Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra vs Xperia XZ3: A Head-to-Head Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ3 is the clear winner, offering significantly better performance thanks to its Snapdragon 845 chipset and OLED display. While the XA2 Ultra boasts impressive battery life, the XZ3's overall package of speed, display quality, and features makes it the superior choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra | Sony Xperia XZ3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - H3213, H4213, H4233 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 38 - H3213, H4213 | 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) Cat13 600/150 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, January. Released 2018, February | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 163 x 80 x 9.5 mm (6.42 x 3.15 x 0.37 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 | 221 g (7.80 oz) | 193 g (6.81 oz) |
| - | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 4 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~367 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 99.2 cm2 (~76.1% 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), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB 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 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 16 MP, f/2.0, 23mm (wide), 1/2.6", OIS, AF 8 MP, f/2.4, 1/4.0" | - |
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | - | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30ps | 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 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/ac, dual-band, 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, Blue, Gold | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | H4213, H4233, H3213, H3223 | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | About 260 EUR | About 510 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -67.7dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 100h | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1562:1 (nominal), 3.445 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 80dB | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 89110 (v7) GeekBench: 4198 (v4.4) GFXBench: 6fps (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 Ultra
- Exceptional battery life
- Unique dual-selfie camera
- Good value for money
- Decent display visibility in sunlight
- Slower performance
- LCD display (not as vibrant)
- Older chipset
- No wireless charging
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Flagship performance (Snapdragon 845)
- Stunning OLED display
- Wireless charging
- Faster charging (PD2.0)
- Improved camera quality
- Shorter battery life (compared to XA2 Ultra)
- Higher price
- Design can feel a bit generic
Display Comparison
The XZ3's OLED display is a significant upgrade. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio and 4.502 sunlight visibility rating far surpass the XA2 Ultra's 1562:1 contrast and 3.445 sunlight rating. The XZ3 also benefits from deeper blacks and more vibrant colors, providing a noticeably better viewing experience. The XA2 Ultra's LCD is perfectly adequate, but lacks the premium feel of the XZ3's OLED.
Camera Comparison
Both phones offer Photo/Video capabilities, but the XZ3 generally produces better image quality, especially in low light. The XA2 Ultra's unique dual-selfie camera is a niche feature, while the XZ3's main camera benefits from Sony's image processing expertise. Video recording on the XZ3 also offers higher resolutions and frame rates.
Performance
The XZ3's Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core Kryo CPU provide a substantial performance boost over the XA2 Ultra's Snapdragon 630. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the XZ3. The XA2 Ultra is still capable for everyday tasks, but will struggle with more demanding applications.
Battery Life
The XA2 Ultra holds a slight edge in battery endurance, boasting a rated 100h compared to the XZ3's 90h. However, the XZ3's faster charging (PD2.0) and wireless charging capabilities partially offset this difference. Real-world usage will likely show similar battery performance depending on usage patterns.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra is a good option for users prioritizing exceptional battery life and a decent front-facing camera setup for selfies, especially if budget is a major concern. The Xperia XZ3 is ideal for those seeking a flagship experience with fast performance, a stunning OLED display, and wireless charging capabilities.