Sony Xperia XZ3 vs Google Pixel 3: A Head-to-Head Showdown

The Sony Xperia XZ3 and Google Pixel 3 were flagship contenders, each boasting impressive features and unique strengths. Choosing between them can be tough. This comprehensive comparison dives deep into their specs, performance, and overall user experience to help you decide which phone deserves your money.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia XZ3 edges out the Pixel 3 with significantly better battery life and a slightly brighter display in sunlight. However, the Pixel 3’s renowned camera and cleaner Android experience remain compelling factors. Ultimately, it depends on your priorities: endurance or photography.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia XZ3	Google Pixel 3

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493	HSDPA 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 - H8416, H9436, H9493	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66, 71
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat16 1024/75 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE

Launch
Announced	2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05	2018, October 09. Released 2018, October 18
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 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in)	145.6 x 68.2 x 7.9 mm (5.73 x 2.69 x 0.31 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + eSIM
Weight	193 g (6.81 oz)	148 g (5.22 oz)
	IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)	-

Display
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density)	1080 x 2160 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~443 ppi density)
Size	6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)	5.5 inches, 76.7 cm2 (~77.2% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	P-OLED, HDR BT.2020	P-OLED, HDR
	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine	-

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)	Octa-core (4x2.5 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.6 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)	Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
GPU	Adreno 630	Adreno 630
OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10	Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 12

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only	No
Internal	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM
	UFS 2.1	-

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR	Dual-LED flash, Pixel Shift, Auto-HDR, panorama
Single	19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF	12.2 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)

Selfie camera
Dual	-	8 MP, f/1.8, 28mm (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.2, 19mm (ultrawide), no AF
Features	HDR	HDR
Single	13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm	-
Video	1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)	1080p@30fps

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	-

Comms
Bluetooth	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE	5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
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
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, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi)	18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless
Type	Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable	Li-Po 2915 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red	Clearly White, Just Black, Not Pink
Models	H9436, H8416, H9493	G013A
Price	About 510 EUR	About 450 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB	Noise -71.7dB / Crosstalk -70.1dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 90h	Endurance rating 69h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.350 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB	Voice 77dB / Noise 71dB / Ring 81dB
Performance	AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 285044 (v7) GeekBench: 8337 (v4.4) GFXBench: 33fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZ3

Exceptional battery life
Bright and vibrant display
Larger screen size
Customizable Android experience
Water and dust resistance (IP68)

Camera not as impressive as Pixel 3
Design can feel a bit dated
Software updates can be slower

Google Pixel 3

Outstanding camera performance
Clean and intuitive Android experience
Fast software updates
Compact and comfortable design
Active Edge feature

Shorter battery life
Smaller screen size
Less customizable than Xperia
Wireless charging only (no PD2.0 wired)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature OLED displays with excellent contrast ratios (nominally infinite). The XZ3 boasts a slightly higher sunlight legibility score (4.502 vs 4.350), making it marginally easier to view outdoors. The XZ3 also has a 6.0-inch display compared to the Pixel 3's 5.5-inch, offering more screen real estate.

Camera Comparison

The Pixel 3’s camera is widely considered superior, thanks to Google’s exceptional image processing. It excels in low-light conditions and consistently delivers stunning photos. The XZ3’s camera is capable, but lacks the Pixel 3’s computational photography prowess. Both offer excellent video recording capabilities.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 845 chipset, ensuring smooth performance for most tasks. The XZ3's CPU has slightly higher clock speeds on the 'Gold' cores (2.7 GHz vs 2.5 GHz), potentially offering a small performance advantage in demanding applications. However, real-world performance differences are likely minimal.

Battery Life

The XZ3’s battery life is a clear winner, boasting an endurance rating of 90 hours compared to the Pixel 3’s 69 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges, making the XZ3 a more practical choice for heavy users.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZ3 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life, a vibrant display, and a more customizable Android experience. The Google Pixel 3 is perfect for photography enthusiasts who value a simple, intuitive interface and consistently excellent camera performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which phone has better low-light camera performance?

The Google Pixel 3 consistently outperforms the Xperia XZ3 in low-light photography due to Google's advanced image processing algorithms.

❓ Is the Xperia XZ3 worth buying in 2024?

The Xperia XZ3 remains a viable option if you prioritize battery life and a larger screen, but be aware that software support is limited and the camera isn't top-tier anymore.