Sony Xperia XZs vs Xperia XZ1 Compact: The Ultimate Compact Battle

Sony's compact smartphone lineup has always been a strong contender, offering flagship features in a pocket-friendly size. Today, we pit two popular models against each other: the Xperia XZs and the Xperia XZ1 Compact. Which one delivers the best overall experience?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia XZ1 Compact edges out the XZs thanks to its more powerful Snapdragon 835 chipset, improved battery life, and slightly more modern design. While the XZs boasts a fantastic display, the XZ1 Compact's overall performance and longevity make it the winner.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XZs Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (G8232)GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G8231, G8232HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G8231, G82321, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat9 450/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (4CA) Cat15 800/75 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2017, February 27. Released 2017, April 032017, August. Released 2017, October
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 4), plastic back, plastic frame
Dimensions146 x 72 x 8.1 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.32 in)129 x 65 x 9.3 mm (5.08 x 2.56 x 0.37 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM (G8231)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G8232)Nano-SIM
Weight161 g (5.68 oz)140 g (4.94 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 mins)
Display
ProtectionCorning Gorilla Glass 5Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density)720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~319 ppi density)
Size5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio)4.6 inches, 58.3 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD
 Triluminos display X-Reality EngineTriluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUQuad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)Octa-core (4x2.45 GHz Kryo & 4x1.9 GHz Kryo)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm)Qualcomm MSM8998 Snapdragon 835 (10 nm)
GPUAdreno 530Adreno 540
OSAndroid 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 9.0 (Pie)
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlymicroSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM32GB 4GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 2.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", predictive PDAF19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps, HDR4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps
Selfie camera
Single13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm8 MP, f/2.4, 18mm, 1/4.0"
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack YesYes
35mm jackYesYes
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 2.0, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted, region dependent), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC318W wired, QC3
TypeLi-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 2700 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Warm Silver, Ice BlueBlack, White Silver, Horizon Blue, Twilight Pink
ModelsG8232, G8231, SOV35, 602SO, SO-03JG8441, SO-02K
PriceAbout 220 EURAbout 300 EUR
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB Noise -93.7dB / Crosstalk -85.5dB
Battery life Endurance rating 73h Endurance rating 108h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1223:1 (nominal), 3.818 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: 1243:1 (nominal), 3.729 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker Voice 62dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 73dB Voice 65dB / Noise 70dB / Ring 76dB
Performance AnTuTu: 170766 (v8) GeekBench: 808 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 204581 (v7), 255140 (v8) GeekBench: 5596 (v4.4), 1681 (v5.1) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZs

  • Excellent display
  • Compact size
  • Good camera
  • QC3 fast charging

  • Older chipset
  • Shorter battery life
  • Design feels dated

Sony Xperia XZ1 Compact

  • More powerful processor
  • Longer battery life
  • Improved camera performance
  • Slightly more modern design

  • Smaller screen than some competitors
  • Can still feel a bit dated

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent OLED displays with impressive contrast ratios (1223:1 nominal, 3.818 and 3.729 sunlight respectively). The XZ1 Compact's display is marginally brighter in sunlight, offering slightly better visibility outdoors. Color accuracy is generally good on both devices, typical of Sony's displays.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but the XZ1 Compact benefits from Sony's image processing improvements. While both capture good photos in well-lit conditions, the XZ1 Compact generally produces more detailed and vibrant images. Low-light performance is also slightly better on the XZ1 Compact. Both offer 4K video recording.

Performance

The XZ1 Compact's Snapdragon 835 chipset is a significant upgrade over the XZs' Snapdragon 820. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better overall responsiveness. The XZ1 Compact's octa-core processor also handles demanding games and applications with greater ease.

Battery Life

The XZ1 Compact shines in battery life, offering a significantly longer endurance rating (108h) compared to the XZs (73h). This means you can expect to get through a full day of moderate to heavy use on the XZ1 Compact without needing to recharge, while the XZs may require a top-up.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZs is a good choice for users prioritizing a vibrant display and a familiar design. It's ideal for those who don't need the absolute latest processing power. The Xperia XZ1 Compact is best suited for users who value battery life, performance, and a more compact form factor without sacrificing features. It's a great option for those who want a flagship experience in a smaller package.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia XZs still worth buying?
The Xperia XZs can still be a decent option if you find it at a very low price and prioritize a great display. However, the XZ1 Compact offers a more compelling overall package.
❓ Which phone is more durable?
Both phones feature Corning Gorilla Glass, but the XZ1 Compact's slightly more robust build quality gives it a slight edge in terms of durability.