Sony Xperia Z4 Compact vs. iPhone SE (2022): The Ultimate Compact Showdown
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🏆 Quick Verdict
The iPhone SE (2022) takes the crown thanks to its significantly faster A15 Bionic chip, superior camera performance, and longer software support. While the Z4 Compact boasts a unique design and microSD card slot, the SE's modern features and performance edge make it the better choice for most users.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | Sony Xperia Z4 Compact | Apple iPhone SE (2022) |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66 - A2783, A2784, A2785 |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2783, A2784, A2785, A2782 |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / HSPA / LTE | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17, 20 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 29, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub6 - A2595 | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | Exp. announcement 2015, Q3 | 2022, March 08 |
| Status | Cancelled | Available. Released 2022, March 18 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | - | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm (5.45 x 2.65 x 0.29 in) |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + eSIM |
| Weight | - | 144 g (5.08 oz) |
| IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) Apple Pay (Visa, MasterCard, AMEX certified) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | Shatter proof glass | Ion-strengthened glass |
| Resolution | 1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~469 ppi density) | 750 x 1334 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 | 4.7 inches, 60.9 cm2 (~65.4% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | IPS LCD | Retina IPS LCD, 625 nits (typ) |
| Triluminos display X-Reality Engine | - | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (4x1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A57) | Hexa-core (2x3.22 GHz Avalanche + 4x1.82 GHz Blizzard) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8994 Snapdragon 810 (20 nm) | Apple A15 Bionic (5 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 430 | Apple GPU (4-core graphics) |
| OS | Android 5.0 (Lollipop) | iOS 15.4, upgradable to iOS 26.1 |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | No |
| Internal | 16GB 3GB RAM, 32GB 3GB RAM | 64GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 4GB RAM, 256GB 4GB RAM |
| eMMC 5.0 | NVMe | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | LED flash, HDR, panorama | Quad-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama |
| Single | 20.7 MP, 1/2.3", AF | 12 MP, f/1.8 (wide), PDAF, OIS |
| Video | 4K@30fps, 1080p@60fps, 720p@120fps, HDR | 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR, OIS, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | - | HDR |
| Single | 5 MP | 7 MP, f/2.2 |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 1080p@30/120fps; gyro-EIS |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, aptX | 5.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | FM radio, RDS | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG | Lightning, USB 2.0 |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, hotspot |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (front-mounted), accelerometer, proximity, gyro, compass, barometer |
| ANT+ | - | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 18W wired, QC2 | 20W wired, 50% in 30 min 7.5W wireless (Qi) |
| Type | Li-Ion 3000 mAh, non-removable | Li-Ion 2018 mAh (6.96 Wh) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, White | Midnight, Starlight, Red |
| Models | - | A2783, A2595, A2785, A2782, A2784, iphone14,6 |
| Price | - | $ 119.84 / C$ 199.99 / £ 142.00 / € 173.00 |
| SAR | - | 0.98 W/kg (head) 0.99 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 1.20 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body) |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 62h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: 1424:1 (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 62h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | 1424:1 contrast ratio, 605 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -25.2 LUFS (Very good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 723486 (v9) GeekBench: 4629 (v5.1) GFXBench: 60fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Sony Xperia Z4 Compact
- Expandable storage (microSD)
- Water and dust resistance
- Unique Sony design
- More affordable
- Outdated chipset
- Lower camera quality
- Slower charging
- Limited software updates
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
- Blazing-fast A15 Bionic chip
- Excellent camera performance
- Seamless iOS integration
- Longer software support
- Wireless charging
- Relatively expensive
- Smaller screen
- No expandable storage
- Design feels dated
Display Comparison
The iPhone SE (2022) features a brighter display with a measured peak brightness of 605 nits, offering better visibility in sunlight. While both have a nominal contrast ratio of 1424:1, the SE's overall display quality is noticeably superior. The Z4 Compact's display is adequate but lacks the vibrancy and brightness of the iPhone.
Camera Comparison
The iPhone SE (2022) consistently delivers better image quality, thanks to Apple's computational photography prowess. Expect more detail, better dynamic range, and more accurate colors. The Z4 Compact's camera is decent but falls short in low-light conditions and overall image quality.
Performance
The iPhone SE (2022)'s A15 Bionic chip utterly dominates the Z4 Compact's Snapdragon 810. Expect significantly faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the iPhone. The Z4 Compact, while capable for its time, struggles to keep up with modern demands.
Battery Life
Both phones offer impressive endurance ratings (62h), suggesting comparable real-world battery life. However, the iPhone SE (2022) charges significantly faster with both wired (20W) and wireless (7.5W) charging, while the Z4 Compact is limited to 18W wired QC2 charging.
Buying Guide
Who should buy the Sony Xperia Z4 Compact? Users prioritizing expandable storage, a unique Sony design, and a more affordable price point. Who should buy the Apple iPhone SE (2022)? Those seeking top-tier performance in a compact form, a great camera, and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.