Sony Xperia XZ2 vs. XZ2 Compact: A Detailed Showdown

The Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ2 Compact offer a compelling blend of flagship features in different form factors. Both boast the powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset, but cater to distinct user preferences. This review dives deep into their differences to help you choose the perfect Sony smartphone.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The XZ2 delivers a larger display and potentially better audio, while the XZ2 Compact shines with its portability and slightly improved sunlight visibility. Both offer excellent performance and battery life. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priority: screen real estate or pocket-friendliness.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia XZ2	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, 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 (5CA) 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, February 26. Released 2018, April 20	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	153 x 72 x 11.1 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.44 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	198 g (6.98 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	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~424 ppi density)	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~483 ppi density)
Size	5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio)	5.0 inches, 64.5 cm2 (~73.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, HDR BT.2020	IPS LCD, HDR BT.2020
	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 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM
	UFS 2.1	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
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	19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps

Selfie camera
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, 1/5.0"	5 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/5.0"
Video	1080p@30fps (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	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
Type	Li-Ion 3180 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 2870 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Liquid Black, Liquid Silver, Deep Green, Ash Pink	Black, White Silver, Moss Green, Coral Pink
Models	H8266, H8216, H8296, H8276, 702SO, SOV37	H8324, H8314, SO-05K
Price	About 360 EUR	About 430 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -89.2dB	Noise -93.4dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 88h	Endurance rating 88h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1434 (nominal), 3.58 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: 1315:1 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 66dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 78dB	Voice 66dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 83dB
Performance	AnTuTu: 259244 (v7), 281749 (v8) GeekBench: 8466 (v4.4), 2060 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (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

Larger Display
Potentially better audio
Premium Build Quality
Powerful Snapdragon 845

Larger Size/Less Pocketable
Sunlight Readability slightly lower than Compact

Sony Xperia XZ2 Compact

Compact and Pocketable
Slightly better sunlight readability
Fast Charging (QC3)
Powerful Snapdragon 845

Smaller Display
Potentially less immersive audio
May feel cramped for some users

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays, offering vibrant colors and deep blacks. The XZ2 has a 6.0-inch display with a 1434:1 contrast ratio (nominal) and 3.58 sunlight readability. The XZ2 Compact has a 5.0-inch display with a slightly better 1315:1 contrast ratio (nominal) and 3.765 sunlight readability, making it marginally easier to view outdoors. The XZ2's larger size provides more screen real estate for multitasking and media.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. While specific camera specs are not detailed, both utilize Sony's image processing technology. The XZ2's larger sensor *may* offer a slight advantage in low-light conditions, but both are capable of producing impressive results.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the same Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core CPU, ensuring smooth and responsive performance for demanding tasks and games. You shouldn't notice a significant difference in everyday usage or gaming performance between the two.

Battery Life

Remarkably, both the XZ2 and XZ2 Compact share the same impressive endurance rating of 88 hours. This suggests excellent battery optimization despite the size difference. The XZ2 Compact's smaller size *might* translate to slightly better efficiency in certain scenarios, but the difference is likely negligible.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is ideal for users who prioritize a larger screen for media consumption and gaming, and appreciate a more immersive audio experience. The XZ2 Compact is perfect for those seeking a powerful yet compact phone that's easy to handle and carry, without sacrificing performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the XZ2 Compact worth it if I like larger screens?

If a large screen is a priority, the XZ2 is the better choice. The XZ2 Compact's 5.0-inch display is significantly smaller and may feel cramped for some users.

❓ Which phone has better battery life?

Both phones have an impressive endurance rating of 88 hours, indicating excellent battery life. The difference in real-world usage is likely to be minimal.

❓ Are the cameras on both phones comparable?

Yes, both phones offer excellent camera performance. While specific sensor sizes may differ, both utilize Sony's image processing technology and are capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos.