Sony claims that this advanced processor gives "maximum performance and speed without draining your battery."

"The Snapdragon S4 Pro processor is asynchronous, which means each core is powered up and down independently. So you get the precise amount of power when you need it, without wasting power when you don't," notes Sony.

On the other hand, the Ascend D2 has an equally powerful 1.5 GHz quad-core Hi-Silicon K3V2 + Balong V7R1 processor.

Display

The Xperia Z sports a 5-inch full HD Reality Display (1920 x 1080 pixels) with Mobile BRAVIA Engine 2, giving the "same quality you'd expect from a top quality HDTV." The phablet's display is made of "scratch-resistant, shatter proof sheet on mineral glass."

The Ascend D2 has a 5-inch full HD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels. Huawei claims that the Ascend D2 provides "unprecedented color accuracy and clarity." The Ascend D2's screen is protected by the anti-scratch Corning Gorilla glass

Both phablets have the same pixel density of 443 pixels per inch (ppi) and are waterproof and dust resistant.

Dimensions and Weight

The Xperia Z measures 139 x 71 x 7.9 mm (5.47 x 2.79 x 0.31 inches) and weighs 146gms (5.15 oz). The Ascend D2 measures 140 mm x 71 mm x 9.4 mm (5.51 x 2.80 x 0.37 inches), making it thicker than the Sony offering. At 170 gms (5.99 oz), the device is also heavier than the Xperia Z, but this can be attributed to its bigger battery.

Storage and Memory

The Xperia Z will be available with 16GB of on-board storage, whereas the Ascend D2 will be available in 32GB. However, the Xperia Z has a clear edge over the Ascend D2 in this area as it has an expandable memory option (of up to 32GB) via a microSD card unlike the Huawei offering.

Both devices offer 2GB of RAM.

Software

Both the phablets come pre-loaded with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, but Sony mentioned that the Xperia Z would soon be upgraded to Android 4.2 post release.

Battery

A 3000mAh battery powers the Ascend D2 and per the company has a stand-by time of six days on WCDMA. The Ascend D2's battery "is optimized by Huawei's QPC and ADRX smart power-saving technology" and the company proclaims that its fast battery charging technology enables the device to be fully charged in 30 percent less time than other smartphones "under the same electricity conditions."

The Xperia Z, on the other hand, has a smaller 2330mAh battery that packs in the Battery STAMINA mode, which in turn "saves you wasted battery drain by recognising when your display is off and turning off functions you don't need, while keeping the notifications you want." The Xperia Z's battery supports up to 11 hours of talk time and 550 hours of standby time.

Camera

The Ascend D2 has a 13-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera with HDR support and ISO sensitivity that is "higher than other smartphones in this category." What's more, the Ascend D2's primary camera has a "tailored manual color temperature adjustment function" that will provide users with a professional-level photography experience.

The Xperia Z packs in a 13.1-megapixel rear-facing camera. Sony touts that its primary Fast Capture camera with Exmor RS for mobile is capable of shooting HDR videos and razor sharp pictures.

"Xperia Z introduces HDR to video, so that you can film even in high contrast situations, like in front of a window or with the sun behind your subject," says Sony.

The Xperia Z also packs in a 2.2-megapixel front-facing camera, which easily pips the 1.3-megapixel camera of the Ascend D2.

Availability and Colors

The Xperia Z will release in Q1 2013, whereas the Ascend D2 will go on sale in China in Jan. 2013, and soon make its way to other parts of the world. Both the companies have not revealed the pricing of the phablets.

The Xperia Z will be available in three hues - black, white, and purple. On the other hand, the Ascend D2 will come in two colors - Crystal Blue and Pure White.