Choosing between older Sony Xperia models can be tricky. The M4 Aqua offered a compelling mid-range experience, while the XA2 Plus brought improvements. This comparison dives deep into their specs and features to help you decide which phone is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XA2 Plus is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 630 chipset offers significantly better performance, improved battery life, and faster charging compared to the M4 Aqua's Snapdragon 615. While the M4 Aqua had water resistance, the XA2 Plus's overall package is superior.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E2303, E2353 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - E2303 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H4413 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 40 - E2353 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H4493 |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2015, March. Released 2015, June | 2018, July. Released 2018, September |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, plastic back, plastic frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 145.5 x 72.6 x 7.3 mm (5.73 x 2.86 x 0.29 in) | 157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 136 g (4.80 oz) | 205 g (7.23 oz) |
| | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | - |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Scratch-resistant glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~294 ppi density) | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.0 inches, 68.9 cm2 (~65.2% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x1.0 GHz Cortex-A53) | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8939 Snapdragon 615 (28 nm) | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 405 | Adreno 508 |
| OS | Android 5.0.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 6.0.1 (Marshmallow) | Android 8.0 (Oreo) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 2GB RAM, 16GB 2GB RAM (E2306) | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM |
| | eMMC 4.5 | - |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, AF | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 5 MP | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" |
| Video | 720p | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| | - | 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.1, A2DP | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | FM radio |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass |
| | ANT+ | - |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Music play | Up to 64 h 40 min | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 681 h (2G) / Up to 685 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 12 h 40 min (2G) / Up to 13 h 20 min (3G) | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 2400 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black, White, Coral, Silver | Silver, Black, Gold, Green |
| Models | E2303, E2353, E2306 | H4413, H4493, H3413 |
| Price | About 190 EUR | About 240 EUR |
| SAR | 1.19 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) | - |
| SAR EU | 0.59 W/kg (head) 0.53 W/kg (body) | - |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality | - |
Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB |
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 104h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8)
GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Audio quality | - | Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 104h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | - | Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8)
GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia M4 Aqua
- Water resistance (IP67)
- Compact size
- Affordable price
- Outdated chipset
- Slower charging
- Lower battery life
- Less powerful camera
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
- Better performance (Snapdragon 630)
- Longer battery life
- Fast charging (QC3)
- Improved camera
- Larger screen
- No longer water resistant
- Older design
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a similar contrast ratio (1522:1 nominal, 3.445 sunlight), suggesting comparable display quality in bright conditions. However, the XA2 Plus likely has slightly better color accuracy and brightness due to advancements in display technology during its production. The XA2 Plus also has a slightly larger screen (5.5 inches vs 5.0 inches).
Camera Comparison
While both are marketed as 'Photo / Video' devices, the XA2 Plus likely has a more refined camera software and potentially a slightly better sensor. The M4 Aqua's camera was decent for its time, but the XA2 Plus benefits from later Sony camera technology. Expect better low-light performance and more natural-looking images from the XA2 Plus.
Performance
The XA2 Plus boasts a significant performance advantage. Its Snapdragon 630 (14nm) is considerably more efficient and powerful than the M4 Aqua's Snapdragon 615 (28nm). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better gaming performance on the XA2 Plus. The XA2 Plus's CPU clock speed is also higher (2.2 GHz vs 1.5 GHz/1.0 GHz).
Battery Life
The XA2 Plus shines in battery life, achieving an impressive endurance rating of 104 hours. The M4 Aqua's battery life was respectable, but not in the same league. The XA2 Plus also supports 18W fast charging (QC3), a feature absent in the M4 Aqua, allowing for quicker top-ups.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Xperia M4 Aqua? Those seeking a very budget-friendly, water-resistant phone for basic tasks. Who should buy the Sony Xperia XA2 Plus? Users wanting a smoother experience, better battery life, and faster charging without breaking the bank.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia M4 Aqua still worth buying?
Only if you absolutely need a very budget-friendly and water-resistant phone and are okay with its limitations. Otherwise, the XA2 Plus offers a much better experience.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives active software updates anymore. However, the XA2 Plus, being newer, might have a slightly more stable Android version at the time of its last update.
