Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium vs. iPhone X: A Clash of Titans

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium and Apple iPhone X were both flagship contenders in their time, boasting impressive features and powerful performance. But which phone truly delivered the better experience? We're diving deep into a head-to-head comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The iPhone X offers a more polished and user-friendly experience with its iOS ecosystem and strong app support. However, the XZ2 Premium shines with its exceptional display brightness and potentially slightly better battery endurance. Ultimately, the choice depends on your preferred operating system and priorities.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium Apple iPhone X
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 46, 661, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (3CA) Cat12 600/150 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2018, April. Released 2018, July2017, September 12. Released 2017, November 03
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frameGlass front (Corning-made glass), glass back (Corning-made glass), stainless steel frame
Dimensions158 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.22 x 3.15 x 0.47 in)143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7 mm (5.65 x 2.79 x 0.30 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM
Weight236 g (8.32 oz)174 g (6.14 oz)
 IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 mins) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Scratch-resistant glass
Resolution3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~765 ppi density)1125 x 2436 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~458 ppi density)
Size5.8 inches, 91.5 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 84.4 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCD, HDR10Super Retina OLED, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 625 nits (HBM)
 Runs at 1080 x 1920 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine3D Touch
Platform
CPUOcta-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)Hexa-core 2.39 GHz (2x Monsoon + 4x Mistral)
ChipsetQualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)Apple A11 Bionic (10 nm)
GPUAdreno 630Apple GPU (three-core graphics)
OSAndroid 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10iOS 11.1.1, up to iOS 16.7.12
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlyNo
Internal64GB 6GB RAM64GB 3GB RAM, 256GB 3GB RAM
 UFS 2.1NVMe
Main Camera
Dual19 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF 12 MP B/W, f/1.6, 1/2.3", 1.55µm, predictive PDAF12 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.4", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRQuad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR (photo/panorama), panorama, HDR
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps
Selfie camera
Features-HDR
Single13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm7 MP, f/2.2, 32mm (standard) SL 3D, (depth/biometrics sensor)
Video1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system-
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE5.0, A2DP, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSSGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGLightning, USB 2.0
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, hotspot
Features
SensorsFingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFace ID, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC3 Wireless (Qi)15W wired, PD2.0, 50% in 30 min Wireless (Qi)
Talk time-Up to 21 h (3G)
TypeLi-Ion 3540 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 2716 mAh, non-removable (10.35 Wh)
Misc
ColorsChrome Black, Chrome SilverSpace Gray, Silver
ModelsH8166, H8116, SOV38A1865, A1901, A1902, A1903, iPhone10,3, iPhone10,6
PriceAbout 460 EURAbout 100 EUR
SAR-1.09 W/kg (head)     1.17 W/kg (body)
Tests
Audio quality Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -82.8dB
Battery lifeEndurance rating 77hEndurance rating 74h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1411:1 (nominal), 2.867 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: Infinity (nominal), 5.013 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 73dB Voice 68dB / Noise 74dB / Ring 76dB
Performance AnTuTu: 264734 (v7), 288101 (v8) GeekBench: 8509 (v4.4), 2099 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 233100 (v7) GeekBench: 10215 (v4.4) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

  • Exceptional sunlight display readability
  • Excellent 4K HDR video recording
  • Potentially longer battery life
  • Customizable Android experience

  • Software updates can be slower
  • Design can feel dated
  • Performance slightly behind the iPhone X

Apple iPhone X

  • Smooth iOS experience
  • Strong app ecosystem
  • Fast charging (PD2.0)
  • Excellent computational photography
  • Seamless integration with Apple devices

  • Higher price (originally)
  • Less customizable than Android
  • Sunlight readability not as good as XZ2 Premium

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent displays, but the XZ2 Premium takes the lead in sunlight readability with a remarkable 2867:1 contrast ratio. The iPhone X's 'Infinity' display offers vibrant colors and good contrast, but struggles slightly in direct sunlight compared to the XZ2 Premium. The XZ2 Premium's OLED panel also generally offers deeper blacks.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera capabilities. The XZ2 Premium boasts a 4K HDR video recording and a dedicated motion eye camera for slow-motion capture. The iPhone X excels in computational photography, producing consistently good results in various lighting conditions. The iPhone's video stabilization is also generally considered superior.

Performance

The iPhone X's A11 Bionic chip was a performance powerhouse at launch and remains very capable. The Snapdragon 845 in the XZ2 Premium is also strong, but the A11 Bionic generally edges it out in raw processing power and sustained performance, especially in graphically intensive tasks. iOS optimization also contributes to a smoother overall experience.

Battery Life

The XZ2 Premium boasts a slightly higher endurance rating (77h) compared to the iPhone X (74h), suggesting potentially longer battery life in real-world usage. However, charging speeds favor the iPhone X with its support for PD2.0, allowing for a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is ideal for Android enthusiasts who prioritize a stunning display, particularly in bright sunlight, and appreciate a more customizable experience. The Apple iPhone X is a great choice for those deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem, seeking seamless integration with other Apple devices, and valuing a streamlined user interface.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better video quality?
The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium offers 4K HDR video recording, while the iPhone X excels in overall video stabilization and computational photography for consistently good results.
❓ Is the iPhone X still worth buying in [current year]?
The iPhone X remains a capable device, especially for those already invested in the Apple ecosystem. However, newer iPhones offer significant improvements in performance and camera capabilities.