Samsung build quality is cheap and the customer service is dreadful. Sony probably makes the best hardware but my personal choice for phone is, and has been for some time, HTC

I'll stick with my iPhone. The last Sony phone i had was about 8-9 years ago, when they had those mp3 phones. It's still the only phone to this day that i've owned, which died within the first year. I swore never to own another Sony phone after that. As for Samsung, the last phone of their i owned was a used Blackjack 2, when my Sony phone died.

I respectfully disagree, Software plays a major role in the quality of the pictures, unlike video games consoles where it is more about hardware than software. 

It is not definite.

Some gaps cant be bridged by software. And as far i know the software on the lumia 1020 is better than the Xperia Z2. So the advantage is both in the hardware and the software. This really isnt a debate. I encourage you to actually look at the sample pictures. There is no other conclusion to make.

So yeah we can agree to disagree that this isnt definite.

Where ? do you mean on gsmarena link above ?

that is Xperia Z1 in the comparision. Yes, the same camera hardware, but different sofware as clearly shown by DXOmark ( which give Z1 and 2 an average score above 1020... so it IS up to debate ^^ )

Dosen't matter anyway ,please give me a link to a direct comparision if you have any.

were's the apple at?

No i mean look at any sample pictures of the Z2 and the Nokia 1020 and compare them yourself. Then tell me which one you would prefer to take pictures with.

gsmarena hasnt done their Z2 review yet so they dont have sample shots of the Z2. The Z1 is a good benchmark though as software can only do so much.

But dont take my word for it, go and look at raw sample shots from both devices. The lumia 1020 really is in a class of its own. It will be tough for the Z2 to compete...just look at the physical size of the 1020 camera...thats the compromise that nokia decided to make. Sony wont make those compromises so they are doing the best they can with the size they limit themselves to.

This really is just a matter of physics :/ which is why I'm sticking to my stance of this isnt up for debate.

We can always come back and discuss again once gsmarena has added their Z2 sample shots but that really isnt necessary.

They might make a better phone than Samsung but Samsung will always sell more phones. Samsung is the new Sony of the 80s and 90s with cheaper prices.  Not many people care to buy Sony products like they used to considering they see similar quality in products for less money with other manufacturers.  Basically, Sony lost a lot of their most loyal customers to Samsung, LG, and other companies and can't charge Apple prices on their products (case in point: their TV division).

Polycarbonate does NOT feel anywhere near as premium as glass or aluminum. Sorry, but that's just how it is. 

Also, Samsung phones, though made of plastic, do not usually have a noticable battery life improvement.

When Samsung starts using those plastics, tell me. Until then, metal and even glass is FAR more resistant to scratches than plastic.

I use cases, but I use minimalist cases that don't bulk up my phone, because I am confident that my metal phone is plenty strong. I don't need an Otterbox to have a rugged phone. 

Also, in the end, none of this matters, because I wouldn't purchase a Samsung phone simply because Touchwiz is a horrible and bloated UI.

Plastic that self heals is more resistant to scratches than metal, it also is less likely to DENT, there is a phone that already features such technology. (Google it.)

Now comparing my Lumia against something like the iPhone, well. I prefer the feel of the Lumia, it's a solid piece of nice looking premium feeling plastic and I honestly don't care if it is made of plastic.