Sony has a rich history of producing compelling smartphones, and the Xperia XA2 Plus and Z5 are two notable examples. Both offer unique strengths, but cater to different user priorities. This comparison dives deep into their features to help you decide which one is right for you.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XA2 Plus boasts significantly better battery life and a brighter display, making it ideal for extended use. However, the Z5 offers a more powerful processor and a slightly better camera, appealing to users prioritizing performance and image quality. The XA2 Plus wins on endurance, the Z5 on power.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - E6603, E6653 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3413, H4413 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 28, 38, 40 - E6603, E6653 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps (E6603), LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps (E6653) |
| 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 | 2015, September 02. Released 2015, October 02 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 157 x 75 x 9.6 mm (6.18 x 2.95 x 0.38 in) | 146 x 72 x 7.3 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 205 g (7.23 oz) | 154 g (5.43 oz) |
| | - | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Scratch-resistant glass, oleophobic coating |
| Resolution | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~402 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~428 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~78.9% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 73.2 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 (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM630 Snapdragon 630 (14 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 508 | Adreno 430 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo) | Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.1.1 (Nougat) |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM | 32GB 3GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 5.0 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | LED flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF | 23 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/2.3", PDAF |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec., HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" | 5.1 MP, f/2.4 |
| 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 | 4.1, A2DP, aptX |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS/ BDS (market dependant) |
| Radio | FM radio | FM radio, RDS |
| USB | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG | microUSB 2.0 (MHL 3 TV-out), 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, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted; EU model only), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer |
| | - | ANT+ |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 | 18W wired, QC2 |
| Music play | - | Up to 87 h |
| Stand-by | - | Up to 520 h (2G) / Up to 540 h (3G) |
| Talk time | - | Up to 13 h 10 min (2G) / Up to 17 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3580 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Silver, Black, Gold, Green | White, Graphite Black, Gold, Green, Pink |
| Models | H4413, H4493, H3413 | E6653, SO-01H, SOV32, E6603, 501SO |
| Price | About 240 EUR | About 150 EUR |
| SAR | - | 0.55 W/kg (head) 0.64 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.75 W/kg (head) 0.78 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Audio quality |
Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -93.1dB |
Noise -95.5dB / Crosstalk -94.8dB |
| Battery life |
Endurance rating 104h
|
Endurance rating 48h
|
| Camera |
Photo / Video |
Photo / Video |
| Display |
Contrast ratio: 1522:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) |
Contrast ratio: 986 (nominal), 2.88(sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker |
Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 79dB
|
Voice 65dB / Noise 62dB / Ring 66dB
|
| Performance |
AnTuTu: 86374 (v7), 107537 (v8)
GeekBench: 4144 (v4.4), 1018 (v5.1)
GFXBench: 5.1fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Basemark OS II 2.0: 1580Basemark X: 24941 |
Sony Xperia XA2 Plus
- Exceptional battery life (104h)
- Excellent sunlight display visibility
- More affordable
- Slim and lightweight design
- Less powerful processor
- Camera not as refined as Z5
- Older design
Sony Xperia Z5
- More powerful Snapdragon 810 processor
- Slightly better camera quality
- Premium build quality
- Water resistant
- Shorter battery life (48h)
- Less bright display
- Can get warm under load
- QC2 charging
Display Comparison
The Xperia XA2 Plus takes the display crown with a remarkable contrast ratio of 1522:1 (nominal) and an impressive 3.445 in sunlight readability. The Z5's contrast ratio is 986:1 (nominal) and sunlight visibility is 2.88, making it less usable outdoors. The XA2 Plus's display is noticeably brighter and more vibrant.
Camera Comparison
While both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Z5 generally produces slightly better image quality, particularly in low light, due to its more advanced sensor and processing. The XA2 Plus camera is still competent, but lacks the Z5's refinement.
Performance
The Xperia Z5 holds a clear advantage in performance thanks to its Snapdragon 810 chipset with Cortex-A57 cores alongside the A53 cores. The XA2 Plus's Snapdragon 630 is capable, but not in the same league. Expect smoother multitasking and faster app loading on the Z5.
Battery Life
The Xperia XA2 Plus absolutely dominates in battery life, boasting an incredible endurance rating of 104 hours. The Z5's endurance rating is a respectable 48 hours, but falls far short of the XA2 Plus's longevity.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XA2 Plus is perfect for users who prioritize long battery life, excellent sunlight visibility, and a more budget-friendly option. The Sony Xperia Z5 is a better choice for those who demand faster performance, a more capable camera, and are willing to invest a bit more.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Xperia Z5 still worth buying in 2024?
The Z5 can still be a decent option if you find it at a very low price and prioritize performance over battery life. However, newer phones offer significantly better features and software support.
❓ Which phone has better software support?
Neither phone receives active software updates anymore. Both are running older versions of Android. Security updates are unlikely.
