Sony Xperia XZ2 vs XZ2 Premium: A Clash of Flagship Titans
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The XZ2 boasts slightly better battery life and a marginally better sunlight display. However, the XZ2 Premium delivers a superior camera system with more lenses and advanced features, along with faster charging. Ultimately, the Premium is the better choice for photography enthusiasts, while the XZ2 offers a more balanced experience.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XZ2 | Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium |
| 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, 46, 66 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, February 26. Released 2018, April 20 | 2018, April. Released 2018, July |
| 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 | 153 x 72 x 11.1 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.44 in) | 158 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.22 x 3.15 x 0.47 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 198 g (6.98 oz) | 236 g (8.32 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 | 1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~765 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.8 inches, 91.5 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD, HDR BT.2020 | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | Runs at 1080 x 1920 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 (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 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@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Single | 5 MP, f/2.2, 1/5.0" | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (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 | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS |
| 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) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3180 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3540 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Liquid Black, Liquid Silver, Deep Green, Ash Pink | Chrome Black, Chrome Silver |
| Models | H8266, H8216, H8296, H8276, 702SO, SOV37 | H8166, H8116, SOV38 |
| Price | About 360 EUR | About 460 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -89.2dB | Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 88h | Endurance rating 77h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: 1434 (nominal), 3.58 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1411:1 (nominal), 2.867 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 66dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 78dB | Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 73dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 259244 (v7), 281749 (v8) GeekBench: 8466 (v4.4), 2060 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 264734 (v7), 288101 (v8) GeekBench: 8509 (v4.4), 2099 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XZ2
- Slightly better battery life
- Better sunlight display visibility
- More compact design
- Generally more affordable
- Less advanced camera system
- No wireless charging
- No telephoto lens
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
- Superior camera system with multiple lenses
- 4K HDR video recording
- Faster charging (wired & wireless)
- Improved low-light performance
- Advanced cooling system
- Slightly shorter battery life
- Lower sunlight display visibility
- Larger and heavier design
- Higher price
Display Comparison
Both phones feature a 6.0-inch OLED display with a 19:9 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1080 x 2160 pixels. The XZ2 has a contrast ratio of 1434:1 (nominal) and 3.58 (sunlight), while the XZ2 Premium has a slightly lower contrast ratio of 1411:1 (nominal) and 2.867 (sunlight). While both offer vibrant colors and deep blacks, the XZ2's slightly better sunlight visibility gives it a minor edge.
Camera Comparison
This is where the XZ2 Premium truly shines. It features a triple-lens rear camera system (19MP main, 12MP telephoto, and 8MP depth sensor) with advanced features like 4K HDR video recording and improved low-light performance. The XZ2 has a single 19MP rear camera. While the XZ2's camera is capable, the XZ2 Premium offers significantly more versatility and image quality.
Performance
Both devices are powered by the Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core CPU, ensuring smooth performance for most tasks. Real-world performance differences are minimal, with both handling demanding games and applications with ease. The XZ2 Premium's additional cooling system might prevent throttling during extended gaming sessions, but it's unlikely to be noticeable for average users.
Battery Life
The XZ2 has a slight advantage in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 88h compared to the XZ2 Premium's 77h. However, the XZ2 Premium supports 18W wired charging (QC3) and wireless charging (Qi), allowing for faster top-ups.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XZ2 is ideal for users seeking a reliable, well-rounded flagship with good battery life and a solid camera. It's a great choice for everyday use and casual photography. The Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium is best suited for photography enthusiasts and those who prioritize camera quality and faster charging, even if it means sacrificing a bit of battery endurance.