Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium vs. XZ2 Compact: A Detailed Showdown

Sony's XZ2 series offered a compelling blend of flagship features and compact design. But choosing between the XZ2 Premium, with its larger display and premium build, and the XZ2 Compact, prioritizing portability, can be tricky. This comprehensive comparison breaks down the key differences to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The XZ2 Compact edges out the Premium thanks to its superior battery life and more manageable size, despite a slightly lower contrast ratio. Both offer excellent performance thanks to the Snapdragon 845, but the Compact's efficiency makes it the more practical choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium	Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

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, 66
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/150 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2018, April. Released 2018, July	2018, February. Released 2018, April
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	158 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.22 x 3.15 x 0.47 in)	135 x 65 x 12.1 mm (5.31 x 2.56 x 0.48 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	236 g (8.32 oz)	168 g (5.93 oz)
	IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)	IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~765 ppi density)	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~483 ppi density)
Size	5.8 inches, 91.5 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio)	5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, HDR10	IPS LCD, HDR BT.2020
	Runs at 1080 x 1920 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)	Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
GPU	Adreno 630	Adreno 630
OS	Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10	Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10

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 4GB 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	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	-	19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps

Selfie camera
Single	13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm	5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/5.0"
Video	1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)	1080p@30fps (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

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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired, QC3 Wireless (Qi)	18W wired, QC3
Type	Li-Ion 3540 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2870 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Chrome Black, Chrome Silver	Black, White Silver, Moss Green, Coral Pink
Models	H8166, H8116, SOV38	H8324, H8314, SO-05K
Price	About 460 EUR	About 430 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 77h	Endurance rating 88h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1411:1 (nominal), 2.867 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1315:1 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 73dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 83dB
Performance	AnTuTu: 264734 (v7), 288101 (v8) GeekBench: 8509 (v4.4), 2099 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 265326 (v7), 308651 (v8) GeekBench: 8487 (v4.4), 2174 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

Larger, more immersive display
Excellent image processing
Premium build quality
4K Video Recording

Larger size and weight
Slightly shorter battery life
Potentially higher price (when new)

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

Excellent battery life
Compact and pocketable design
Bright display, great sunlight visibility
Powerful Snapdragon 845

Smaller display
Slightly lower nominal contrast ratio
May lack some of the Premium's premium features

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, but the XZ2 Premium boasts a slightly higher nominal contrast ratio (1411:1 vs 1315:1). However, the XZ2 Compact shines in direct sunlight with a significantly better contrast ratio (3.765 vs 2.867), making it more usable outdoors. The Premium's larger size (6.0-inch vs 5.0-inch) provides more screen real estate, but at the cost of portability.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. While specific camera specs are not detailed, both are known for their excellent image processing and 4K video recording. The Premium *may* have a slight edge in low-light performance due to its larger sensor, but this is not definitively confirmed by the provided data. Both offer features like 960fps super slow-motion video.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core CPU, ensuring smooth performance for demanding tasks and gaming. Real-world performance differences are minimal, with both handling apps and multitasking with ease. The Compact's smaller size and potentially better thermal management *might* lead to slightly sustained performance in prolonged gaming sessions, but this is marginal.

Battery Life

The XZ2 Compact holds a clear advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 88h compared to the XZ2 Premium's 77h. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, making the Compact a more practical choice for users who prioritize battery longevity.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is ideal for users who prioritize a large, vibrant display and don't mind a larger device. It's a good choice for media consumption and photography enthusiasts. The Xperia XZ2 Compact is perfect for those seeking a powerful, yet pocketable phone with excellent battery life and a comfortable one-handed experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the XZ2 Premium worth the extra cost?

If you prioritize a larger display and don't mind the larger size, the Premium is a good option. However, the Compact offers better value with its superior battery life and more manageable form factor.

❓ Which phone is better for gaming?

Both phones offer excellent gaming performance thanks to the Snapdragon 845. The Compact *might* have a slight edge in sustained performance due to potentially better thermal management, but the difference is likely minimal.