Sony has a rich history of producing compelling Android phones. Today, we're pitting two of their devices against each other: the budget-friendly Xperia XA2 Plus and the flagship Xperia XZ Premium. Which one reigns supreme in terms of performance, camera, and overall value?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ Premium is the clear winner, boasting a significantly more powerful processor, superior camera capabilities, and a more premium design. However, the XA2 Plus offers exceptional battery life and a more affordable price point, making it a solid choice for budget-conscious users.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 - G8142 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G8141, G8142 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H4413 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G8141, G8142 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (2CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 28, 38, 39, 40, 41 - H4493 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2018, July. Released 2018, September | 2017, February 27. Released 2017, June 18 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum/plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in) | 156 x 77 x 7.9 mm (6.14 x 3.03 x 0.31 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM (G8141)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G8142) |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 195 g (6.88 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~807 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.46 inches, 82.2 cm2 (~68.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| | - | Runs at 1080 x 1920 pixels except for select use cases
Triluminos display
X-Reality Engine |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 508 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo) | Android 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM |
| | - | UFS 2.1 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF | 19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", predictive PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| | 24-bit/192kHz audio
| 24-bit/192kHz audio
|
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE | 5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | FM radio | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted, region dependent), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3230 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver, Black, Gold, Green | Luminous Chrome, Deepsea Black, Bronze Pink, Rosso |
| Models | H4413, H4493, H3413 | G8142, G8141, SO-04K, SO-04J |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 320 EUR |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB |
Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -92.6dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 104h
| Endurance rating 72h |
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 1238:1 (nominal), 2.877 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB
|
Voice 62dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 71dB |
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8)
GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
GeekBench: 5460 (v4.4), 1603 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
- Exceptional battery life
- Large display
- Affordable price
- Good sunlight readability
- Lower performance
- Less premium design
- Basic camera features
Sony Xperia XZ Premium
- Powerful performance
- Excellent camera
- Premium design
- HDR OLED display
- Shorter battery life
- Higher price
- Smaller screen
Display Comparison
The XA2 Plus features a 6.0-inch IPS LCD display with a 1522:1 contrast ratio (nominal) and impressive 3.445 sunlight readability. The XZ Premium has a 5.5-inch HDR OLED display with a 1238:1 contrast ratio (nominal) and 2.877 sunlight readability. While the XA2 Plus has a larger screen and excellent sunlight visibility, the XZ Premium's OLED panel offers richer colors, deeper blacks, and HDR support for a more vibrant viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
The XZ Premium's camera is a significant upgrade. It features a 19MP primary sensor with advanced image processing capabilities, including 4K HDR video recording and a dedicated motion eye camera. The XA2 Plus has a decent camera, but it lacks the advanced features and image quality of the XZ Premium.
Performance
The XZ Premium's Snapdragon 835 chipset and Octa-core Kryo CPU provide a substantial performance advantage over the XA2 Plus's Snapdragon 630. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the XZ Premium. The XA2 Plus is adequate for everyday tasks but will struggle with demanding applications.
Battery Life
The XA2 Plus shines in battery life, boasting an impressive endurance rating of 104 hours. The XZ Premium, while still respectable, offers a shorter endurance rating of 72 hours. This makes the XA2 Plus a clear winner for those prioritizing longevity.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XA2 Plus is ideal for users prioritizing long battery life, a large display, and affordability. It's a great option for everyday tasks and media consumption. The Sony Xperia XZ Premium is best suited for users who demand top-tier performance, a high-quality camera, and a premium experience, regardless of price.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the XZ Premium worth the extra cost?
If you prioritize performance, camera quality, and a premium experience, the XZ Premium is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and value battery life, the XA2 Plus is a compelling alternative.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xperia XZ Premium is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and graphics capabilities.
