Sony Xperia XZ2 vs XZ3: A Detailed Comparison

The Sony Xperia XZ2 and XZ3 represent a significant era for Sony's smartphone lineup. Both offer premium features and a distinct Sony aesthetic, but the XZ3 brought notable improvements. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to determine which phone is the better choice for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Sony Xperia XZ3 edges out the XZ2 thanks to its superior display brightness, faster charging, and slightly improved battery life. While both share the same powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset, the XZ3’s refinements make it the more compelling option, especially for those prioritizing outdoor visibility and quicker top-ups.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia XZ2	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, 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 (5CA) 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, February 26. Released 2018, April 20	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	153 x 72 x 11.1 mm (6.02 x 2.83 x 0.44 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	198 g (6.98 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	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~424 ppi density)	1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density)
Size	5.7 inches, 83.8 cm2 (~76.1% screen-to-body ratio)	6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD, HDR BT.2020	P-OLED, 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 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 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB 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 (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	5 MP, f/2.2, 1/5.0"	13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (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
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, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi)
Type	Li-Ion 3180 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Liquid Black, Liquid Silver, Deep Green, Ash Pink	Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red
Models	H8266, H8216, H8296, H8276, 702SO, SOV37	H9436, H8416, H9493
Price	About 360 EUR	About 510 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -90.6dB / Crosstalk -89.2dB	Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 88h	Endurance rating 90h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1434 (nominal), 3.58 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 66dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 78dB	Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB
Performance	AnTuTu: 259244 (v7), 281749 (v8) GeekBench: 8466 (v4.4), 2060 (v5.1) GFXBench: 33fps (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

Powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset
Excellent camera performance
Compact and ergonomic design
Good value for money (now)

Lower display brightness compared to XZ3
Slower charging speeds
Design can feel a bit dated

Sony Xperia XZ3

Brighter and more vibrant display
Faster charging (18W PD2.0)
Wireless charging support
Slightly more modern design

Higher price (originally)
Design might not appeal to everyone
Battery life only marginally better

Display Comparison

The XZ3 boasts a significant upgrade in display technology. While both phones feature OLED panels, the XZ3’s ‘infinite’ contrast ratio (effectively a very deep black) and a much higher sunlight readability score (4.502 vs 3.58) make it noticeably better for outdoor use. The XZ2's display is still good, but the XZ3's is demonstrably superior.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. While the XZ3 introduced some software enhancements, the core camera hardware is largely the same. Image quality is comparable in most conditions, with both offering excellent detail and dynamic range. Low-light performance is also similar.

Performance

Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, ensuring smooth performance for most tasks. Real-world usage will feel very similar, with both handling demanding games and applications with ease. There are no significant performance differences here.

Battery Life

The XZ3 offers a marginal improvement in battery life, with an endurance rating of 90h compared to the XZ2's 88h. However, the XZ3’s inclusion of 18W fast charging (PD2.0) and wireless charging (Qi) provides a significant advantage in terms of charging convenience.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZ2 is a good option for budget-conscious buyers seeking a powerful phone with a solid camera and performance. The XZ3 is ideal for users who value a brighter, more vibrant display, faster charging, and a slightly more modern design, willing to pay a bit more.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the XZ3 worth the upgrade from the XZ2?

If you prioritize a brighter display, faster charging, and wireless charging, then the XZ3 is a worthwhile upgrade. However, if you're happy with the XZ2's performance and camera, the improvements might not justify the cost.

❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?

Both phones offer comparable low-light camera performance. While the XZ3 has some software enhancements, the core camera hardware is similar, resulting in similar image quality in challenging lighting conditions.