okay here is my take on this dillema of yours.
i was previously an owner of the s2 and then bought my own galaxy note which was in most aspects a bigger s2.i am decently satisfied with my note but i cant help but think that it is one of the worst hardware gadgets i have own.The finish,the buttons and the side water chromed ring is cheap as shit.The phone is pretty reliable though,i only have had just one hardware malfunction which was cost by my hastiness
Anyways, one fine day i decided to meet a friend who had just bought a sony xperia s.i was so taken back with the quality of the device and especially its screen,i honestly felt it looked refreshing and a proper premium device for the price you pay.My friend was happy enough to lend me his S for a couple of days and boy did i love it.Infact i loved it so much that i kinda felt the need to sell my note and get a xperia s as soon as possible.I however resisted the temptation because of a major arrival next month.
anyways here are the pros and cons column which i felt apt using the s2 and the note in competing with xperia s
Pros - sound quality a notch higher than what sammy provides.
The display is just mind blowing.I got no doubts its just as good as the retina display which apple puts in its devices
camera quality and usability is a lot better on the xperia s is better.
the hardware is just top top notch to be honest.the phone feels premium and very classy to hold.
cons - screen real estate could be a problem.for me it was a bit of a mix bagged as i loved to gain that single handed usability.
the phone also has limited storage which could be a problem for "heavy users".