Sony Xperia XZs vs Xperia XZ3: A Detailed Comparison

Sony's Xperia line has always been known for its unique design and impressive camera capabilities. The Xperia XZs and XZ3 represent different points in Sony's smartphone evolution. But which one offers the better experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Xperia XZ3 is the clear winner. While the XZs boasts a respectable endurance rating, the XZ3’s Snapdragon 845, improved display, wireless charging, and slightly better battery life make it a more modern and compelling choice for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Sony Xperia XZs	Sony Xperia XZ3

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (G8232)	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - G8231, G8232	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 - H8416, H9436, H9493
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41 - G8231, G8232	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
Speed	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat9 450/50 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/200 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA / LTE	GSM / HSPA / LTE

Launch
Announced	2017, February 27. Released 2017, April 03	2018, August 30. Released 2018, October 05
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum back, plastic frame	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions	146 x 72 x 8.1 mm (5.75 x 2.83 x 0.32 in)	158 x 73 x 9.9 mm (6.22 x 2.87 x 0.39 in)
SIM	· Nano-SIM (G8231)· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (G8232)	· Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	161 g (5.68 oz)	193 g (6.81 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
Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 5	Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~424 ppi density)	1440 x 2880 pixels, 18:9 ratio (~537 ppi density)
Size	5.2 inches, 74.5 cm2 (~70.9% screen-to-body ratio)	6.0 inches, 92.9 cm2 (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	IPS LCD	P-OLED, HDR BT.2020
	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine	Triluminos display X-Reality Engine

Platform
CPU	Quad-core (2x2.15 GHz Kryo & 2x1.6 GHz Kryo)	Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Kryo 385 Gold & 4x1.7 GHz Kryo 385 Silver)
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8996 Snapdragon 820 (14 nm)	Qualcomm SDM845 Snapdragon 845 (10 nm)
GPU	Adreno 530	Adreno 630
OS	Android 7.1 (Nougat), upgradable to Android 8.0 (Oreo)	Android 9.0 (Pie), 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	32GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 4GB RAM	64GB 4GB RAM, 64GB 6GB RAM
	eMMC 5.1	UFS 2.1

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", predictive PDAF	19 MP, f/2.0, 25mm (wide), 1/2.3", 1.22µm, predictive PDAF
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps (gyro-EIS), 720p@960fps, HDR	4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS), 1080p@960fps, HDR

Selfie camera
Features	-	HDR
Single	13 MP, f/2.0, 22mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm	13 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps (5-axis gyro-EIS)

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	No
35mm jack	Yes	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	24-bit/192kHz audio	24-bit/192kHz audio Dynamic vibration system

Comms
Bluetooth	4.2, A2DP, aptX, LE	5.0, A2DP, aptX HD, LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 2.0, 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 (side-mounted, region dependent), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass	Fingerprint (rear-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, barometer, compass

Battery
Charging	18W wired, QC3	18W wired, PD2.0 Wireless (Qi)
Type	Li-Ion 2900 mAh, non-removable	Li-Ion 3300 mAh, non-removable

Misc
Colors	Black, Warm Silver, Ice Blue	Black, Silver White, Forest Green, Bordeaux Red
Models	G8232, G8231, SOV35, 602SO, SO-03J	H9436, H8416, H9493
Price	About 220 EUR	About 510 EUR

Tests
Audio quality	Noise -93.5dB / Crosstalk -92.7dB	Noise -91.2dB / Crosstalk -88.7dB
Battery life	Endurance rating 73h	Endurance rating 90h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: 1223:1 (nominal), 3.818 (sunlight)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal), 4.502 (sunlight)
Loudspeaker	Voice 62dB / Noise 65dB / Ring 73dB	Voice 71dB / Noise 75dB / Ring 82dB
Performance	AnTuTu: 170766 (v8) GeekBench: 808 (v5.1) GFXBench: 21fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 284555 (v7), 295468 (v8) GeekBench: 8607 (v4.4), 2137 (v5.1) GFXBench: 19fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Sony Xperia XZs

Compact design
Good camera for its time
Decent battery life (73h)
QC3 charging

Older chipset
LCD display
No wireless charging
Less vibrant colors

Sony Xperia XZ3

Faster Snapdragon 845 chipset
Vibrant OLED display
Wireless charging (Qi)
Improved performance
Larger 6-inch display

Larger size compared to XZs
Can be pricier (depending on availability)

Display Comparison

The XZ3’s display is a significant upgrade. Its 'Infinite' contrast ratio (effectively OLED) provides deeper blacks and more vibrant colors compared to the XZs’ LCD. The XZ3 also boasts a higher sunlight readability score (4.502 vs 3.818), making it easier to see outdoors. The XZ3 also features a 6-inch display versus the XZs' 5.2-inch, offering more screen real estate.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer excellent camera performance for their time. However, the XZ3 benefits from Sony's continued camera improvements, including better image processing and low-light performance. While both have Photo/Video capabilities, the XZ3's software enhancements give it a slight edge.

Performance

The XZ3’s Snapdragon 845 chipset is noticeably faster and more efficient than the XZs’ Snapdragon 820. This translates to smoother multitasking, quicker app loading times, and better gaming performance. The XZ3's octa-core CPU also provides a performance advantage over the XZs' quad-core processor.

Battery Life

The XZ3 maintains a similar endurance rating (90h) to the XZs (73h), but the more efficient Snapdragon 845 means it likely delivers longer real-world usage. The addition of wireless charging on the XZ3 is also a convenient feature missing on the XZs.

Buying Guide

The Xperia XZs is a good option for budget-conscious users who prioritize a compact design and a capable camera, and don't need the latest features. The Xperia XZ3 is ideal for those seeking a faster processor, a brighter and more vibrant display, wireless charging, and a more modern overall experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xperia XZ3 worth buying now?

While older, the XZ3 still offers a solid experience, especially if you can find it at a good price. Its performance and display are still competitive.

❓ What is the main difference between the XZs and XZ3?

The main differences are the processor (Snapdragon 820 vs 845), display technology (LCD vs OLED), and the addition of wireless charging on the XZ3.