Sony Xperia XZ3 vs Xperia XZ2 Premium: The Ultimate Comparison
| Phones Images | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Sony Xperia XZ3 edges out the XZ2 Premium thanks to its superior battery life and slightly more modern design. While the XZ2 Premium boasts a higher resolution display, the XZ3's overall package, including its endurance, makes it the more compelling option for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia XZ3 | 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 - H8416, H9436, H9493 | 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, 46, 66 - H8416, H9436, H9493 | 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, August 30. Released 2018, October 05 | 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 | 158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 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 | 193 g (6.81 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 | 1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density) | 3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~765 ppi density) |
| Size | 6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.8 inches, 91.5 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | P-OLED, 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 9.0 (Pie), 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 (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | - |
| Single | 13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm | 13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm |
| Video | 1080p@30fps (5-axis 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, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi) | 18W wired, QC3 Wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 3540 mAh, non-removable |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red | Chrome Black, Chrome Silver |
| Models | H9436, H8416, H9493 | H8166, H8116, SOV38 |
| Price | About 510 EUR | About 460 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB | Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB |
| Battery life | Endurance rating 90h | Endurance rating 77h |
| Camera | Photo / Video | Photo / Video |
| Display | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight) | Contrast ratio: 1411:1 (nominal), 2.867 (sunlight) |
| Loudspeaker | Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB | Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 73dB |
| Performance | AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) | AnTuTu: 264734 (v7), 288101 (v8) GeekBench: 8509 (v4.4), 2099 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia XZ3
- Excellent battery life (90h)
- Superior sunlight display visibility
- 90Hz refresh rate for smoother visuals
- Modern design
- Good overall performance
- Single rear camera setup
- Lower display resolution than XZ2 Premium
- Design can feel a bit generic
Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
- 4K HDR OLED display with high resolution
- Triple-lens rear camera for versatile shooting
- Premium build quality
- Good performance
- Shorter battery life (77h)
- Lower sunlight display visibility
- Can get warm under heavy load
- Older software
Display Comparison
The XZ2 Premium features a 4K HDR OLED display (6.0-inch, 538 ppi) offering incredible detail and vibrant colors. However, its sunlight visibility (2.867) is relatively low. The XZ3 (6.0-inch OLED, 403 ppi) has a lower resolution but boasts a significantly better sunlight visibility rating (4.502) and a theoretically 'infinite' contrast ratio (though this is a nominal value). The XZ3 also has a 90Hz refresh rate, providing smoother scrolling and animations.
Camera Comparison
The XZ2 Premium stands out with its triple-lens rear camera setup (19MP main, 12MP telephoto, 12MP wide-angle), offering impressive zoom capabilities and versatile shooting options. The XZ3 features a single 19MP main camera. While the XZ2 Premium's hardware is more complex, both phones deliver excellent image quality in good lighting conditions. Low-light performance is generally comparable.
Performance
Both phones are powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset and Octa-core CPU, ensuring smooth performance for everyday tasks and demanding games. Real-world performance differences are minimal, with both handling apps and multitasking effectively. The XZ3's slightly newer software might offer minor optimizations.
Battery Life
This is where the XZ3 truly shines. It boasts a significantly better endurance rating (90h) compared to the XZ2 Premium (77h). This translates to noticeably longer battery life for the XZ3, allowing it to easily last a full day or more on a single charge.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Xperia XZ3? Users prioritizing long battery life, a slightly more streamlined design, and a modern Android experience. Who should buy the Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium? Those who value the absolute highest display resolution and are willing to trade some battery life for it.