Sharp Aquos Zero 2 vs Sony Xperia 1 III: A Detailed Comparison of Two Snapdragon Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Sony Xperia 1 III is the superior choice. While the Aquos Zero 2 offers a compelling value proposition, the Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 delivers significantly improved performance, faster charging, and a more refined multimedia experience, justifying its higher price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sharp Aquos Zero 2 | Sony Xperia 1 III |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 28, 38, 39, 41 - Taiwan | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 - Europe |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - Europe |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| - | SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA (specific) | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2020, May 22. Released 2020, May 22 | 2021, April 14 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2021, August 25 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 74 x 8.8 mm (6.22 x 2.91 x 0.35 in) | 165 x 71 x 8.2 mm (6.50 x 2.80 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 141 g (4.97 oz) | 186 g / 187.1 g (mmWave) (6.56 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 | Corning Gorilla Glass Victus |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~86.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~84.2% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | OLED, 1B colors, 240Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision | OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485) | Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) | Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 640 | Adreno 660 |
| OS | Android 10 | Android 11, upgradable to Android 13 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 8GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM |
| UFS 3.0 | UFS 3.X | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 12.2 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 20 MP, f/2.4, 125˚ (ultrawide), AF | - |
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| Single | - | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4", 1.12µm |
| Triple | - | 12 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.7", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.3, 70mm (telephoto), f/2.8, 105mm (telephoto), 1/2.9", dual pixel PDAF, 3x/4.4x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 124˚, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/2.6", dual pixel PDAF 0.3 MP, TOF 3D, (depth) |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@24/25/30/60/120fps HDR, 1080p@30/60/120fps; 5-axis gyro-EIS, OIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS | 1080p@30fps, 5-axis gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0 | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, video output |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| - | Native Sony Alpha camera support | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | Wired, PD2.0 | 30W wired, PD, 50% in 30 min Wireless Reverse wireless |
| Type | Li-Ion 3130 mAh | Li-Po 4500 mAh |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Blue | Frosted Black, Frosted Gray, Frosted Purple |
| Models | SH-Z20, SHV47, 906SH | XQBC62/V, XQBC52V.UKCX, SO-51B, SOG03, A101SO, XQ-BC62, XQ-BC72, XQ-BC52, XQ-BC01, XQ-BC11, XQ-BC21, XQ-BC72 |
| Price | About 670 EUR | € 505.26 / $ 903.43 |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.5 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 607423 (v8) GeekBench: 3515 (v5.1) GFXBench: 54fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sharp Aquos Zero 2
- Lightweight and compact design
- Efficient Snapdragon 855 processor
- Potentially lower price point
- Older chipset with lower performance
- Lacks fast charging and wireless charging
- Less advanced camera system
Sony Xperia 1 III
- Powerful Snapdragon 888 processor
- Fast 30W wired and wireless charging
- Advanced camera system with professional features
- Higher price point
- Potentially heavier and larger form factor
- Snapdragon 888 can generate more heat under sustained load
Display Comparison
The Sony Xperia 1 III boasts a 620 nit peak brightness, offering a visibly brighter image than what the Aquos Zero 2 likely achieves (though specific data is unavailable). While both likely utilize OLED panels, the Xperia 1 III’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests superior black levels and dynamic range. The Xperia 1 III’s display is geared towards professional content consumption, while the Aquos Zero 2 likely prioritizes power efficiency in its display characteristics. Bezels are likely slimmer on the Xperia 1 III, reflecting its more modern design.
Camera Comparison
Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but the Xperia 1 III likely has a more advanced camera system. While specific sensor details are missing for the Aquos Zero 2, the Xperia 1 III benefits from Sony’s expertise in image sensors and processing. The Xperia 1 III’s camera system is geared towards professional-level photography and videography, with features like real-time tracking and advanced color science. The Aquos Zero 2’s camera is likely competent, but won’t match the Xperia 1 III’s versatility and image quality.
Performance
The core difference lies in the chipsets: the Aquos Zero 2 uses the Snapdragon 855 (7nm) versus the Xperia 1 III’s Snapdragon 888 5G (5nm). The 5nm process node of the 888 provides significant gains in power efficiency and transistor density, translating to a substantial performance uplift. The Xperia 1 III’s CPU features a Cortex-X1 prime core, offering a performance advantage over the Kryo 485 in the Aquos Zero 2. While both have octa-core CPUs, the architectural improvements in the 888’s cores, particularly the A78s, contribute to faster multi-core performance. The Xperia 1 III will handle demanding tasks and games with greater ease and sustained performance.
Battery Life
Both phones have an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite the Aquos Zero 2’s older chipset. However, the Xperia 1 III offers significantly faster charging with 30W wired charging (50% in 30 minutes) and wireless/reverse wireless charging capabilities, a feature absent on the Aquos Zero 2. The Xperia 1 III’s faster charging mitigates any potential battery life differences, providing a more convenient user experience.
Buying Guide
Buy the Sharp Aquos Zero 2 if you prioritize a lightweight, compact form factor and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. It’s ideal for users who value efficiency and don’t demand the absolute latest in processing power. Buy the Sony Xperia 1 III if you’re a content creator or enthusiast who needs the best possible performance, a versatile camera system, and fast charging capabilities. It’s geared towards users who demand a premium, feature-rich experience.