Sony Xperia XA2 Plus vs Xperia XZ3: Which Sony Phone Reigns Supreme?
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ3 is the clear winner, boasting a significantly faster processor, superior display, and wireless charging. While the XA2 Plus offers exceptional battery life, the XZ3's overall performance and features justify its higher price point for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XA2 Plus | Sony Xperia XZ3 |
| 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 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 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, 46, 66 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 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 | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| 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 frame |
| Dimensions | 157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in) | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| - | IP65/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) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | P-OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| - | Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core 2.2 GHz Cortex-A53 | Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 508 | Adreno 630 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| 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, 64GB 6GB 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", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio | 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | |
| 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Silver, Black, Gold, Green | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | H4413, H4493, H3413 | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 510 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 104h | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8) GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1) GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
- Exceptional battery life
- Large display
- Affordable price
- Good build quality
- Older chipset
- LCD display
- Less powerful camera
- No wireless charging
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Flagship performance
- Vibrant OLED display
- Wireless charging
- Superior camera
- Water resistance
- Higher price
- Slightly shorter battery life than XA2 Plus
- Design can be polarizing
Display Comparison
The XZ3's display is a clear winner. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (effectively OLED) provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the XA2 Plus's LCD. The XZ3 also boasts a higher sunlight visibility rating (4.502 vs 3.445), making it easier to see outdoors. The XZ3's HDR support further enhances the viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the XZ3's camera is generally considered superior. It likely features a larger sensor, better image processing, and potentially more advanced features like 4K video recording at higher frame rates. The XZ3 also benefits from Sony's renowned camera technology.
Performance
The XZ3's Snapdragon 845 chipset is a substantial upgrade over the XA2 Plus's Snapdragon 630. Expect significantly faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the XZ3. The XZ3's octa-core Kryo processor with a mix of performance and efficiency cores provides a noticeable advantage.
Battery Life
The XA2 Plus surprisingly holds its own with an impressive endurance rating of 104h, slightly edging out the XZ3's 90h. However, the XZ3's faster charging (PD2.0) and wireless charging capabilities offer greater convenience.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XA2 Plus is ideal for budget-conscious users prioritizing long battery life and a large screen for media consumption. The Xperia XZ3 is perfect for those seeking flagship performance, a vibrant display, and advanced features like wireless charging and a more capable camera.