Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium vs Xperia 1: A Flagship Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia 1 edges out the XZ2 Premium thanks to its superior Snapdragon 855 chipset, brighter display, and arguably more refined camera system. While the XZ2 Premium boasts impressive sunlight readability, the Xperia 1’s overall package makes it the slightly better pick, especially considering its age.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium | Sony Xperia 1 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat19 1600/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, April. Released 2018, July | 2019, February 25. Released 2019, May 30 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 6), glass back (Gorilla Glass 6), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.22 x 3.15 x 0.47 in) | 167 x 72 x 8.2 mm (6.57 x 2.83 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 236 g (8.32 oz) | 178 g (6.28 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 6 |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~765 ppi density) | 1644 x 3840 pixels, 21:9 ratio (~643 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.8 inches, 91.5 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.5 inches, 98.6 cm2 (~82.0% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR10 | OLED, HDR BT.2020 |
| Runs at 1080 x 1920 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Runs at 1096 x 2560 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855 (7 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 640 |
| OS | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10 | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 11 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only |
| Internal | 64GB 6GB RAM | 64GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM |
| UFS 2.1 | UFS 2.1 | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Dual | 19 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 PDAF | - |
| Features | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR | Color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR, eye tracking |
| 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 |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR | 4K@24/25/30fps HDR, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system | 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, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired, PD2.0 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3540 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3330 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Chrome Black, Chrome Silver | Black, Gray, Purple, White |
| Models | H8166, H8116, SOV38 | J8110, J8170, J9110, J9150, SOV40, SO-03L |
| Price | About 460 EUR | About 500 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB | Noise -93.6dB / Crosstalk -85.2dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 77h | Endurance rating 79h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1411:1 (nominal), 2.867 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 73dB | -26.7 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 264734 (v7), 288101 (v8) GeekBench: 8509 (v4.4), 2099 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 356734 (v7), 418206 (v8) GeekBench: 10985 (v4.4), 2753 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
- Exceptional sunlight readability
- Powerful Snapdragon 845 processor
- Premium build quality
- Fast charging (QC3)
- Older chipset
- Less bright display compared to Xperia 1
- Design can feel a bit dated
Sony Xperia 1
- Brighter and more vibrant display
- Faster Snapdragon 855 processor
- Unique 21:9 aspect ratio
- Improved camera performance
- Larger size may not be comfortable for all users
- Design is somewhat understated
- Older model - software support may be limited
Display Comparison
The Xperia 1 features a 6.5-inch OLED display with an impressive infinite contrast ratio and a measured peak brightness of 665 nits, making it significantly brighter than the XZ2 Premium. The XZ2 Premium's display, while boasting a respectable 1411:1 contrast ratio, lacks the sheer brightness of the Xperia 1. The Xperia 1’s 21:9 aspect ratio is also a unique selling point, offering more screen real estate for multitasking and immersive content consumption.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature capable camera systems, but the Xperia 1 generally delivers better image quality. The Xperia 1's camera benefits from Sony's advancements in image processing and sensor technology. While both offer Photo/Video capabilities, the Xperia 1's processing tends to produce more natural-looking results. Low-light performance is also slightly improved on the Xperia 1.
Performance
The Xperia 1’s Snapdragon 855 chipset (7nm) provides a noticeable performance boost over the XZ2 Premium’s Snapdragon 845 (10nm). While both phones offer smooth performance for everyday tasks, the Xperia 1 handles demanding games and applications with greater ease. The newer architecture and fabrication process of the 855 contribute to improved efficiency and reduced heat generation.
Battery Life
Both devices offer an endurance rating of 77h, suggesting comparable battery life in typical usage scenarios. However, the Xperia 1's more efficient Snapdragon 855 chipset might translate to slightly better real-world battery performance, especially under heavy load.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is a good option for users prioritizing exceptional sunlight visibility and a powerful, albeit older, processor. It's a solid choice if you can find it at a significantly reduced price. The Sony Xperia 1 is ideal for those seeking a brighter, more modern display, a slightly faster processor, and a more advanced camera system, even if it's a few years old. It's a good value if you appreciate its unique 21:9 aspect ratio.