Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium vs. Xperia XZ3: A Detailed Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ3 edges out the XZ2 Premium thanks to its significantly improved sunlight display performance and longer battery life. While both offer flagship performance, the XZ3’s refinements make it the more compelling choice for most users, especially considering potential price differences.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium | Sony Xperia XZ3 |
| 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 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| 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 - H8416, H9436, H9493 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, April. Released 2018, July | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.22 x 3.15 x 0.47 in) | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 236 g (8.32 oz) | 193 g (6.81 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 5 |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~765 ppi density) | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.8 inches, 91.5 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR10 | P-OLED, 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 9.0 (Pie), 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, 64GB 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 | 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 (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC3 Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3540 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Chrome Black, Chrome Silver | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red |
| Models | H8166, H8116, SOV38 | H9436, H8416, H9493 |
| Price | About 460 EUR | About 510 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 77h | Endurance rating 90h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1411:1 (nominal), 2.867 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 73dB | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 264734 (v7), 288101 (v8) GeekBench: 8509 (v4.4), 2099 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
- Excellent display contrast
- 4K HDR video recording
- Premium build quality
- Powerful Snapdragon 845
- Shorter battery life
- Lower sunlight display performance
- Older software
- Potentially higher price on the used market
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Longer battery life
- Superior sunlight display performance
- 120Hz refresh rate
- Improved image processing
- More modern software
- Design may be less striking than XZ2 Premium
- Camera improvements are incremental
Display Comparison
Both phones boast excellent displays with a nominal contrast ratio of 1411:1 for the XZ2 Premium and an impressive 'Infinite' for the XZ3 (effectively a very high ratio). However, the XZ3 shines in direct sunlight with a 4.502 rating compared to the XZ2 Premium's 2.867. The XZ3 also features a 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother scrolling and animations, a feature absent in the XZ2 Premium.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature excellent camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. The XZ2 Premium was known for its 4K HDR recording capabilities. The XZ3 introduced improvements to image processing and autofocus, resulting in slightly better overall image quality, particularly in challenging lighting conditions. Both offer a similar main camera setup, but the XZ3's software enhancements give it a slight edge.
Performance
Under the hood, both devices share the same Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core CPU. Performance will be very similar in everyday tasks and gaming. However, the XZ3 benefits from Sony's software optimizations and potentially slightly better thermal management, which could lead to sustained performance advantages during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The XZ3 demonstrates a clear advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 90 hours compared to the XZ2 Premium's 77 hours. This translates to noticeably longer usage times between charges, making the XZ3 a more practical choice for users who prioritize battery longevity.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is a good choice for users prioritizing a top-tier display contrast and are comfortable with a slightly older device. The Xperia XZ3 is ideal for those seeking better battery life, improved outdoor visibility, and a more modern software experience.