Sharp Aquos Zero 2 vs. Google Pixel 4 XL: A Detailed Comparison of Snapdragon 855 Flagships

Released in different eras, the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 and Google Pixel 4 XL both center around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 855. However, their approaches to the flagship experience differ significantly. The Zero 2 aimed for a lightweight, minimalist design, while the Pixel 4 XL prioritized computational photography and a refined software experience. This comparison dissects their similarities and differences, especially considering the Pixel 4 XL's current availability at significantly reduced prices.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user in 2024, the Google Pixel 4 XL emerges as the better buy. While both phones share the Snapdragon 855 chipset and PD2.0 charging, the Pixel 4 XL’s superior camera system, coupled with its now-lower price point ($274.99 - $364.52), outweighs the Zero 2’s potential advantages in weight and form factor.

PHONES
Phone Names Sharp Aquos Zero 2 Google Pixel 4 XL
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 39, 41 - Taiwan1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66, 71 - Global
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71 - USA
Launch
Announced2020, May 22. Released 2020, May 222019, October 15
StatusDiscontinuedAvailable. Released 2019, October 22
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions158 x 74 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.91 x 0.35 in)160.4 x 75.1 x 8.2 mm (6.31 x 2.96 x 0.32 in)
SIMNano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight141 g (4.97 oz)193 g (6.81 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 6Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density)1440 x 3040 pixels, 19:9 ratio (~537 ppi density)
Size6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio)6.3 inches, 98.0 cm2 (~81.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeOLED, 1B colors, 240Hz, HDR10, Dolby VisionP-OLED, 90Hz, HDR
 -Always-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 640Adreno 640
OSAndroid 10Android 10, upgradable to Android 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 2.1
Main Camera
Dual12.2 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 20 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide), AF12.2 MP, f/1.7, 27mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 16 MP, f/2.4, 50mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaDual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1.22µm, no AF TOF 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0USB Type-C 3.1
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
ChargingWired, PD2.018W wired, PD2.0 Wireless
TypeLi-Ion 3130 mAhLi-Po 3700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlueClearly White, Just Black, Oh So Orange
ModelsSH-Z20, SHV47, 906SHG020P, G020, GA01181-US, GA01182-US, GA01180-US
PriceAbout 670 EURAbout 180 EUR
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 364.52
64GB 6GB RAM-$ 274.99
RENEWED-$ 149.00
Tests
Audio quality- Noise -93.9 / Crosstalk -94.1
Battery life- Endurance rating 73h
Camera- Photo / Video
Loudspeaker- Voice 80dB / Noise 78dB / Ring 88dB
Performance- AnTuTu: 323305 (v7), 403267 (v8) GeekBench: 10171 (v4.4), 2267 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sharp Aquos Zero 2

  • Potentially lighter and more compact design.
  • May offer better thermal management due to lighter build.
  • Potentially lower cost (depending on import).

  • Limited software support and updates.
  • Camera likely inferior to Pixel 4 XL.
  • Importing may be required, adding cost and complexity.

Google Pixel 4 XL

  • Excellent camera system with computational photography.
  • Guaranteed software updates (though nearing end-of-life).
  • Widely available and supported.

  • May exhibit thermal throttling under sustained load.
  • Potentially heavier and bulkier design.
  • Battery life, while good, isn't exceptional.

Display Comparison

Both devices lack detailed display specifications in the provided data. However, given the Pixel 4 XL’s market positioning, it likely features a higher peak brightness and potentially a more color-accurate OLED panel. The Aquos Zero 2, historically, has focused on efficient displays, potentially prioritizing power consumption over absolute brightness. The absence of refresh rate data suggests neither device boasts a high-refresh-rate display, a common omission in 2019 flagships.

Camera Comparison

The provided data only indicates that both phones have 'Photo / Video' capabilities. However, the Pixel 4 XL is renowned for its computational photography prowess, leveraging Google’s HDR+ and Night Sight algorithms. The Zero 2, while likely capable, doesn’t have the same software pedigree. The Pixel 4 XL’s camera system likely features a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing, resulting in superior image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. The absence of sensor size or aperture information for either device makes a precise comparison impossible, but the Pixel 4 XL’s reputation strongly favors its camera performance.

Performance

Both the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 and Google Pixel 4 XL are powered by the Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) chipset, featuring an octa-core CPU configuration (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485, 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485, and 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485). This means raw processing power will be nearly identical. Performance differences will likely stem from thermal management and software optimization. The Pixel 4 XL’s software is known for its smooth animations, but the 855 is known to throttle under sustained load. The Zero 2’s lighter build *could* offer slightly better thermal dissipation, but this is speculative without further testing data. RAM is consistent at 6GB, ensuring adequate multitasking capabilities on both devices.

Battery Life

Both devices share an endurance rating of 73 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite potentially different battery capacities. Both support PD2.0 wired charging, with the Pixel 4 XL offering 18W charging. The identical endurance rating suggests that software optimization and power efficiency play a larger role than raw battery capacity in determining battery life. While the Zero 2 may have a slightly different battery management system, the Pixel 4 XL’s software optimizations likely compensate for any hardware differences.

Buying Guide

Buy the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 if you prioritize an exceptionally lightweight design and are comfortable importing a device with potentially limited software support. Its focus on minimalism and potentially lower cost (depending on import fees) makes it appealing to enthusiasts. Buy the Google Pixel 4 XL if you value a consistently excellent camera experience, guaranteed software updates (though nearing end-of-life), and a more readily available device with established community support. The Pixel 4 XL is the pragmatic choice for most users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Snapdragon 855 in the Pixel 4 XL still capable in 2024?
Yes, the Snapdragon 855 remains a capable chipset for everyday tasks, social media, and even many modern games. While it won't match the performance of newer chips, it provides a smooth and responsive experience for most users. However, demanding games may require reduced graphics settings.
❓ How long will the Pixel 4 XL receive software updates?
Google officially ended software updates for the Pixel 4 XL in October 2022. While it won't receive new feature drops or security patches, the existing Android version is still supported. This is a significant consideration for users prioritizing security and long-term software support.
❓ Does the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 support global LTE bands?
The Sharp Aquos Zero 2 was primarily designed for the Japanese market. As such, its LTE band support may be limited in other regions. Before purchasing, it's crucial to verify compatibility with your carrier's network to ensure proper functionality.
❓ What is the charging speed of the Pixel 4 XL with a PD2.0 charger?
The Pixel 4 XL supports 18W wired charging with a PD2.0 charger. While not the fastest charging available today, it can still charge the phone from 0% to 50% in approximately 30 minutes, providing a convenient top-up when needed.