Sony Xperia XA2 Plus vs. Xperia XZ1 Compact: The Ultimate Compact Battle
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ1 Compact edges out the XA2 Plus thanks to its significantly more powerful Snapdragon 835 chipset and superior processing capabilities. While both offer excellent battery life, the XZ1 Compact's performance advantage makes it the better choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XA2 Plus | Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H4413 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/75 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, August. Released 2017, October |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in) | 129 x 65 x 9.3 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.37 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 140 g (4.94 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) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~319 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 4.6 inches, 58.3 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | IPS LCD |
| - | 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 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 4GB RAM |
| - | UFS 2.0 | |
| 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", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" | 8 MP, f/2.4, 18mm, 1/4.0" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| 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 2.0, 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), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Black, Gold, Green | Black, White Silver, Horizon Blue, Twilight Pink |
| Models | H4413, H4493, H3413 | G8441, SO-02K |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 300 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB | Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -85.5dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 104h | Endurance rating 108h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1243:1 (nominal), 3.729 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB | Voice 65dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 76dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8) GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 204581 (v7), 255140 (v8) GeekBench: 5596 (v4.4), 1681 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
- Excellent battery life
- Larger display
- Good value for money
- Compact design
- Less powerful processor
- Camera not as good as XZ1 Compact
- Design can feel a bit dated
Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
- Powerful Snapdragon 835 processor
- Superior camera performance
- Premium build quality
- Compact and pocketable
- Smaller display
- Can be slightly more expensive
- Older model
Display Comparison
Both phones feature OLED displays, known for their vibrant colors and deep blacks. The XA2 Plus boasts a slightly higher nominal contrast ratio (1522:1 vs 1243:1), but the XZ1 Compact shines in direct sunlight with a superior contrast ratio of 3.729 compared to the XA2 Plus's 3.445. The XA2 Plus has a larger 6.0-inch display, while the XZ1 Compact has a 5.2-inch display.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer capable cameras, but the XZ1 Compact generally produces better image quality, especially in low light. The XZ1 Compact's image processing is more refined, resulting in more detailed and vibrant photos. Both phones record video, but the XZ1 Compact often has slightly better stabilization.
Performance
This is where the XZ1 Compact truly pulls ahead. Its Snapdragon 835 chipset is a significant upgrade over the XA2 Plus's Snapdragon 630. Expect noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the XZ1 Compact. The XZ1 Compact's Kryo CPU architecture also contributes to its superior speed.
Battery Life
Battery life is a strong point for both devices. Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 104h/108h respectively, indicating excellent longevity. Real-world usage will likely yield similar results, easily lasting a full day for most users.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XA2 Plus is ideal for users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a larger screen in a compact form factor, and who don't demand top-tier performance. The Xperia XZ1 Compact is perfect for those who want a powerful, compact phone with a flagship processor, a good camera, and a more premium feel, even if it means a slightly smaller screen.