Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact vs Xperia 5: A Head-to-Head Showdown

Sony consistently delivers unique smartphone experiences, and the Xperia XZ2 Compact and Xperia 5 are prime examples. The XZ2 Compact offered a rare blend of power and portability, while the Xperia 5 brought a larger display and refined features. Let's dive into a detailed comparison to see which phone emerges as the victor.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia 5 is the clear winner, offering a superior display, more powerful processor, and slightly better battery life. While the XZ2 Compact's compact size is appealing, the Xperia 5's overall improvements make it the more compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact Sony Xperia 5
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2018, February. Released 2018, April2019, September 05. Released 2019, October 05
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame
Dimensions135 x 65 x 12.1 mm (5.31 x 2.56 x 0.48 in)158 x 68 x 8.2 mm (6.22 x 2.68 x 0.32 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)164 g (5.78 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 6
Resolution1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~483 ppi density)1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~449 ppi density)
Size5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio)6.1 inches, 86.9 cm2 (~80.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR BT.2020OLED, HDR BT.2020
 Triluminos display X-Reality EngineTriluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.78 GHz Kryo 485)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm)
GPUAdreno 630Adreno 640
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlymicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal64GB 4GB RAM128GB 6GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking
Single19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF-
Triple-12 MP, f/1.6, 26mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, predictive dual pixel PDAF, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, predictive PDAF, 2x optical zoom, 5-axis OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 16mm (ultrawide), 1/3.4", 1.0µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps4K@24/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/5.0"8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEOGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC318W wired, PD2.0
TypeLi-Ion 2870 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3140 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, White Silver, Moss Green, Coral PinkBlue, Red, Black, Grey
ModelsH8324, H8314, SO-05KJ8210, J8270, J9210, SOV41, SO-01M
PriceAbout 430 EURAbout 500 EUR
Pricing
128GB 6GB RAM-$ 409.99
RENEWED-$ 674.00
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB Noise -93.0dB / Crosstalk -89.4dB
Battery lifeEndurance rating 88h Endurance rating 96h
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: 1315:1 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 83dB -27.1 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 265326 (v7), 308651 (v8) GeekBench: 8487 (v4.4), 2174 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 334809 (v7), 416601 (v8) GeekBench: 10941 (v4.4), 2825 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

  • Extremely compact and pocketable
  • Decent performance for its size
  • Good contrast ratio display
  • Water and dust resistant

  • Smaller display
  • Less powerful processor
  • Single rear camera
  • Older model

Sony Xperia 5

  • Larger, brighter OLED display
  • More powerful Snapdragon 855 processor
  • Versatile triple-lens camera system
  • Slightly better battery life
  • Modern design

  • Larger size (less pocketable)
  • Higher price
  • 18W charging is relatively slow compared to competitors

Display Comparison

The Xperia 5 boasts a significant advantage with its 6.5-inch OLED display, offering a higher resolution and a measured peak brightness of 630 nits. The XZ2 Compact's 5.0-inch display is smaller and has a lower resolution, though its contrast ratio is impressive at 1315:1. The Xperia 5's 'infinite' contrast ratio is a marketing term, but the OLED technology provides excellent blacks and vibrant colors. The Xperia 5 also supports HDR content.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable cameras, but the Xperia 5 has a more versatile setup. The Xperia 5 features a triple-lens system (main, ultrawide, telephoto) offering greater flexibility in framing shots. The XZ2 Compact has a single rear camera, which is still good but lacks the versatility of the Xperia 5. Both phones capture decent video, but the Xperia 5's processing is generally more refined.

Performance

The Xperia 5's Snapdragon 855 chipset and 6GB of RAM provide a noticeable performance boost over the XZ2 Compact's Snapdragon 845 and likely 4GB of RAM. The 855 offers improved CPU and GPU performance, resulting in smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance. Both phones handle everyday tasks well, but the Xperia 5 excels in demanding scenarios.

Battery Life

Both phones have an endurance rating of 88h/96h respectively, suggesting comparable battery life. However, the Xperia 5's larger battery capacity (3600mAh vs XZ2 Compact's 2700mAh) contributes to its slightly longer endurance. Both support 18W fast charging.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is ideal for users prioritizing a truly pocketable phone with decent performance and a familiar Sony experience. It's a good option for those who value portability above all else. The Sony Xperia 5 is best suited for users who want a larger, brighter display, faster performance, and a more modern camera system, without sacrificing too much on size.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the XZ2 Compact still worth buying?
The XZ2 Compact can be a good option if you absolutely need a very small phone and can find it at a significantly reduced price. However, the Xperia 5 offers a much better overall experience.
❓ Which phone has better water resistance?
Both phones have an IP65/68 rating, meaning they are both dust and water resistant, offering similar protection.