Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact vs. Xperia XZ1: A Detailed Comparison

Sony's compact phone lineup has always been a favorite for those seeking premium features in a pocket-friendly size. The Xperia XZ2 Compact and XZ1 both offer a compelling experience, but which one comes out on top? This in-depth comparison will help you decide.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The XZ2 Compact edges out the XZ1 thanks to its slightly more powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset and impressive endurance rating. While the XZ1 boasts a marginally better contrast ratio, the XZ2 Compact's overall performance and battery life make it the stronger contender for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact Sony Xperia XZ1
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - F8341, F8342
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, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - G8341
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/150 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66 - G8343
Launch
Announced2018, February. Released 2018, April2017, August 31. Released 2017, September 19
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, aluminum frame
Dimensions135 x 65 x 12.1 mm (5.31 x 2.56 x 0.48 in)148 x 73.4 x 7.4 mm (5.83 x 2.89 x 0.29 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight168 g (5.93 oz)155 g (5.47 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~483 ppi density)1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density)
Size5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio)5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR BT.2020IPS LCD, HDR10
 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 (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm)
GPUAdreno 630Adreno 540
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie)
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlymicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal64GB 4GB RAM64GB 4GB RAM
 UFS 2.1UFS 2.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
Single5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/5.0"13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3"
Video1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack NoYes
35mm jackNoYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
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, QC3
TypeLi-Ion 2870 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, White Silver, Moss Green, Coral PinkBlack, Warm Silver, Venus Pink, Moonlit Blue
ModelsH8324, H8314, SO-05KG8341, G8342, F8341, F8342, G8343, SOV36, SO-01K
PriceAbout 430 EURAbout 260 EUR
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -90.2dB
Battery lifeEndurance rating 88h Endurance rating 82h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1315:1 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: 1406 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 83dB Voice 65dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 69dB
Performance AnTuTu: 265326 (v7), 308651 (v8) GeekBench: 8487 (v4.4), 2174 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) GeekBench: 6541 (v4.4), 1527 (v5.1) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

  • More powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset
  • Excellent battery life (88h)
  • Good camera performance
  • Compact and pocketable design
  • Water and dust resistance (IP68)

  • Design can feel a bit dated
  • No headphone jack
  • Limited software updates compared to newer models

Sony Xperia XZ1

  • Slightly better display contrast ratio
  • Refined design
  • Good camera performance
  • Water and dust resistance (IP68)

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 835 chipset
  • Shorter battery life (82h)
  • No headphone jack
  • Limited software updates compared to newer models

Display Comparison

Both phones feature a 5.0-inch Full HD+ (2160 x 1080) OLED display with a 18:9 aspect ratio and a sunlight readability rating of 3.765. The XZ1 has a slightly better nominal contrast ratio (1406:1) compared to the XZ2 Compact (1315:1), but the difference is minimal and likely imperceptible in everyday use. Both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks characteristic of OLED technology.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the XZ2 Compact generally produces slightly more detailed and vibrant photos. The XZ1's camera is known for its accurate color reproduction. Both offer 4K video recording, but the XZ2 Compact benefits from improved image stabilization. Specific camera specs are similar, relying on 19MP sensors, but Sony's image processing algorithms differ slightly.

Performance

The XZ2 Compact packs a Snapdragon 845 chipset, a significant upgrade over the XZ1's Snapdragon 835. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better performance in graphically intensive games. The XZ2 Compact's octa-core CPU (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver) provides a performance boost over the XZ1's (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo).

Battery Life

The XZ2 Compact demonstrates superior battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 88 hours compared to the XZ1's 82 hours. This difference is attributable to the more efficient Snapdragon 845 chipset and optimized software. Both support 18W wired charging (QC3) for relatively quick top-ups.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact is ideal for users prioritizing performance and battery life in a small form factor. It's great for mobile gaming and demanding apps. The Xperia XZ1 is a solid choice for those who value a slightly better display contrast and a more mature, refined design, and don't need the absolute latest processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the XZ2 Compact have a headphone jack?
No, neither the XZ2 Compact nor the XZ1 have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
❓ Are these phones still receiving software updates?
Software support for both devices is limited. They are no longer receiving major Android updates, but may still receive security patches.