The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, released as a premium compact flagship, now finds itself in a different market segment as time has passed. We pit it against the LG K22, a decidedly budget-oriented device, to see where the compromises lie and who each phone best serves in 2024.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing responsiveness and longevity, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 845 offers significantly superior performance, and while both phones boast an 88-hour endurance rating, the XZ2 Compact’s faster charging and overall build quality justify the price difference.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - International | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40 - International | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 40 - Brazil | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2020, September 12. Released 2020, September 12 | 2018, February. Released 2018, April |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic frame, plastic back | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 155.7 x 75.4 x 8.4 mm (6.13 x 2.97 x 0.33 in) | 135 x 65 x 12.1 mm (5.31 x 2.56 x 0.48 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 169.5 g (6.00 oz) | 168 g (5.93 oz) |
| | MIL-STD-810G compliant*
*does not guarantee ruggedness or use in extreme conditions | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1520 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~271 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~483 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.2 inches, 95.9 cm2 (~81.7% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, 400 nits (typ) | IPS LCD, HDR BT.2020 |
| | - | Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm QM215 Snapdragon 215 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 308 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 2GB RAM, 64GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | eMMC 5.1 | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Dual | 13 MP, 27mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm, PDAF
2 MP (macro) | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | - | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/5.0", 1.12µm | 5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/5.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | No | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio (market/operator dependent) | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Po 3000 mAh | Li-Ion 2870 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titan, Blue | Black, White Silver, Moss Green, Coral Pink |
| Models | LMK200Z, LMK200E, LMK200B, LM-K200 | H8324, H8314, SO-05K |
| Price | About 140 EUR | About 430 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB |
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 88h |
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1315:1 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 83dB |
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 265326 (v7), 308651 (v8)
GeekBench: 8487 (v4.4), 2174 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
LG K22
- Extremely affordable price point
- Functional for basic smartphone tasks
- Reliable for calls and texts
- Slow performance with Snapdragon 215
- Limited multitasking capabilities
- Lower-quality camera system
Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact
- Powerful Snapdragon 845 processor
- Fast 18W Quick Charge 3.0 support
- Compact and premium build quality
- Higher price compared to the LG K22
- Battery is aging and may not hold charge as well as new phones
- Software support may be limited
Display Comparison
Both devices share a contrast ratio of 1315:1 (nominal) and 3.765 (sunlight), suggesting similar outdoor visibility. However, the LG K22’s display specifications are not detailed enough to assess its panel technology or resolution. The XZ2 Compact, being a flagship, likely utilizes a higher-quality panel with better color accuracy and viewing angles, even if the contrast ratios are comparable. The XZ2 Compact’s smaller 5-inch display, compared to the K22’s unspecified size, contributes to its compact nature, a key selling point.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer photo and video capabilities, but details are sparse. The Xperia XZ2 Compact, as a flagship, likely features a more sophisticated camera system with a larger sensor, optical image stabilization (OIS), and advanced image processing algorithms. The LG K22’s camera is likely a simpler implementation, focusing on basic image capture. Without specific sensor sizes or aperture details for the K22, it’s difficult to make a precise comparison, but the XZ2 Compact’s camera will almost certainly deliver superior image quality, especially in low-light conditions.
Performance
The performance gap is substantial. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact’s Snapdragon 845, built on a 10nm process, features an octa-core CPU (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) and a significantly more powerful Adreno 630 GPU. This contrasts sharply with the LG K22’s Snapdragon 215 (28nm) and quad-core 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. The 10nm fabrication process of the SD845 provides superior power efficiency and thermal management, allowing for sustained performance under load, something the 28nm SD215 will struggle with. The XZ2 Compact is designed for multitasking and demanding apps, while the K22 is geared towards basic functionality.
Battery Life
Interestingly, both devices are rated for 88 hours of endurance. However, this rating doesn't tell the whole story. The Xperia XZ2 Compact benefits from 18W wired charging with Quick Charge 3.0 support, allowing for significantly faster charging times. The LG K22’s charging specifications are unknown, but it’s likely to be slower. While both may last roughly the same amount of time on a single charge with similar usage, the XZ2 Compact’s faster charging is a significant convenience factor. The more efficient Snapdragon 845 also contributes to better real-world battery life under heavy use.
Buying Guide
Buy the LG K22 if you need a functional, extremely affordable smartphone for basic tasks like calls, texts, and light social media. It’s a good option for first-time smartphone users or as a reliable backup device. Buy the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact if you prioritize a smooth user experience, faster app loading times, and the ability to handle demanding applications and occasional gaming, all within a compact form factor.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Snapdragon 215 in the LG K22 sufficient for running modern apps like WhatsApp and Facebook?
Yes, the Snapdragon 215 is capable of running basic apps like WhatsApp and Facebook, but performance will be noticeably slower compared to more powerful processors. Expect longer loading times and potential lag when switching between apps. It's suitable for light usage, but not for demanding applications.
❓ Given the age of the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact, is the battery still reliable?
The battery in the Xperia XZ2 Compact is several years old, so its capacity will have degraded over time. While it still boasts an 88-hour endurance rating, expect real-world battery life to be lower than when it was new. Battery replacement is an option, but adds to the overall cost.
❓ Does the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact support 5G connectivity?
No, the Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact was released before the widespread adoption of 5G and does not support 5G connectivity. It is limited to 4G LTE.
❓ What kind of storage options are available on each device, and can they be expanded?
The LG K22 typically comes with 32GB of internal storage, expandable via microSD card. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact was available in 64GB and 128GB configurations, and also supports microSD card expansion, allowing for increased storage capacity.
