Sony Xperia XZs vs Xperia XZ2 Premium: A Detailed Comparison

Sony's Xperia line has always been known for its unique design and impressive camera capabilities. The Xperia XZs and XZ2 Premium represent two distinct generations of this series. But which one offers the better experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia XZ2 Premium edges out the XZs thanks to its newer Snapdragon 845 chipset, improved display brightness, and slightly better battery life. While the XZs remains a capable device, the XZ2 Premium offers a noticeable performance and feature upgrade.

PHONES
Phone Names Sony Xperia XZs Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium
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, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 66
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat9 450/50 MbpsHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (6CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps
TechnologyGSM / HSPA / LTEGSM / HSPA / LTE
Launch
Announced2017, February 27. Released 2017, April 032018, April. Released 2018, July
StatusDiscontinuedDiscontinued
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, plastic frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions146 x 72 x 8.1 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.32 in)158 x 80 x 11.9 mm (6.22 x 3.15 x 0.47 in)
SIM· Nano-SIM (G8231)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G8232)· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight161 g (5.68 oz)236 g (8.32 oz)
 IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)IP65/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)3840 x 2160 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~765 ppi density)
Size5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio)5.8 inches, 91.5 cm2 (~72.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeIPS LCDIPS LCD, HDR10
 Triluminos display X-Reality EngineRuns at 1080 x 1920 pixels except for select use cases Triluminos display X-Reality Engine
Platform
CPUQuad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
ChipsetQualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm)Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
GPUAdreno 530Adreno 630
OSAndroid 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)Android 8.0 (Oreo), upgradable to Android 10
Memory
Card slotmicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model onlymicroSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) - dual SIM model only
Internal32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM64GB 6GB RAM
 eMMC 5.1UFS 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
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 PDAF-
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps, HDR4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR
Selfie camera
Single13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video1080p@30fps1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)
Sound
3.5mm jack YesNo
35mm jackYesNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio 24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system
Comms
Bluetooth4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, BDSGPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, 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 (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass
Battery
Charging18W wired, QC318W wired, QC3 Wireless (Qi)
TypeLi-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removableLi-Ion 3540 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlack, Warm Silver, Ice BlueChrome Black, Chrome Silver
ModelsG8232, G8231, SOV35, 602SO, SO-03JH8166, H8116, SOV38
PriceAbout 220 EURAbout 460 EUR
Tests
Audio quality Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB Noise -91.0dB / Crosstalk -87.6dB
Battery life Endurance rating 73h Endurance rating 77h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: 1223:1 (nominal), 3.818 (sunlight) Contrast ratio: 1411:1 (nominal), 2.867 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker Voice 62dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 73dB Voice 68dB / Noise 73dB / Ring 73dB
Performance AnTuTu: 170766 (v8) GeekBench: 808 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 264734 (v7), 288101 (v8) GeekBench: 8509 (v4.4), 2099 (v5.1) GFXBench: 37fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZs

  • Excellent camera
  • Compact design
  • Good battery life
  • Reliable performance

  • Older chipset
  • Less bright display
  • No wireless charging

Sony Xperia XZ2 Premium

  • Powerful Snapdragon 845
  • Brighter display
  • Wireless charging
  • Improved camera zoom
  • Sleek design

  • Higher price
  • Can get warm under heavy load
  • Larger size

Display Comparison

The XZ2 Premium boasts a slightly better contrast ratio (1411:1 vs 1223:1) and significantly improved sunlight visibility (2.867 vs 3.818). While both displays are excellent, the XZ2 Premium's brighter screen makes it more usable outdoors. Both feature a 6-inch 1080p display.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent cameras, but the XZ2 Premium has a slight edge. It has a triple lens setup (motion eye) with a dedicated telephoto lens for improved zoom capabilities. Both offer 4K video recording, but the XZ2 Premium's processing is generally considered superior. Low-light performance is also improved on the XZ2 Premium.

Performance

The XZ2 Premium's Snapdragon 845 chipset (10nm) provides a substantial performance boost over the XZs' Snapdragon 820 (14nm). The octa-core CPU in the XZ2 Premium offers faster processing speeds and better multitasking capabilities. The XZs, while still capable, will show its age in demanding games and applications.

Battery Life

Both phones offer a respectable endurance rating of 73h, indicating similar real-world battery performance. The XZ2 Premium has a slightly larger battery capacity (3300 mAh vs 2900 mAh in the XZs), contributing to its slightly better overall endurance.

Buying Guide

The Sony Xperia XZs is a good choice for users seeking a reliable, compact phone with a great camera and excellent battery life at a potentially lower price point. The Xperia XZ2 Premium is ideal for those prioritizing top-tier performance, a brighter display for outdoor use, and wireless charging, willing to pay a premium.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the XZ2 Premium worth the extra cost over the XZs?
If you prioritize performance, a brighter display, and wireless charging, the XZ2 Premium is worth the investment. However, if you're on a budget and primarily need a reliable phone with a good camera, the XZs remains a solid option.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Xperia XZ2 Premium is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful Snapdragon 845 chipset and improved thermal management.