Sony Xperia XZ3 vs Xperia XZ1: A Detailed Comparison
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The Xperia XZ3 edges out the XZ1 thanks to its Snapdragon 845 chipset, brighter display with superior sunlight readability, and slightly longer battery life. However, the XZ1 remains a solid choice, especially if you prioritize a more compact design and potentially find it at a lower price point.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XZ3 | Sony Xperia XZ1 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only) |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - F8341, F8342 |
| 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, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - G8341 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat16 1024/150 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| - | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 20, 25, 29, 38, 40, 41, 66 - G8343 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 | 2017, August 31. Released 2017, September 19 |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in) | 148 x 73.4 x 7.4 mm (5.83 x 2.89 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM | · Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 193 g (6.81 oz) | 155 g (5.47 oz) |
| IP65/IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins) | IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED, HDR BT.2020 | IPS LCD, HDR10 |
| 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 (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm) | Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 630 | Adreno 540 |
| OS | Android 9.0 (Pie), upgradable to Android 10 | Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie) |
| 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 (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3" |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS) | 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS) |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | Yes |
| 35mm jack | No | Yes |
| 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 (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired, QC3 |
| Type | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red | Black, Warm Silver, Venus Pink, Moonlit Blue |
| Models | H9436, H8416, H9493 | G8341, G8342, F8341, F8342, G8343, SOV36, SO-01K |
| Price | About 510 EUR | About 260 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB | Noise -93.3dB / Crosstalk -90.2dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 90h | Endurance rating 82h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1406 (nominal), 3.765 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB | Voice 65dB / Noise 68dB / Ring 69dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | GeekBench: 6541 (v4.4), 1527 (v5.1) GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Superior Performance (Snapdragon 845)
- Brighter & More Visible Display (especially in sunlight)
- Slightly Longer Battery Life
- Modern Design
- Wireless Charging (Qi)
- Larger Size (may not suit all hands)
- Potentially Higher Price (depending on availability)
Sony Xperia XZ1
- More Compact Design
- Excellent Camera
- Proven Reliability
- Potentially Lower Price (due to age)
- Slower Performance (Snapdragon 835)
- Less Bright Display
- Shorter Battery Life
- LCD Display (less vibrant than OLED)
Display Comparison
The XZ3 boasts a significant advantage in display performance. Its contrast ratio, while listed as 'infinite' nominally (likely a marketing term), demonstrates a much higher sunlight readability score (4.502) compared to the XZ1's 3.765. This means the XZ3's screen remains visible even in bright outdoor conditions. The XZ3 also features a slightly larger OLED display, offering richer colors and deeper blacks compared to the XZ1's LCD panel. The XZ3's 19.9:9 aspect ratio also provides a more immersive viewing experience.
Camera Comparison
Both phones feature excellent camera systems capable of capturing high-quality photos and videos. However, the XZ3 benefits from Sony's continued camera software improvements and potentially slightly better image processing. Both offer features like 4K video recording and optical image stabilization. Low-light performance is comparable, though the XZ3 might exhibit slightly less noise in challenging conditions.
Performance
The XZ3's Snapdragon 845 chipset is noticeably faster and more efficient than the XZ1's Snapdragon 835. This translates to smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better overall responsiveness. While both phones offer octa-core processors, the XZ3's Kryo 385 Gold cores have a higher clock speed, further contributing to its performance advantage. Gaming performance is also improved on the XZ3.
Battery Life
The XZ3 holds a slight edge in battery life, with an endurance rating of 90 hours compared to the XZ1's 82 hours. While the difference isn't massive, it suggests the XZ3's more efficient chipset contributes to better power management. Both phones support 18W fast charging, but the XZ3 also includes PD2.0 for potentially faster charging with compatible chargers.
Buying Guide
The Sony Xperia XZ3 is ideal for users who demand top-tier performance, a vibrant display for media consumption, and appreciate a slightly larger screen. The Xperia XZ1 is a great option for those seeking a more compact and manageable phone with a still-capable camera and a proven track record, particularly if budget is a significant factor.